Pam Carey
2014
Pam Carey was small in stature but larger than life — the unmistakable “Little General” of Junior Nationals, known for her trademark cowboy hat, clipboard, and commanding presence in the staging area. Her unmistakable southern drawl and firm but loving leadership set the tone for order and excellence at every meet. Coaches quickly learned that when Pam said no one but athletes in the staging tent, she meant it. Her energy, precision, and deep care for the athletes made her one of the most respected and beloved figures in adaptive sports.
For decades, Pam Carey was a cornerstone of Adaptive Sports USA and Junior Nationals, devoting endless hours — often working late into the night — to ensure that every young athlete had a fair, well-organized, and positive competition experience. She was a doer in every sense, never hesitating to roll up her sleeves, fill in where needed, or take on new roles to strengthen the program.
Pam’s professionalism and expertise earned her a national and international reputation. She served as a National Technical Classifier for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in athletics beginning in 2010, and expanded her credentials across multiple sports:
Regional Classifier for USA Boccia (2016–present)
Class A Classifier for USA Table Tennis (2016–present)
Powerlifting Referee for U.S. Para Powerlifting (2018–present)
Her officiating experience was equally extensive. She served as an Official at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, continued as a U.S. Track & Field (USATF) official for decades, and was the Chief Clerk of the Course for multiple U.S. Paralympic Trials and countless Junior Nationals. In 2015, she added USATF Level 1 Coaching Certification to her list of achievements, expanding her impact on athlete development.
Pam also played a key role internationally, representing Team USA as Coach or Head Coach for multiple delegations, including:
IWAS Junior Games – Australia (1999), Stoke Mandeville (2014), Netherlands (2015), and Ireland (2018)
CP-ISRA Games – Spain (2018)
Her leadership extended beyond competition into grassroots development and inclusion. Pam was one of the driving forces behind the GUMBO (Games Uniting Mind and Body) organization in Louisiana, a long-standing chapter of Wheelchair Sports USA / Adaptive Sports USA. Under her guidance, GUMBO became a model for inclusive athletic programming — providing youth and adults with disabilities access to competitive opportunities and pathways to Paralympic-level sport.
Pam’s advocacy helped make Louisiana a national leader in integrating athletes with disabilities into high school interscholastic sports, particularly in track and field. She championed inclusion not as an idea, but as a reality — ensuring athletes with disabilities competed side-by-side with their peers on equal terms.
And of course, no Junior Nationals event was complete without Pam’s team cooking a giant pot of gumbo in the parking lot — a cherished tradition that became as iconic as the games themselves.
Through her decades of leadership, officiating, coaching, and mentoring, Pam Carey transformed the landscape of junior adaptive sports. Her tireless dedication, fierce commitment, and unmistakable spirit made her a legend in the movement. As colleagues often said, no one gave more time, sweat, or heart to Adaptive Sports USA’s junior programs than Pam Carey.