Raymond Curtis Brinkman, 56, of Pleasant Grove, formerly of Shelley, Idaho, passed away Tuesday, September 7th, at his home.
Curtis is survived by his mother, Karma Reed Brinkman; two sisters, Ellen (Craig) Garrett and Katherine (Rogers) Smith; three children, Greg (Lydia), Lorian (Marcum) Bouche, Jenna (Joe) Brown; and four grandchildren, Asher, Mekhai, Tregan and Kaia.
At 16 Curt was a 6' 7" tall athlete with dreams of playing professional basketball.
On a sunny day in 1970 in Shelley, Idaho, Curt climbed a power pole on the farm where he worked, and was electrocuted by a 72,000-volt power line. The electric shock stopped his heart and his body plummeted to the ground. The impact of the fall restarted his heart.
As he regained consciousness and looked down at his legs he cried, "I'll never walk again."
After several months in the hospital and in rehabilitation, Curt turned his athletic ambitions elsewhere. He organized and competed in wheelchair marathons, setting numerous world records, winning eight Paralympic medals, five of them gold, and countless other medals in National competitions.
In 1980, Curt became the first person in a wheelchair to win the Boston Marathon, finishing 17 minutes ahead of the first runner. And, after a 10-year break, he came back to set a new wheelchair world record.
Curt was an educator, motivational speaker, and author of the best-selling books The Will to Win and Still Winning/Lessons for Life.
Curt held multiple degrees, including Associates in Business, Bachelors in Psychology and Education, and a Masters in Educational Leadership.
He held membership in the National Speakers Association, Utah State Rehabilitation Council, the association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the International Reading Association. Curt was the Executive Director of the Utah Handcycling Team. He was listed in the National Distinguished Service Registry.
Curt was a tremendous success and inspiration to others and he emphasizes the power we have within ourselves and what we can accomplish when we "Command ourselves in Greatness."
A viewing will be held at the LDS chapel located at 520 N. 400 E. Pleasant Grove, Utah on Wednesday September 15th from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM followed by funeral services at 12:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at the Shelley Idaho Cemetery on Saturday September 18th at 2:00 PM at 784 East 1200 North Shelley, Idaho.
Curtis is survived by his mother, Karma Reed Brinkman; two sisters, Ellen (Craig) Garrett and Katherine (Rogers) Smith; three children, Greg (Lydia), Lorian (Marcum) Bouche, Jenna (Joe) Brown; and four grandchildren, Asher, Mekhai, Tregan and Kaia.
At 16 Curt was a 6' 7" tall athlete with dreams of playing professional basketball.
On a sunny day in 1970 in Shelley, Idaho, Curt climbed a power pole on the farm where he worked, and was electrocuted by a 72,000-volt power line. The electric shock stopped his heart and his body plummeted to the ground. The impact of the fall restarted his heart.
As he regained consciousness and looked down at his legs he cried, "I'll never walk again."
After several months in the hospital and in rehabilitation, Curt turned his athletic ambitions elsewhere. He organized and competed in wheelchair marathons, setting numerous world records, winning eight Paralympic medals, five of them gold, and countless other medals in National competitions.
In 1980, Curt became the first person in a wheelchair to win the Boston Marathon, finishing 17 minutes ahead of the first runner. And, after a 10-year break, he came back to set a new wheelchair world record.
Curt was an educator, motivational speaker, and author of the best-selling books The Will to Win and Still Winning/Lessons for Life.
Curt held multiple degrees, including Associates in Business, Bachelors in Psychology and Education, and a Masters in Educational Leadership.
He held membership in the National Speakers Association, Utah State Rehabilitation Council, the association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the International Reading Association. Curt was the Executive Director of the Utah Handcycling Team. He was listed in the National Distinguished Service Registry.
Curt was a tremendous success and inspiration to others and he emphasizes the power we have within ourselves and what we can accomplish when we "Command ourselves in Greatness."
A viewing will be held at the LDS chapel located at 520 N. 400 E. Pleasant Grove, Utah on Wednesday September 15th from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM followed by funeral services at 12:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at the Shelley Idaho Cemetery on Saturday September 18th at 2:00 PM at 784 East 1200 North Shelley, Idaho.
Raymond Curtis Brinkman, 56, of Pleasant Grove, formerly of Shelley, Idaho, passed away Tuesday, September 7th, at his home.
Curtis is survived by his mother, Karma Reed Brinkman; two sisters, Ellen (Craig) Garrett and Katherine (Rogers) Smith; three children, Greg (Lydia), Lorian (Marcum) Bouche, Jenna (Joe) Brown; and four grandchildren, Asher, Mekhai, Tregan and Kaia.
At 16 Curt was a 6' 7" tall athlete with dreams of playing professional basketball.
On a sunny day in 1970 in Shelley, Idaho, Curt climbed a power pole on the farm where he worked, and was electrocuted by a 72,000-volt power line. The electric shock stopped his heart and his body plummeted to the ground. The impact of the fall restarted his heart.
As he regained consciousness and looked down at his legs he cried, "I'll never walk again."
After several months in the hospital and in rehabilitation, Curt turned his athletic ambitions elsewhere. He organized and competed in wheelchair marathons, setting numerous world records, winning eight Paralympic medals, five of them gold, and countless other medals in National competitions.
In 1980, Curt became the first person in a wheelchair to win the Boston Marathon, finishing 17 minutes ahead of the first runner. And, after a 10-year break, he came back to set a new wheelchair world record.
Curt was an educator, motivational speaker, and author of the best-selling books The Will to Win and Still Winning/Lessons for Life.
Curt held multiple degrees, including Associates in Business, Bachelors in Psychology and Education, and a Masters in Educational Leadership.
He held membership in the National Speakers Association, Utah State Rehabilitation Council, the association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the International Reading Association. Curt was the Executive Director of the Utah Handcycling Team. He was listed in the National Distinguished Service Registry.
Curt was a tremendous success and inspiration to others and he emphasizes the power we have within ourselves and what we can accomplish when we "Command ourselves in Greatness."
A viewing will be held at the LDS chapel located at 520 N. 400 E. Pleasant Grove, Utah on Wednesday September 15th from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM followed by funeral services at 12:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at the Shelley Idaho Cemetery on Saturday September 18th at 2:00 PM at 784 East 1200 North Shelley, Idaho.
Curtis is survived by his mother, Karma Reed Brinkman; two sisters, Ellen (Craig) Garrett and Katherine (Rogers) Smith; three children, Greg (Lydia), Lorian (Marcum) Bouche, Jenna (Joe) Brown; and four grandchildren, Asher, Mekhai, Tregan and Kaia.
At 16 Curt was a 6' 7" tall athlete with dreams of playing professional basketball.
On a sunny day in 1970 in Shelley, Idaho, Curt climbed a power pole on the farm where he worked, and was electrocuted by a 72,000-volt power line. The electric shock stopped his heart and his body plummeted to the ground. The impact of the fall restarted his heart.
As he regained consciousness and looked down at his legs he cried, "I'll never walk again."
After several months in the hospital and in rehabilitation, Curt turned his athletic ambitions elsewhere. He organized and competed in wheelchair marathons, setting numerous world records, winning eight Paralympic medals, five of them gold, and countless other medals in National competitions.
In 1980, Curt became the first person in a wheelchair to win the Boston Marathon, finishing 17 minutes ahead of the first runner. And, after a 10-year break, he came back to set a new wheelchair world record.
Curt was an educator, motivational speaker, and author of the best-selling books The Will to Win and Still Winning/Lessons for Life.
Curt held multiple degrees, including Associates in Business, Bachelors in Psychology and Education, and a Masters in Educational Leadership.
He held membership in the National Speakers Association, Utah State Rehabilitation Council, the association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the International Reading Association. Curt was the Executive Director of the Utah Handcycling Team. He was listed in the National Distinguished Service Registry.
Curt was a tremendous success and inspiration to others and he emphasizes the power we have within ourselves and what we can accomplish when we "Command ourselves in Greatness."
A viewing will be held at the LDS chapel located at 520 N. 400 E. Pleasant Grove, Utah on Wednesday September 15th from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM followed by funeral services at 12:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at the Shelley Idaho Cemetery on Saturday September 18th at 2:00 PM at 784 East 1200 North Shelley, Idaho.
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