Anne Lipton

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Achievements

When the National Wheelchair Athletic Association was created, there was a network of friends, associates and volunteers from New York who teamed with the the Bulova School of Watchmaking and the Bulova Plant to utilize resources in the formation of the NWAA.

Additionally, the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association collaborated on the formation of its organizational structure; finalize its legal creation; promote its existence; fund raise and begin programming for the nation’s rehabilitation and allied health professionals. They also reached out to the nations paralyzed veterans (PVA Chapters), and the ever growing number of polio survivors throughout the nation to begin recruiting, educating and training potential athletes.

While Ben Lipton was the catalyst for this, Anne Lipton was an equal and enterprising partner in all aspects of the creation of the organization. Anne and Ben worked as a team. Ben was the front man, while Anne was the one keeping it all together behind the scenes. Anne would work the Registration desk at all the National Games. She led the team from the Bulova School during registration and Medical Classification. Anne also functioned as the “mom” at these events, recruiting and organizing all of the ladies who cooked and fed the participants as well as making the rounds to all of the tables to greet and talk to all the athletes, officials and volunteers. She was such a gracious host.

Anne did a yeoman’s job of logistics and planning at all events. Anne coordinated many of the activities which included not only registrations, but also transportation services to and from the airports to the hotels and event sites. She also led the team responsible for overseeing the National Games Desk during NWG. This involved receipt and recording of all event results, scoring and preparation of award listings and data prep for International Team selections prior to the Banquet. She also coordinated Banquet Ticket sales.

When David Williamson had the honor of inducting Anne into the Hall of Fame, he attempted to share many of her accomplishments and contributions to the NWAA, its early beginnings, its continuous growth and all of the accomplishments; her devotion and support of Ben and her love and respect for all the athletes. David concluded his induction comments with the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” David “thought this appropriate at the time because for many athletes who grew into adulthood during our early years in wheelchair sports, we realized early on that Ben and Anne Lipton were very special people in our lives and would remain such throughout our lifetimes. The twinkle in Ben’s eyes and the love in Anne’s heart were blessings to us all. They loved us and we love them.”