If You GoWhat: Possibilities luncheonWhen: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23Where: Chattanooga Convention CenterTickets: $65For more information: 634-1208
Roger Crawford says when he takes the podium at the upcoming Possibilities luncheon he’ll remind guests “how important it is to do the best we can with our resources.”
That’s a popular theme with motivational speakers; but when Mr. Crawford shares it, it takes on greater significance.
Mr. Crawford was born with four underdeveloped limbs. Doctors told his parents he would never walk. Yet despite the eventual amputation of his left leg and limited use of his arms, Mr. Crawford became a NCAA Division I tennis champion.
Mr. Crawford will share his life story at Possibilities: Siskin Hospital Celebrates Life Beyond Disability, the annual luncheon to benefit Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation.
“We encourage the community to take advantage of this opportunity to hear Roger Crawford and his incredible story of life beyond disability,” said Bob Main, Siskin Hospital president and chief executive officer.
“Like so many of our patients, Roger has faced numerous challenges but refused to let those limitations stop him. He is a living example that despite obstacles, we all have the ability to dream, persevere and achieve life’s many possibilities.”
In addition to Mr. Crawford’s talk, the Possibilities luncheon will feature a patient video sharing heartwarming success stories of Siskin Hospital patients.
Mr. Crawford said he chose tennis because it was a sport he could participate in by himself.
“I have one finger on my right hand,” he said. “I slip it between the two parallel bars (at the throat of the racquet where the handle and face connect) and hold the grip by my elbow.”
After a stellar high school tennis career (a win-loss record of 47-6), he played tennis for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He finished college with a 22-11record.
In a sport that requires quick sprints cross-court, he maneuvered on a prosthetic leg, amazing his competitors — some not even realizing he had the prosthesis until he’d whipped them in a match.
He remains the only athlete with four impaired limbs to compete in a Division 1 college sport.
For his achievements, he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for People with Disabilities.
His inspiring life story was included in the original “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” He has been featured in Sports Illustrated and USA Today.
He is the author of two books, “Playing from the Heart,” his autobiography; and “How High Can You Bounce,” a self-help book.
The athlete said his parents were always supportive, a key to his success. He said his father, a baseball player, instilled in him the mantra “You don’t live in pity city.” It’s a mindset he said he’s passed down to his three children.
“When they sense I’m having a negative attitude, they’ll tell me I need to read my own book,” he said laughing.
After his college career, he began speaking to teen groups — a tough audience, he joked, that teaches you quickly how to hold a group’s attention. He has become a sought-after public speaker, and the National Speakers Association awarded him its Speaker Hall of Fame designation.
He serves up his inspirational message with a straightforward honesty that’s leavened with the wit and timing of a stand-up comic.
“I talk about possibilities and possibility thinking. I tell everyone that our lives are defined by what we choose to dwell on,” he said.