Rick Masi's efforts as an athlete as well as an advocate for the disabled make him a natural choice for induction into the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame.

As an athlete, Masi has competed in numerous sports -- wheelchair basketball, wheelchair cycling, wheelchair racing, soccer, and obstacle courses. For 30 years, Masi was a leading member of the Westland Warriors, leading his team annually in local, regional, national and international competitions.

Since 1979, he has been a regular competitor in the Windsor Games for Wheelchair Racing, frequently capturing first-place while also finishing as one of the top cyclists each year.

Since 1980, he has competed in the Victory Games in Lansing, capturing top honors in Wheelchair Racing and Obstacle Course while finishing runner-up in Cycling. Masi was a member of the Arc Cycling Program in 1993 and 1994, and he was honored with the Outstanding Effort Award in '94.

Masi began advocacy at a very young age, including a campaign to increase compensation for direct-care workers. He served as Vice President of the first Executive Board of People First (2000); worked for S.T.E.P. for 37 years; and he received the Distinguished Service Award from Operation Able (1998).

Masi also invented a hands-free shaving device and been working on grants and patents for it for over 20 years so that he can share his invention with other people with disabilities.