Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
msmith@currentargus.com

Caring for a son with developmental disabilities led to a lifelong calling for Lee and Patrick Kirksey.

And that calling led the couple to their current role as co-chairs of the Area 4 Special Olympics, a position they have held since succeeding Carolyn Olson of Carlsbad who retired six months ago after 50 years as the organization’s director.

“We are very fortunate to call Lee and Patrick Kirksey our new Special Olympics New Mexico Area 4 director and sidekick,” Olson said in an email. “They bring incredible heart, incredible thinking, incredible imagination, and incredible enthusiasm to the program. Our amazing athletes will continue to succeed under their expert leadership.”

Randy Mascorella, Special Olympics of New Mexico’s executive director, said the organization was “blessed beyond measure” to have the Kirkseys “assume the role now that Carolyn retired as the Area 4 Director.”

A closer look at the Kirkseys

Patrick Kirksey said the couple became involved with Special Olympics to help their son Nate, who had a lifelong history of seizures that started when he was 13 months old. Kirksey said testing revealed that Nate was autistic.

Lee Kirksey said Nate, now 21, played on regular sports teams until he was 10 years old.

“But we could see that was not the best fit for him,” she said. “We went looking for alternatives and found Special Olympics New Mexico. Our local program did not have a track program and our son wanted to run track so, with no experience, Patrick, Nate, (our daughter) Olivia and I learned track. Special Olympics continues to give our family so much.”

Olivia Kirksey, 16, became a certified coach for Special Olympics coach at the age of 12 and has led basketball skills development for Special Olympians, her mother said.

The Kirkseys were honored as New Mexico’s Special Olympics Family of the Year in 2021.

“Patrick, Olivia and I have all run on Special Olympics relay teams at various times,” Lee said. “Patrick and I coach several different sports for Special Olympics. I cannot express how proud I am of my son for how he has grown through Special Olympics and how proud I am of my husband and my daughter for the love, friendship and kindness they demonstrate through their involvement with Special Olympics. Special Olympics has grown our family by adding wonderful new friends who we might not have met otherwise.”

Nate competed in the Region IV Special Olympics Summer games in Carlsbad May 3. After 11 years of competing, Patrick Kirksey said, Nate has opened up to people during ribbon and medal ceremonies.

“It’s quite an accomplishment, seeing growth,” he said.

Joyce Munoz, organizer of Artesia-based Special Olympics Pecos Valley, said the Kirkseys’ contributions to Special Olympics in Lea County was a benefit for the communities of Area 4.

“They have a lot of knowledge and with the two of them more energy … they have the time and the effort to give to all of the delegations,” she said.

According to the Special Olympics of New Mexico website, Area 4 consists of Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, Chaves, Roosevelt, Curry, DeBaca and Quay counties.

Former director committed to service

Lee Kirksey said Carolyn Olson was a guiding force for Special Olympics in southeast New Mexico for half a century.

“She has never hesitated to reach out for the resources that our athletes and families need, and I think it is very rare that anyone said no to her because she is so highly respected,” Lee said. “Carolyn has made being Area IV director look effortless but after putting together the Summer Games, I can tell you that is not the case. It will be impossible for anyone to measure the amount of work and heart that Carolyn has put into Special Olympics.”

Kirksey said Olson is still involved in the program – she ran the bocce ball competition during the May 3 summer games in Carlsbad.

“I don’t have to be in charge,” Olson said while taking a break during the games at Ralph Bowyer Caveman Stadium in Carlsbad. “It’s been a part of my life. I’ve been doing it for so long.”

Olson said Special Olympics in Carlsbad was born during water safety classes.

“I was the water safety chairman of the American Red Cross in Eddy County in the early ’70s and I organized and directed an adapted aquatics program for developmentally disabled children,” she said. “This program grew to include CARC Inc. (a Carlsbad program for kids and adults with developmental disabilities) and in two years evolved into Special Olympics New Mexico, Carlsbad.”

Olson said when Special Olympics started in Area 4, there were only Summer Games. Since then the program has grown to include year-round sports.

“Special Olympics Carlsbad and Area 4 include track and field, bocce (ball), basketball, unified softball, poly hockey, flag football and of course aquatics,” she said.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734.