C ADE S ASC
PEEDSKA
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LEGACY DO WHAT YOU LOVE, LOVE WHAT YOU DO:
HONORING BILL CUSHMAN By Kelly Pugliano As we age, we tend to question how we have lived our lives.
Did we do all that we set out to do? Did we make an impact? Did we make a difference? After dedicating more than 50 years to the sport of speedskat- ing, Bill Cushman’s friends and family can be assured that he did all of those things and more. He was an integral part of how this sport evolved, especially for those in the Midway Club and on the John Rose Oval. Known for being a “down to earth, regular guy”, Bill was quick to
share a story or two of his family and with his dry wit, could lighten the mood even in the most heavy of times. It was important to him to make a personal connection with those around him. This gift would help him whether he coached and managed US World Teams, US Olympic Teams or interacted as one skater to another or one parent to another. He was genuine in his words and his life. For those willing to give speedskating a try, Bill, who was Midway’s head coach from 1961, was always there to share his knowledge and passion for the sport. That love of ice and com- petition would help build the foundation for a new skater to be successful with goals set on the oval and in daily life. He was a fixture on the backstretch, with hat perched just above his ears, he would clap his gloves together while sending encouraging words “Bend your knees, swing your arms…keep going!” Those encouraging words have been carried in the hearts of many athletes. Recently, Olympian Rebekah Bradford recalled of her past coach “Bill was always concerned with making skat- ing fun and enjoyable. There were always jokes during our rest between intervals to keep us engaged throughout the workout.” Even though Bill wanted his skaters to succeed on the ice, it was also important to him that life goals off the ice were accom- plished. Rebekah also shared “ Growing up through Midway, Bill always made a point to seek me out whether I was in MN, WI, or UT to ask how I’m doing; was I still pursuing my education? Was I still enjoying skating? See, Bill never asked about my results. He genuinely cared about my well- being and my heart for the sport. With every conversation, I had a sense that he was con- fident in not only my ability to skate but my ability as a person.” Bill Cushman once said “The basic goal of Midway is to give the youth of our area a program to develop into the best skaters each can be and to provide a direct path to World and Olympic competitions, while having fun and completing their education. It can be done!”
Bill committed his life to give back to a sport that gave him so much joy. He served as President of US Speedskating from 1982- 2000 and was an active Board Member from 1972-2000. In 1996, Bill was inducted into the Speedskating Hall of Fame and most re- cently was honored in May of 2010 with the George Howie Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport of speedskating.
14 RACING BLADE Fall 2011
www.usspeedskating.org
Bill Cushman passed away on October 4, 2011 at the age of 77. He will be greatly missed by those he helped, encouraged and inspired because he did make a difference in the lives of many on and off the ice.
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