SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY
  • DESTINATIONS

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating active adults to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • How to Get Involved
    • NSGA Showcase Video
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • 30th Anniversary
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How To Qualify
    • National Games Information
    • NSG Cup presented by Kohler Walk-In Bath
    • 2023 NSG Pittsburgh
    • Athlete Check-In
    • Registration
    • Hotels & Lodging
    • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
    • Competition Schedules
    • Results & Records
    • Special Events
    • Team Partner Finder
    • Tourist Information
    • Transportation & Parking
    • Venue Information
    • Volunteer for the Games
    • Limited Events Verification Form
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • SPORTS
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Pickleball
      • Powerwalk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • NON-AMBULATORY SPORTS
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • TEAM SPORTS
      • Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH & WELL-BEING
    • Get In Shape With Ageility
    • Zibrio Health and Well-Being
    • Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
    • Heartline Study
    • Falls Prevention Resources
    • NSGA Steps Challenge
    • Exercise & Well-Being Resources
    • Humana Healthy Living and Prevention Resources
    • Fitness Videos
    • ACE Training Tips
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • MEDIA
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Games Videos
      • 2022 NSG Video Recap
      • 2019 NSG Video Recaps
    • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Newsletter
    • Press Room
    • Athlete of the Month
    • Personal Best Features
REGISTER
NOW!
 January 28, 2023

“Balls and Strikes” – March 2014 Athlete of the Month

“Balls and Strikes” – March 2014 Athlete of the Month

by Del Moon / Wednesday, 12 March 2014 / Published in Athlete of the Month

Samuel “Doc” Morton, 76, of Newport News, Virginia

Bowlers at the National Senior Games in Cleveland last year may have admired one athlete with a different approach. Samuel “Doc” Morton, 76, of Newport News, Virginia, took on all comers from a wheelchair. However, none would have guessed what a gifted athlete and true hero was in their midst.

Sam always excelled at every sport. He played “Bowling for Dollars” in Madison Square Garden at age 17. He was a high school All American football tight end, but his real love was baseball. ”The Dodgers tried to sign me but I wanted them to pay for my college. They said no deal so I took a football scholarship to Syracuse University,” he recalls. The next year the New York (now San Francisco) Giants met his terms and Sam played third base in the summers, getting called up to the major league three times. “But I got hurt sliding into second base and tried to come back too soon. That finished me out.”

His draft notice came in 1960. “I had documentation to get out of it but decided to do what I had to do for my country.” Two tours of duty in Vietnam followed, and one fateful “Black Ops” mission changed his life. “The helicopter pilot missed the drop zone by 20 miles. Five troopers got injured that shouldn’t have, and I took the brunt of it.” The injuries made a wheelchair his lifetime companion.

Unbeaten, he completed a PhD in Special Education with an emphasis on autism. “Doc” Morton continued with sports, picking up numerous medals in bowling, horseshoes, shuffleboard, basketball, golf, wheelchair racing and field events. He was proud to throw javelin, discus and shot put for Team USA in the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta.

Sam has been a regular in American Wheelchair Bowling Association events and has bowled against able bodied competitors in five National Senior Games. He and his wife Kathy will be at the Virginia state games in May to qualify for the 2015 National Senior Games Presented by Humana. When told that The Games will be adding non-ambulatory bowling next year, the response was predictable.”Hey, I don’t care who’s out there. I’ll take ’em all on.”

While Sam has triumphed in a wheelchair, it has not been his toughest challenge. Exposure to Agent Orange has dealt him strikes with diabetes, hypertension and fluctuating eyesight. A recent renal  failure placed him on dialysis three times a week. However, Sam Morton has never given up and never will.

“You walk upright with God, and He will take you through everything you have to go through. But you have to believe in Him and believe in yourself as well as the people who support you. You have to live each day to its fullest because you never know when He will call you home.”

  • Tweet

About Del Moon

What you can read next

Gary Patton Refines and Finds Success December 2022 Athlete of the Month
100 Reasons to Keep Swimming – November 2022 Athlete of the Month
Pickleball + Airstream = A Lovely Way to Play January 2023 Athlete of the Month

Recent Posts

  • Making Space for Sports

    Larry DeLucas, 72 Birmingham, Alabama There are...
  • Pickleball + Airstream = A Lovely Way to Play January 2023 Athlete of the Month

    Gene Berg, 70 Margaret Berg, 61 Litchfield, New...
  • The Long Run November 2022

    ASSOCIATION NEWS NSGA Announces 2023 Games Them...
  • Gary Patton Refines and Finds Success December 2022 Athlete of the Month

    Gary Patton, 77 Rock Rapids, Iowa Gary Patton n...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Memorial Fund
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA E-Newsletter and General Interest E-Mail Sign Up

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2022 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
2023 National Senior Games - July 7-18, 2023 159 Days 21 Hours 40 Minutes 12 Seconds