Elizabell Williams
Recreation/Development | 1996
Elizabell “Willie” Williams came to Colorado to work as a nurse at the Colorado Children’s Hospital in Denver. She soon recognized that youngsters with physical disabilities in Colorado would have a much better chance at assimilating back into the community through their participation in outdoor recreation, specifically skiing on Colorado ski slopes. Willie began taking youngsters with limb amputations to Winter Park Ski Resort in 1968. Starting as a small class with 17 boys, it was initially known as Adaptive Recreation for Childhood Health or ARCH. Through this program she worked closely with fellow HOF inductees Dr. Frank Chang and eventually, Hal O’Leary to develop their life time leisure skills and outdoor recreation through rehabilitation. ARCH would eventually grow into the program that became known internationally as the National Sports Center for the Disabled. She also helped produce three instructional and inspirational films featuring adaptive skiing.
Willie could always be counted on to be at the finish line of a race or run with words of encouragement. She took great pride in seeing her young charges get up after falling and going on to experience success. Willie Williams was one of the earliest pioneers who recognized the physical, mental and emotional benefits of alpine skiing for young people with physical disabilities.
