November - December 2007
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VDOTer in Profile
Gene Arnold: Outstanding Service, ‘Outstanding Family’
Gene Arnold, left, his wife Jeannie, daughter Patty and
son Joe at the SOVA Awards Banquet
The family of Gene Arnold, an associate principal research scientist, was recognized this spring as the “Outstanding Family of the Year for 2006” by Special Olympics Virginia (SOVA).
When not working at the Research Council, Arnold is committed and busy with SOVA activities, as is his wife, Jeannie. Arnold is area coordinator for SOVA activities in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna and Louisa counties, where 200 athletes are offered 10 sports programs throughout the year.
Arnold has been in charge of these activities since 2003, and he and Jeannie have helped coach basketball, track and field, soccer and bowling.
They have been involved with SOVA since 1993 when their son, Joe, became eligible for SOVA sports.
So, in addition to the administrative duties of area coordinator, Arnold attends weekly sports practices, as does Jeannie, and they serve as chaperones for regional and state tournaments.
It doesn’t stop there. The Arnolds are also active in the special needs community in Charlottesville, where Gene was in charge of the Challenger Division of the Piedmont Little League for more than 10 years when Joe was a player.
He was given the Arc of the Piedmont’s Stevens-Paige Award in 2002 for his role in “improving the lives of infants, children and adults with, or at risk of, intellectual or developmental disabilities.”
In addition, Gene and Jeannie are active in their church’s special needs program, and Gene is leader of the Special Needs Ministry Team.
