IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Bob Denney
March 30, 2010561/624-8582
CONNECTICUT’S FRANK SELVA NAMED RECIPIENT OF CONRAD REHLING
AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLF
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Frank Selva of Bethany, Conn., who has spent more than two decades bringing public awareness to Special Olympics, was named the recipient of the Conrad Rehling Award for his contributions to the growth of Special Olympics Golf. Selva was honoredMarch 23, during the Connecticut PGA Annual Meeting at the Marriott Hartford Downtown Hotel in Hartford, Conn.
Selva, 68, the PGA director of golf at Orange Hills Country Club in Orange, Conn., had served from 1972-2009 at nearby Race Brook Country Club, setting an enviable standard in service to both youth and his membership.
In 1989, Selva began his involvement with Special Olympics at his club. The Special Olympics Golf movement grew in the early 1990s, with Selva working alongside Rehling and other PGA Professionals to advance a campaign that introduced golf as a demonstration sport in 1995 at the Special Olympics WorldGames in New Haven, Conn. In 1999, golf was recognized as an official sport of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and has been contested at each World Summer Games since.
“This is mind-boggling,” said Selva, who was emotional during the ceremony. “I was fortunate to have known Conrad Rehling, and worked with him and many others in making golf a wonderful piece of the Special Olympics movement. Special Olympics is part of why you don’t retire.”
The number of golf athletes in Special Olympics Connecticut expanded from 22 players when Selva first got involved to more than 230 athletes today. Selva, the 2006 PGA Junior Golf Leader Award recipient and an inaugural member of the Connecticut PGA Professional Hall of Fame, has served as a Rules Official at three Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Currently, all 52 U.S. Special Olympic Programs offer golf training and competition, with over 17,000 athletes competing. The program also is offered in over 50 countries worldwide.
“I traveled with Conrad Rehling and helped him start programs through several PGA Sections,” said Selva. “It is tremendous to see how Special Olympics golf has grown worldwide.”
Presenting the Conrad Rehling Award to Selva was Bob Gobrecht, Managing Director of Special Olympics North America, and joined by Special Olympics Connecticut athletes Kevin Brink and David Dennin.
Special Olympics Connecticut officials joining the ceremony included President Beau Doherty; Vice President of Games and Sports Development Laurie-Jean Hannon and Events Manager Sara Pierson.
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“Frank has been so inspirational to our golf program. He is just sopositive about what our athletes can do in this sport,” said Hannon. “He has beeninstrumental in assuring that our annual state tournament goes well — even when we had to find a new location, he did the leg work and set itup for us.
“When I need a practice site regardless of where in thestate it might be, I call Frank and within a few days he has somethinglined up for our athletes. He provides a golf clinic at ourSummer Games every year to encourage participation in the sport and thenwhen our season kicks off he is right there to help whether it's toprovide a coaches training school or find new practice facilities orequipment. Special Olympics Connecticut is very fortunate to have Frankinvolved with our golf program. I honestly believe we would not havebeen so successful with this sport if he wasn't the catalyst to get itstarted.”
The ceremony also included Connecticut PGA President Ralph Salito and PGA District 1 Director Derek Sprague, PGA general manager at Malone (N.Y.) Golf Club.
“Frank Selva has dedicated his professional life to giving back to the game of golf,” said Connecticut PGA President Ralph Salito, PGA head professional at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, Conn. “The Conrad Rehling award is an another example of how the true givers are acknowledged and rewarded over time by friends of PGA of America members for their selfless contributions. Awards like this serve as an inspiration to all who care!”
About Special Olympics Golf
Special Olympics Golf, part of a worldwide sports program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, offers five levels of competition for athletes with different ability levels. Ranging from individual skills competition to alternate-shot team play to individual stroke play, Special Olympics Golf allows athletes to grow in the game as they gain experience.
About the Conrad Rehling Award
The Conrad Rehling Award, first presented in 2005, honors the late PGA Master Professional who followed a successful collegiate coaching career at Florida and Alabama by transforming his retirement into inspiring PGA Professionals to give back to the physically challenged. Rehling died in April 2007 at age 87.
The founding father of the Special Olympics Golf movement in 1988, Rehling spearheaded The PGA of America’s efforts to introduce golf to Special Olympics. The Association and its more than 28,000 men and women professionals have dedicated countless hours, services and funding to the growth of Special Olympics Golf.
Conrad Rehling Award Recipients
2005Jesse Weeks, Memphis, Tenn.
2006Steve Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2007Jeff Beaudry, Sandy, Utah
2008Tom Addis, Beaumont, Calif.
2009Frank Selva, Orange, Conn.
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About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
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