On July 20, 1968, together with the Chicago Park District, the Kennedy Foundation hosted the competition which included 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities [mental retardation] from 26 states and Canada competing in athletics, floor hockey and aquatics.

Five months later, Special Olympics, Inc. was established as a not-for-profit charitable organization under the laws of the District of Columbia. The National Association for Retarded Citizens, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the American Association on Mental Deficiency pledged their support for this first systematic effort to provide sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities [mental retardation] based on the Olympic tradition and spirit.

Special Olympics began in Texas in 1969 within the recreation division of the Texas Association for Retarded Citizens (TARC). The first Summer Games was hosted at Paul Tyson Stadium in Waco, June 6-7, 1969 with 350 athletes competing in 10 track and field events.

In 1974, Special Olympics moved the Summer Games to the University of Texas at Austin, the home of the competition for the 15 consecutive years and 18 total. More than 1,400 athletes competed in the event.

By 1978, Texas Special Olympics was established as a separate, non-profit organization. The Summer Games introduced a quota for track and field events of 2,400 athletes, encouraging athletes to participate in the other two sports of aquatics and gymnastics.

During the 15 consecutive years that the Summer Games were held at the University of Texas, the program saw tremendous growth. The 1982 Summer Games were the largest on record with 4,000 athletes competing. The Law Enforcement Torch Run in Texas began in 1985 when a small group of Houston police officers carried a Special Olympics torch to the Houston city limits and gave it to a group from the Bexar County Mounted Patrol. The county officers, on horseback, carried the Torch to Austin to help open the Summer Games. In 1984, one of the most popular Special Olympics events, the frisbee throw, was eliminated, as the organization moved more toward its original Olympic roots.

The Summer Games moved away from the University of Texas to Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos in 1989. Home Sports Entertainment , now Fox Sports Southwest, began its relationship with Special Olympics, airing a two-hour post games special.

Expanding its statewide competition opportunities in 1991, Texas added the Winter Games, held in Houston.

A Yale University study published in 1995 showed the benefits of participation in Special Olympics as enhancing social competence and adaptive skills, building positive self-perception and improving work performance, while encouraging independence and offering real physical benefits.

While celebrating the 30th anniversary of the movement in 1998, the organization underwent an official name change to become Special Olympics Texas, Inc.

Kicking off the new Millennium, Special Olympics Texas broke new ground in 2001 with the additional of a third statewide competition, the Fall Classic. More than 1,000 athletes competed in five sports at the world-class facilities at Texas A&M University and surrounding area venues.

With 24,675 athletes, offering 20 sports at more than 200 competitions, Special Olympics Texas is one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world.

Now, more than 38 years later, the perception of people with intellectual disabilities [mental retardation] has changed tremendously. Our athletes are celebrated for their abilities not humiliated because of their disabilities. Special Olympics athletes in Texas hold leadership roles within the organization with two athlete representatives serving on the board of directors. Our athletes compete internationally and nationally, race in city triathlons, play in community recreational leagues in basketball and softball, have been guests at the White House and Governor's Mansion, and have even carried the Olympic Torch.

Through years of service by dedicated volunteers, partners, donors, family members, athletes and staff, Special Olympics Texas "Inspires Greatness©." But the challenge is still ahead for us - for every athlete that participates in our program, there are 18 people in the state of Texas with intellectual disabilities [mental retardation] who do not.