Richard Kuntzler
Contributor | 1984
Richard was involved with wheelchair sports from 1960 until his death in 1984. In June of 1960, he worked as an assistant coach in track and field and slalom events. In 1962 and 1963, Richard was the track and field coach for the Abilities Team from Alberta, Long Island, NY. He was the designer of the National Reporting Booklet for qualifiers to the National Wheelchair Games, a member of the NWG committee, assistant clerk of course at the NWG and chief technical official for field events. Richard helped to organize the National Wheelchair Officials Association and served as its treasurer until his death. He also organized and directed the Tri-State Regional Wheelchair Games for six years.
Richard was the coach for the U.S. team at the 1971 Pan American Games in Kingston, Jamaica; the 1973 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru; the Stoke-Mandeville Games in 1974; and served as assistant to Team Director Ben Lipton at the Pan American Games in 1975 in Mexico City. In 1976, Richard served as clerk of course at the NWG and was also a member of the Games Committee. He was head coach of the U.S. Amputee Team at the 1976 Paralympics held in Toronto, Canada. Elected as the National Wheelchair Athletic Committee Tri-State Regional representative in 1981, Richard served in that position until his death. He was also the chairman of the Tri-State Wheelchair Athletic Association for several years and served as games director of the Tri-State Wheelchair Regional Sanctioned Games.
