Kevin
Orr
’86
Jacobs High School
’90
University of Illinois
Kevin’s story is one
of personal courage. He was born with arthrogryposis which impairs the ability to walk. This
impairment never stopped Kevin from doing anything. He was on the wrestling team his freshman and sophomore
years and played football all four years at Jacobs. He sang in the chorus, participated in Drama Club and
performed on stage, an NHS member, and as a Senior he was a member of the Academic Bowl Team and Olympics of the Mind.
At U of I Kevin was a member
of the National Championship Wheel Chair Basketball Team and was MVP his Senior Year. He was a Paralympics
track star earning a Bronze medal in Seoul, Korea. In 1989 Kevin started a Quad Rugby Team at U of I.
Today, Kevin serves as the Coordinator
of Recreation at the Lakeshore Foundation in Alabama helping young people overcome their physical limitations.
A 2005 documentary Murderball was about the life of the quadriplegic players, Kevin included, who played in
Athens, Greece in the 2004 Para Olympics. It was nominated for an Academy Award.
As Mark Slimko writes about Kevin “…that no matter what obstacle stands
in your way in life, strength, courage and determination can help you get through it”.
