Editor of Sports n Spokes and PN Magazine dies

Cliff Crase, who founded Sports n Spokes and was their editor (as well as the editor for PN Magazine) passed away on August 15.

"As editor and publisher of PN, Cliff raised the bar of reporting on subjects of interest to people with disabilities.

Cliff was in an auto accident just days before his 21st birthday and suffered a C6-7 cervical injury, resulting in quadriplegia. After just 14 months of rehabilitation, he enrolled at the University of Illinois, earning a degree in business administration in 1967. He resumed his athletic career, competing primarily in track and field and swimming, where he held the world record in the breaststroke from 1967-1969.

Cliff became a member of the U.S. Wheelchair Team, winning 33 national medals and 32 international medals. He claimed eight national titles and won 10 gold medals in international meets. He was inducted into the Upper Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the National Wheelchair Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame, and Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame.

In 1988 Cliff was selected to receive the National Courage Award for his "significant contributions to the health, welfare and rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities." Via pva.org

As a wheelchair user and athlete, I've been an avid reader of Sports n' Spokes for years as are many of my friends. I can't even imagine what it took to start up the magazine back when there was nothing like it in print - that's an amazing effort in itself, but to keep at it for so many years and continue to produce quality and worthwhile material with a postive message says one thing: Cliff knew in his heart that all of us, by living life to the fullest, would produce the best material.

I can't think of a better tribute to him than to link to an article about a 20 year old bilateral amputee who plays and teaches wheelchair basketball to young kids. Her message?

""The biggest thing is to not feel sorry for yourself. There comes a point you have to realize this is your life and you need to make the best of it. You live life once, and just because you have a disability doesn't mean you're different than any other person," says Carlee Hoffman, 20, a member of the 2007 U.S. Paralympics Women's Wheelchair Basketball National Team."

Via Sports n Spokes magazine

To read more about Carlee, click above.

[visual description: Cliff is shown seated in his wheelchair wearing a tropical print shirt and holding a straw beach hat on his lap.]