Adaptive sports organization BlazeSports America announces the appointment of Duane Morrow, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Primerica and Chief Marketing Officer of Primerica Life and Client Solutions, to Chairman of the Board of Directors. Morrow, who is a world class Paralympic athlete, broke his neck playing rugby nearly 10 years ago, and has been active in adaptive sports worldwide since that time.

“Having already benefited from Duane’s services as a Board Member, BlazeSports is thrilled to welcome him as Board Chair,” said BlazeSports Executive Director Cynthia Frisina. While Morrow’s ascension to the chairmanship bodes well for a bright future for the organization, BlazeSports also thanks outgoing Board Chairman, Daniel J. Holland, former Chief Operating Officer of Hewitt Associates, who successfully steered the non-profit organization for the past 10 years. “BlazeSports would not be here today without the important efforts and hard work of Dan Holland,” said Frisina. “He has guided this organization for a decade and ensured its continuation.”

Morrow was living and working in England when he broke his neck during a rugby game in 2004. Paralyzed from his chest down, this tenacious athlete decided that life was not over, it would simply need to change.
 
“You can adapt, or you can go into a cave and give up,” Morrow is known for saying.

Morrow adapted, and for the past 10 years, he has played wheelchair quad rugby on the Shepherd Center team and races for the Shepherd Center while continuing to grow in his career with Primerica. As Captain, Morrow led the quad rugby team to First Place in the Division 2 Championship in 2013 and was awarded MVP of the 2014 5th Place Division 1 Team. Morrow was instrumental in the founding of Beyond Therapy, an extreme therapy program for athletes, which is now available at Shepherd Center. In addition to serving on the Board of BlazeSports America, Morrow is a Board Member of the Shepherd Center Foundation and has been Announcer of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. He lives in Duluth with his family.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving BlazeSports America,” said Holland. “During those years, I have come to know Duane, and I feel extremely proud to pass the baton to his capable hands. Duane’s knowledge of adaptive sports combined with his unsurpassed energy will prove to be a huge asset to this incredible organization that changes the lives of so many.”