By DON FOWLER

The Rhode Island Senate halted their busy schedule

recently to pay homage to the three founders of the Ocean State Senior

Olympics, as the group celebrated their 30th anniversary.

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Governor J. Joseph Garrahy, long before he became a

senior himself, appointed Anna Tucker of Coventry

as the first Director of Elderly Affairs for the State of Rhode Island. Garrahy and Tucker had a great

vision for serving the seniors of the state, a service that included much more

than health care, housing assistance, insurance, and the other vital needs of

an aging population.

Recognizing that there were many seniors who were still

active on the various athletic fields, they organized the first ever Senior

Olympics in Rhode Island, which was only the

third state to do so, California and Florida being the first

two.

Anna, a former URI athlete, recruited DEA staff member

Dolores Casey Bergeron to serve as the games coordinator for the event.

Bergeron, a former phys. ed. teacher, is still active in the organization

today.

In addition to the Senate recognition, a special

reception was held at the Fabre Line Club, where plaques were presented to the

three founders by RI Senior Olympics Director Mike Lyons and Ocean State

Special Olympics President Dr. Patrick Conley.

The three recipients of the much-deserved honors were

also instrumental in helping to create the National Olympics. Many Rhode

Islanders went on to participate and win medals in the national events.

The RI Olympic Games were held at the University of Rhode Island

June 6-8.