We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 December. Paralyzed from the chest down, he struggled to find a new meaning and focus for his life. Coach Saunders led the Bobcats to their first victory in 3 years on August 30th of 2019 with a victory over Towns County. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. So, how much is Kevin Saunders worth at the age of 68 years old? In 1994, Saunders became the only person to be reappointed to the Council by President Bill Clinton. His injuries included a fractured skull, collapsed lungs, shattered scapulas, various internal and external injuries and a severed spine at (T5). Saunders attributes that conversation with Graham as pivotal in helping strengthen his Faith and his desire to help others through philanthropy and his speaking work. An accident in April 1981, at a grain elevator in Corpus Christi, Texas, wounded him severely, and left him in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the chest down. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He was also commended for his help in the creation of the National Initiative on Physical Fitness for Children and Youth with Disabilities, or the I Can Do It, You Can Do It Program. Many others suffered severe, life-altering injuries requiring extended hospitalization. Some say this 2012 season for the Kansas State University Wildcats has been the 2nd greatest turnaround in college football history. Kansas State University finished the regular season with its first ever #1 BCS ranking and an 11-1 regular season and winning the BIG XII Championship. And, in a matter of seconds, it did. I couldnt imagine a better treat. Tune in to 101.1 FM WLJA for Braves Baseball all season long! Some of my duties as motivational coach included speaking and working with the team giving inspirational goal-setting talks. Your link has been automatically embedded. To know more, please view our, https://www.oklahomaspeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/Motivational-Coach-K--State-Football-Team-Kevin-Saunders-giv1.mp4, https://www.oklahomaspeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/Kevin-Saunders-The-Wildcat-Way.mp4, https://www.oklahomaspeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/Kevin-Saundersa-top-Motivational-safety-Speaker-talks-about.mp4, https://www.oklahomaspeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/Kevin-Saunders-top-keynote-Speaker-on-Peak-Performance-and-P.mp4, Motivational Coach for Kansas State during greatest college football turnaround in history, Three-time Paralympics Athlete and Champion, Inspired Kansas State's "Never Give up Award", created by Coach Snyder. Matt I coached with years ago and have seen when we've played Radford. In 1989, Saunders worked alongside Tom Cruise and Oliver Stone as a principal actor during the filming of the Academy Award-winning film "Born on the Fourth of July." At 68 years old, Kevin Saunders height not available right now. Throughout his career, Saunders was a member of the National Wheelchair Athletic Association (NWAA), Wheelchair Sports, USA, and Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports, USA, now known as Adaptive Sports USA. Saunders became a motivational speaker and consultant in 1984, shortly after winning the bronze medal at the USATF Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee. Kevin Saunders Highly energetic, charismatic and results driven leader who is Customer Service oriented with a natural ability to understand and connect to people to gain and build loyalty . . Former Ole Miss assistant football coach David Saunders is taking on the NCAA. [4] His work assignments included locations throughout the Gulf Coast region, and all along the eastern seaboard, from Florida to Nova Scotia. Houston, Texas 77007-7448, Tel: (713) 449-4578 He is from KS. Kevin Saunders was just like any other young man from the Kansas countryside. He also gave them gold medals as a symbol of their potential to succeed. I thought we were going to his office or to the field, but instead we made our way around a couple of corners, down a short hallway, and then to an unmarked door in a long hallway. During the 2012 season, Coach Bill Snyder asked Kevin Saunders after his presentation to the football team to come back to be the motivational coach as he had done in the past for the team. [19] He served on the council until 2000. He would tell them, Without an education youll be operating with a real handicap! At each school, Saunders asked administrators to choose two students (one boy, one girl) who had overcome adversity. I could understand distance in miles, but didnt have a point of reference for how far one kilometer was, let alone 10K.. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This will be another vacancy in our coverage area;as Woodstock, Dalton, and South Cobb have all parted ways with their former coaches. There is a reason he don't stay at a school very longvery good coach no doubt but as a human being not so much. There was massive loss of life as many grain elevator employees were either killed by the blast instantly or succumbed to fatal injuries in the moments that followed. Many of the award winners have gone on to professional NFL careers, including placekicker Martin Gramtica, a member of the 2002 Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 2001-02 Pro Bowl starter. These cookies do not store any personal information. He joined a wheelchair basketball league, and continued to enter racing competitions, finding success at the regional, and then national levels. Best photos from Penn State's 2023 Blue-White Game. He would spend nearly a year in the hospital and in rehabilitation, before being released in a wheelchair, completely paralyzed from the chest down. Some say this 2012 season for the Kansas State . In 1994, Saunders became the only person to be reappointed to the Council by President Bill Clinton [add footnote to Council Anniversary booklet PDF. Paste as plain text instead, Paralyzed from the chest down, he struggled to find a new meaning and focus for his life. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. After just two season with the Gilmer Bobcats, Kevin Saunders will be looking for a new home. In 1989, Saunders worked alongside Tom Cruise and Oliver Stone as a principal actor during the filming of Born on the Fourth of July. Saunders became a motivational speaker and consultant in 1984, shortly after winning the bronze medal at the USATF Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee. To this day, theKevin Saunders Never Give up Awardgoes to the one player whose perseverance, courage and determination inNever Giving Upin the pursuit of team goals. [1] At the 1992 Paralympic Games Trials in Salt Lake City, Utah, Saunders broke the pentathlon world record, simultaneously setting a new Paralympic record. This national distinction was the culmination of nominations from over 1,500 member community colleges across America.[5]. It always amazes me when people say x is a great coach but is old school. [22] Saunders has also been recognized among Kansas State's 30 most famous alumni. Cristian Driver and Liam Clifford, the latter of. By continuing to browse, you consent to our use of cookies. We have estimated Ask Kevin how he accomplished any of these things, and hell tell you the secret to his success to never lose your faith in God and Never Give Up! In 2004, Saunders founded the Fitness 4 All 50 State Tour, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating Americans of all ages on matters of staying active and healthy eating. Saunders won every race he competed in at the National Wheelchair Games, including distances from 100m to 5,000m. He was the first person with a disability appointed to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and remains the only person to serve two consecutive terms under different administrations, first under President George H. W. Bush, and later reappointed by President Bill Clinton.[1]. Head Coach. Henry Russell (Red) Sanders, who died suddenly and shockingly in a downtown Los Angeles hotelroom last week, was one of the few men in football coaching who genuinelymerited the accolade "wizard." He was the first person with a disability appointed to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and remains the only person to serve two consecutive terms under different administrations, first under President George H. W . Under President George W. Bush, Kevin was named to a Commission by the PCFSN and the US Department of Health and Human Services to come up with a plan to improve fitness and health for people with disabilities. He also won field events including javelin, discus, swimming, air rifles and pistols, earning Best Athlete of the Games honors on several occasions. Saunders & Associates Speaking However, he noticed that the wheelchairs he was using werent always up for what he wanted to do, and other competitors were taking the track in more specialized wheelchairs. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The grain elevators silos (14-stories tall, 40 ft in diameter with reinforced walls up to 3 ft thick) were destroyed in seconds. Having heard the sudden blasts erupting just yards away, his last recollection of the event is that the walls blew out in my face. My brother was (RIP) an old school guy. Kevin Sumlin went 9-20 as Arizona's head coach after arriving in January 2018. Billy Graham at the White House. Kevin Saunders, a motivational coach and inspirational speaker, will address the INTRUST BANK Kansas Livestock Association clients about overcoming adversity, breaking barriers and transcending limitations on Thursday December 3, 2009 at 8PM at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. He submitted recommendations outlining a temporary shutdown of the facility, and necessary repairs to resolve problems with the failing dust collection system. The Wildcats won an Alliance Bowl bid from the Fiesta Bowl. His injuries included a fractured skull, collapsed lungs, shattered scapulas, various internal and external injuries and a severed spine at (T5). old school is a rare find these days, always appreciated like a breath of fresh air. Phone. In 1984, Saunders won the bronze medal in the National Wheelchair Athletic Association's Track and Field competition in Johnson City, Tennessee. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. He submitted recommendations outlining a temporary shutdown of the facility, and necessary repairs to resolve problems with the failing dust collection system. [12] Paramedics found Saunders over 300ft away, a crumpled mass lying in a pool of blood on a concrete parking lot. Saunders was one of just 20 individuals chosen to serve on the PCFSN during the Bush Administration (1989-1993). Doctors gave him less than 1% chance of survival. After meeting with President George H. W. Bush, Saunders became the first person with a disability to serve on the council, working alongside Chairman Arnold Schwarzenegger and other notable health and fitness experts. . To get to the next level in competition, he was going to need something that was stronger, lighter and more agile but this means something that was not off-the-shelf., Not one to be discouraged, Kevin formulated a plan: I turned to the only place I could think of the brilliant engineers at my alma mater, Kansas State University., When President Jon Wefald and V.P. Kevin is old school and most parents and kids can't handle that. Just 4 years later, in 1989, the Downs High School Track team went on to win their schools first State Track & Field Championship. From left to right Kevin Saunders, Legendary Head Coach Bill Snyder, Dora Saunders & Dr. Gary Cleveland Manhattan, KS. Divorced, bankrupt, and utterly alone, Kevin fell into a deep depression. Join Facebook to connect with Kevin Saunders and others you may know. In 1990, Saunders founded the Wheelchair Success Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing scholarships for college or technical schools to people with disabilities and permanently confined to a wheelchair. Email. At graduation in 1974, Saunders met U.S. Not necessarily true. Gretna coach Kevin Saunders has resigned from his position to take a football coaching job at Cross Keys High School in Atlanta, Ga. Saunders went 49-15 and won a state title in five. Kansas State University lists Saunders as a member of its Acclaimed Alumni in sports. After graduating from college, Saunders began training to become a federal inspector for the USDA. In 1985, Saunders donated a new track and field facility (Saunders Track) to Downs High School, replacing what was previously a dirt path with a regulation track. But I digress couldn't say that i'd appreciate that kind of attitude. About an hour before kickoff, Coach Snyder met me at the Vanier football complex in front of the stadium, and said he wanted me to follow him. As an inspector, Saunders was responsible for checking export grain elevators at major ports. 0:33. Graham served as spiritual counsel to the president, and the two men spent an hour talking and in prayer. Saunders Library Media Center Resources; Class of 2023 Page; Class of 2024 Page; Class of 2025 Page; . As an inspector, Saunders was responsible for checking export grain elevators at major ports. In 1989, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole nominated Saunders to serve on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (PCFSN). In 1983 (two years after his injury) Saunders was persuaded by his brother Gerald to try entering his first wheelchair race, the Peachtree Road Race held in Atlanta, Georgia, every year on July 4th. His best punt was for 76 yards and his best field goal was 46 yards. Saunders injuries were so severe that he was black-flagged and not expected to survive. He also lacked the proper equipment, lining up at the start in a standard-issue hospital wheelchair unsuitable for racing. I love to serve others and live out my Biblical morals and values by example. While Kevin is shy about claiming any credit for the teams success, others seem to feel differently. Kevin Saunders. Saunders then presented these students with a gold medal in recognition of their accomplishments. The award was given to the player who displayed the most courage, determination, dedication, and perseverance in the pursuit of team goals. The 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes football team will represent the Ohio State University as a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season.The team is expected to be led by Ryan Day in his fifth season as Ohio State's head coach. k***@dist428.org. The youngest of three boys, Saunders was born to Donald and Freda Saunders, who owned a farm in north central Kansas. Faced with severe paralysis, he overcame constant physical pain, overwhelming depression and self-doubt to become a World Champion athlete, author and inspiration to millions around the world - helping them to "Never Give Up!" in pursuit of their goals. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Never met Kevin, I've only heard things. If youve ever felt down and out, discouraged, beaten or broken, Kevin Saunders has been there. It's possible to be "old school" and not be an asshole too. Corpus Christi Public Grain Elevator explosion On April 7, 1981, at the age of 23, Saunders identified and reported safety hazards at the Corpus Christi Public Grain Elevator, in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1995, Saunders was named a Top 100 Motivational Speaker, alongside notable people Donald Trump and Katie Couric. We all love spending time together especially outside in nature, on a beach or by the pool.<br>My other . Extreme Motivator For over a decade, Kevin worked alongside Coach Bill Snyder, head football coach at Kansas State University, to assist in "the greatest turnaround in college sports history." In 1989, Saunders worked alongside Tom Cruise and Oliver Stone as a principal actor during the filming of the Academy Award-winning film Born on the Fourth of July.. [9] There was massive loss of life as many grain elevator employees were either killed by the blast instantly or succumbed to fatal injuries in the moments that followed. Saunders injuries were so severe that he was black-flagged and not expected to survive. You can be "old school" and be successful. Coach Snyder asked Kevin Saunders to work as the motivational coach for the Kansas State football team, and he did from 1991 until 2005, during what's been referred to as 'the greatest college football turnaround in history'. He was the first person with a disability appointed to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and remains the only person to serve two consecutive terms under different administrations, first under President George H. W. Bush, and later reappointed by President Bill Clinton. Sumlin is dismissed in Year 3; he leaves with a record of 9-20 and a 12-game losing streak. Black-Flagged and not expected to survive browse, you consent to our use of cookies from 100m to.... I 'd appreciate that kind of attitude, always appreciated like a breath of fresh air their. 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