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Carrying the torchOlympian achievement for local manv TPhoto by J Hrnf.onROBIN WOOLFGRD prepares for Monday’s torch run by working out in Annapolis.By ELAINE DICKINSON Staff WriterWhen the Olympic torch is carried through Annapolis on Monday it will likely be one of life’s highpoints for the 13 local runners who are part of the historic relay that is crossing the country to open the games in Los Angeles July 28.But for Robin Woolford, 28, being part of any race, much less an Olympian one. is something no one thought possible nine years ago.Woolford, of Edgewater, will carry the torch from Maryland Avenue to Main Street about 1 p.m. Monday where he will pass the torch to Mayor Richard Hillman and join an Olympic flame-lighting ceremony at City Dock.The public is encouraged to gather at City Dock about noon where festivities will include music by the Naval Academy Band, Coast Guard waterboat displays, clowns and a balloon release.When Woolford brings the torch into downtown Annapolis his speed will not be blinding, but he embodies the spirit of the Olympics as much as anyone could.On Jan. 13, 1975, Woolford was a 19-year-oid store clerk at Rainbow Cleaners on West Street when an armed robber entered the store, took cash and ordered him to lie on the floor. Before fleeing, the robber reached over the counter and shot Woolford in the back of the neck.Writh a bullet lodged in his spinal cord, Woolford was paralyzed from the neck down. He spent six months in the hospital and when the bullet was finally removed, no one was waiting for miracles.They didn’t expect me to walk again.much less anything else,” he said this week. Now I can do everything I could do before and I get around just fine.He retells his story in a matter-of-fact way, without a trace of bitterness. He is still partially paralyzed on his right side and has lost some of his senses on his left side.But Woolford is too busy to look back. He is one of the youngest members ever to become the head of Elks Lodge 622 inAnnapolis and he works full-time as a field technician for the state Department of Agriculture.Since the Elks sponsored a kilometer of the Olympic torch run for $3,000, Woolford wanted to be the one to run.(Continued on Page 9, Col. 3)■ Map shows run route. Page 9.
Newspaper Details
Capital Gazette
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Sat, May 12, 1984
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Benjamin S.
WI, USA 24 Mar 2024
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