Nathon Horton pulls into Powhatan Middle School in his Nissan Pathfinder. Inside are four of his volleyball teammates, friends he’s known for years and now works with as a support professional. They joke around as they head inside for practice.
In the gym, parents and family members sit on the bleachers. Nathon moves easily between helping set up, chatting with parents about weekend plans, and making sure everyone is ready. He talks strategy with coaches, encourages teammates, and checks in with volunteers.
Everything in that gym seems to run through him.
He’s spent decades building that community, 32 years to be exact. And he did it by being himself, showing up, caring about people, and building what he once needed most — a place where everyone feels accepted.
Finding His Place
It took a long time for Nathon to find that kind of space. Growing up, school was hard. He was bullied often and felt isolated.
“I got picked on every day,” he said. “In the locker room, in class, it didn’t stop. I just kept telling myself, they don’t know what they don’t know. They don’t mean it. I said that to get through the next day.”
One day, that next day led to a moment that changed everything.
Nathon walked into a hardware store and saw his friend Wade wearing a Special Olympics softball jersey. He asked about it, and Wade told him to come check out a practice. Nathon showed up the next week and found the community he’d been missing.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I could make a mistake, and people still cheered for me. That had never happened before.”
He kept showing up.
Becoming a Leader
Nathon started playing in different areas, joining teams across Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, and beyond. Every season brought new teammates and new friends. “I played for so many teams back then,” he said. “It didn’t matter where I was playing. I just wanted to be around people like me.”
Over the years, Nathon tried just about every sport he could. Softball, basketball, bowling, golf, tennis, soccer, skiing, swimming, and volleyball. Each one gave him something different: confidence, connection, and a sense of purpose.
As his experience grew, so did his influence. He became a leader not because he asked for it, but because people naturally turned to him. Whether it was helping a teammate, speaking up for others, or keeping things running smoothly, Nathon was the person everyone could count on.
Serving on the Board
This year, Nathon was elected to serve on the Special Olympics Virginia Board of Directors, officially making him the athlete with the highest position in the organization. He’s also the only athlete currently serving on the board.
He knows what that means. “If something’s not right, I’ll say it,” he said. “And if it is, I’ll say that too.”
As a board member, Nathon helps make decisions that shape the future of the organization. He’s using his seat at the table to make sure every athlete has a voice and the same kind of opportunities he’s had. “I’ve been through a lot,” he said. “If I can help even one person not feel alone, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Maura Long, his Global Messenger mentor, has seen that leadership up close. “He’s one of the kindest and most genuine people I’ve ever met,” she said. “He’s the type of leader who listens first, asks questions, and then speaks when it matters. When Nathon talks, people stop and listen.”
Nathon believes athletes deserve a bigger role in leadership, and he wants to see more of them follow in his path. “We should have unified staff and unified boards,” he said. “Athletes and partners working together.”
He wants athletes to have real seats at the table, not just in name but in decision-making. He talks about creating leadership roles at every level, from local area programs to the state office. He believes athletes should be helping plan events, lead committees, and speak directly to partners and sponsors.
To Nathon, that’s what inclusion really means. Building a future where athletes aren’t just part of the conversation but are helping lead it.
Back in the Gym
Back at volleyball practice, Nathon moves through the gym like it’s home. He’s talking with parents, checking in with players, and laughing with coaches.
Watching him in the gym, it’s clear what drives him. He wants athletes to be heard. He wants them to have a say in what happens. And he wants others to understand what athletes think, feel, and experience.
He’ll tell you that’s the real work.
Listening. Asking. Making space for people to speak.
Nathon will be speaking at Fall Championships this weekend, sharing his story and inviting athletes to reach out to him directly. If you want to connect with him, ask a question, or share a thought, you can contact him at:
nhorton@specialolympicsva.org