Mark Grant
Contributor | 2023
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
School Name: Arizona Disabled Sports
Mark Grant worked for many decades as the Special
Populations Supervisor for the City of Mesa Parks and
Recreation Department. As such, he worked closely with his
long time friend, Gregg Baumgarten, who was with Mesa
Public Schools, to found the Mesa Association of Sports for
the Disabled, later to be known as Arizona Disabled Sports
(AzDS) in 1989.
Arizona Disabled Sports was a collaborative effort of the
public school system, the city parks and recreation department
and the non-profit organization, a unique partnership which
served as a model for integrated sports programming for the
disabled. Arizona Disabled Sports has served youth, adults,
and veterans in year round multiple sports and competition
programming since its inception.
Mark’s most recent passion has been the 10 Meter Air Guns
programs. In 2015, he worked with Tim Baumgarten and
Roger Winn to implement a Veteran’s Administration grant
to develop Air Guns programming throughout the United
States, providing equipment, workshops and training for 23
chapters within Move United. He has then served as Move United’s National Veteran Air Gun
Outreach Series Coordinator to the present.
Mark also runs the local air gun program at AzDS as well, connecting with about 30 athletes
with physical disabilities and PTSD year-round while expanding the program to include many
athletes with developmental disabilities through a collaborative partnership with the City of Mesa.
In addition, Mark serves on the Board of Directors of Arizona Disabled Sports.
In 2007, Mark was honored by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association as an Outstanding
Recreation Administrator and in 2024 he entered the Northern Arizona University Hall of Fame for
his outstanding lifetime achievements.
