Billy is from Herndon, Virginia, and has been involved in the Special Olympics for 23 years. Billy Duquette’s favorite Special Olympics sport is bowling, because he’s gotten his highest score and most of his gold medals in bowling.
What being a Global Messenger means to Billy Duquette, is going out to lend his voice towards different audience members, showing them who he is, and how he can encourage others to continue supporting the Special Olympics.
One of Billy Duquette’s favorite Special Olympics memories is receiving the Athlete of The Year Award in 2018. The Special Olympics has changed Billy Duquette to be a better sportsman and keeping a kind and positive attitude and good sportsmanship towards his opponents.
If Billy Duquette had the opportunity to create a new special olympics program/event, he would create more 5k walks/runs events because it would allow more opportunities to create more fundraising for members of Special Olympics. Billy Duquette would tell someone who’s not familiar with the Special Olympics, that the organization is about people with disabilities, there’s plenty of volunteer efforts and how it’s an incredible experience. A person that inspires Billy Duquette is his sister Michelle because she got him involved in the Special Olympics organization after coming back home with medals and ribbons after various competitions.
Something that people might not expect when they first meet Billy Duquette, is he’s a problem solver and enjoys giving a helping hand to whoever needs it. If Billy Duquette could speak to the entire world for one minute, he would say that no disability “has a limit”. We all have the ability to strive and succeed in life. If Billy Duquette’s Special Olympics Experience were turned into a movie biopic, he would title it “Field of Dreams” and have Kevin Costner play him.
If Billy Duquette could invite anyone in the world to see him speak or play at a Special Olympics event, he would have Pete Weber attend one of his Special Olympics activities. Billy Duquette has served as an athlete leader of the Special Olympics for 10 years, as well as being on the Council and YPB Board. Billy Duquette has performed many speeches to different organizations as a Global Messenger/athlete leader. These include Law Enforcement, Government Center, Motorcycle Radio, and Torch Run speeches and a Global Messenger speech in Norfolk, VA. Billy Duquette also did trivia campaign speeches for YPB.
Rose Reeder has been involved in the Special Olympics for 15 years. Rose doesn’t have a favorite Special Olympics sport. However, she’s an assistant coach for floor hockey and works with a coach named Ashby. She once helped an athlete that was struggling with his shots and hand positions. Afterwards, he got better moving forward.
One of Rose Reeder’s favorite Special Olympics memories is attending The Bank of America Summit of 2024 last summer. The Special Olympics has changed Rose Reeder and has given her the opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills on becoming a better and more efficient leader.
What being a Global Messenger means to Rose Reeder, is spreading the word and what our organization can do for different sports events and other special activities, as well as funding that will help athletes get the support they need and for our program as a whole.
Rose Reeder’s new Special Olympics program/event she would create, would be pickleball, because there’s not many Special Olympics areas that have that particular sport. As such, we could expand upon adding that in more areas.
What Rose Reeder would say and do, regarding someone not familiar with Special Olympics is, figure out what their profession is, how Special Olympics can tie-into that, and encourage them to come out to an event/activity and see what they think of the Special Olympics experience. Rose Reeder is inspired by The Civil Air Patrol, because they inspire and help support people with disabilities like the Special Olympics does.
Something that people might not expect when they first meet Rose Reeder, is her pet dog, Mr. Wiggles, and her ability to organize and problem solve things when situations call for that. If Rose Reeder had the ability to speak to the whole world for one minute, she would say that you may have a goal and some people won’t believe in you, but it’s not something that’s out of your reach and control. “If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it”. If Rose Reeder’s Special Olympics experiences were turned into a movie biopic, she would title it “Roy Rogers” and have Dolly Parton play her.
If Rose Reeder could invite anyone in the world to see her play or speak, she would have Red Skelton attend one of her Special Olympics activities. Rose Reeder has served as an athlete leader of the Special Olympics for 7 years. Rose Reeder has been on 1 YPB Board and has presented speeches for the Polar Plunge, Hilton’s Track Meet, Torch Run, PNG Campaign, and Summer Games.
