Richard Ruffalo, master motivator, author, educator and internationally
recognized athlete, inspires a wide range of audiences everywhere. At age 32,
he lost his eyesight and wanted to give up teaching, but with the support of
his family and school administration, he never lost his "vision." At the Walt
Disney Co./McDonald's American Teacher Awards, Ruffalo was named both the
Outstanding Coach of the Year and the Outstanding Teacher of the Year for 1995.
Vice President Al Gore presented the award to him on national television.
Ruffalo continues to persist and excel, speaking to Fortune 500 companies,
schools, conventions and numerous other events, motivating every audience to a
high level of inspiration.
As a teacher, he was selected as one of five educators from the United States
to be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Ruffalo has won
numerous honors and awards for his athletic ability. He is the winner of four
different world titles in shot put, discus, javelin and powerlifting. He has
earned 14 international gold medals, won 27 national titles, set 9 world and 15
national records, and has won 11 USA Track and Field Master's State Titles
against sighted competitors.
In 1988, the United States Olympic Committee named Ruffalo Disabled Athlete of
the Year for athletic, civic and professional accomplishments. He is a
three-time winner of the coveted Governor's Cup Award and winner of the Victor
Award, as the nation's most inspirational athlete of 1989. In 1994, he was
inducted into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Ruffalo received an
honorary doctorate for his life work in 1997.
Recently Ruffalo was named one of ten Healthy American Fitness Leaders by the
U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce and one of America's "Hometown Heroes" on the
Children's Miracle Network Telethon. In September 1998, Ruffalo was honored by
the Quaker Oats Company on the "Always Kids" program on TNT with the Salute to
Excellence Award as a role model for kids across the country. He also appeared
on "The Hour of Power" with Dr. Robert Schuler in 1999. This program was aired
to 40 million viewers from 185 nations.
Ruffalo is an inspiration and a motivator for everyone. A movie on his life to
be aired on the Wonderful World of Disney is currently under development.
