Lyle Holman Makes History While Enjoying VIP Status at Arkansas State Special Olympics

BY MELANIE BUCK –

Lyle Holman is a unique guy and he was given a very unique opportunity. Lyle was selected as the first ever athlete to get the chance to emcee at the Arkansas State Special Olympics. The 2015 competition was recently held in Searcy, Arkansas and Lyle was an instant hit.

At the VIP dinner, held for the event’s celebrity staff, Lyle was honored to sit by and have dinner with none other than Miss Teen Arkansas, Jewels Fletcher. “Miss Teen Arkansas’ representatives came and asked if we minded them sitting with us,” said Lyle. He also got to meet Cody Kelley, a pro-fisherman who donates much of his time and his winnings to Special Olympics. “He donated a check to Special Olympics at the VIP dinner and I went to talk to him and he asked me if I would get in the picture with him with the big check, so I did,” smiled Lyle.

Lyle was a most important person at the event, being the announcer for Opening Ceremonies. He, and his newfound friend and fellow athlete, Jacob James from Corning, Arkansas, shared the duties of announcing the March of the Athletes. As each team arrived, they would give a background of the area teams and highlight the athletes as well. They also introduced notable citizens and sponsors of the event.

Some of the other highlights of his trip were meeting members of the North Little Rock Police Department who gave of their time to award event winners with medals, and watching girls play with hulla-hoops and fire while listening to live entertainment play Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire. He also danced the night away at a special dance held for the athletes.

Lyle also gained some awards for his hard work on the field. After fulfilling his honorable duties, it was back to the grind for Lyle as he competed in the 100-meter Dash where he took 5^th place and Softball Throw where he placed 4^th. He was excited to have received his awards from officers of the law. “The first person that gave me my ribbon was a State Trooper and the last person to give me a ribbon was the Chaplain of the North Little Rock Police Department,” beamed Lyle.

Something most special to Lyle was a t-shirt made for good luck by his classmates at PCDC’s Adult Wellness and Education Center. PCDC teacher, Eve Strother, said, “We wanted to send something with him for good luck but we didn’t want to send forty little things so we did the shirt. We spent a week on the shirt and not one student told the secret. It’s hard to keep a secret when there’s fifty people in the building.” The students all signed the shirt and presented it to him before he left for Searcy. Lyle was proud to wear his new shirt and had athletes at the state event sign it as well. “By the time he got done, Lyle came home with over 300 signatures on his shirt. His mom is going to get it framed,” said Strother.

Lyle plans to continue to compete in the Special Olympics, serve on the Special Olympic Leadership Committee, and the PCDC Board of Directors, although TV might be calling soon. “Right before I had to go out onto the field, one of the guys from THV11 had a camera and said I should be on TV.”

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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