A Special Tribute to Bud Dodson at the Southwest Regional Spring Games

The Southwest Regional Spring Games are this Saturday at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Despite the loss of Area 24 Director Bud Dodson, athletes from Area 24 (Manistee, Mason & Lake Counties) plan to compete Saturday to honor Bud. About 500 athletes will be attending from four areas.

Competition at the Southwest Regional Spring Games includes aquatics, gymnastics, track & field, Bocce, and horseshoes. Student volunteers from Calvin College are important to the success of the games.

Bud and his trademark ‘red’  shirt will be dearly missed at the competitions but the athletes from his area will be wearing red shirts in his honor.

A special tribute to Bud is planned for Opening Ceremonies, which begin at 8:30 a.m. Bud’s son Kerry will do one leg of the run leading up to the torch lighting ceremony.

After Saturday’s competition, many athletes, coaches, volunteers, and members of the Special Olympics Michigan family will travel to Scottville in Mason County for Bud’s funeral. His family requested a later service so the athletes could participate in the Southwest Regional Spring Games, because that is what Bud would have wanted.

Posted: 2010-04-28