Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently contributed $2,500 to Wardell Swann, a former SMECO employee. Swann won four gold medals at the Fifth Annual Hanger Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities, held June 11-13 in Edmond, Oklahoma. Swann took first place in the 100 meter, 200 meter, long-jump, and weight lifting competitions. After completing SMECO’s Lineman’s Training Program, Swann became ill with pneumococcal pneumonia in February 2000. As a result, both of his legs were amputated below the knee, nine fingers were fully or partially amputated, and his kidneys were also affected by the disease.
Swann aspires to compete with the U.S. Paralympic Team and to host a competition for disabled athletes in the metropolitan area next year. He is pictured with his former SMECO co-workers: left to right, Robert Young, Sonny Goldey, Scott Peabody, Wardell Swann (holding a prosthetic leg), Ken Horky, Tony Knox, and Steve Guy.