DARLENE QUINLAN

Darlene Quinlan, a paraplegic from a childhood car crash, never quit, whether it was in track and field, swimming, basketball, or life. She has held numerous regional, national and international records in discus, precision javelin and shot put. Among her international accomplishments is a gold medal in swimming at the 1968 U.S. Wheelchair Paralympics in Tel Aviv, Israel, and another gold in the 1982 Pan-Am Games as a member of U.S. women's basketball team. Quinlan was a member of the Motor City Wheelers that took the league title in 1975, and when the women's basketball team folded, she joined the men's team -- the Detroit Sparks -- in 1979 where she played guard for 15 years. In addition, she served as Miss Easter Seal in 1969, was named United Foundation's Sportswoman of the Year in 1974, and captained the U.S. women's basketball team at the 1976 Paralympics in Toronto. Quinlan helped organize the first women's national basketball tournament (held in Dearborn) and served on the board of directors of the Michigan Wheelchair Athletic Association. In 1977, she was the second female to be inducted into the National Wheelchair Sports Hall of Fame.