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DAN "STORK" RODDICK

Inducted: 2004 - Inaugural Class

Current Home: Pasadena, Calif.

Born: July 1, 1948                 


Dan "Stork" Roddick is a long-time disc sport champion and organizer in both the U.S. and internationally. Stork was an early star of the game of Ultimate with college champion Rutgers University (with a record of 45-1), where he was Irv Kalb’s favorite scoring target, and he was a winner of national and world championships in individual events including disc golf, freestyle and accuracy. Stork was one of the driving forces behind promoting and supporting Ultimate and all other disc sports through his role as head of Wham-O’s sports marketing department from 1975-92, ensuring sufficient financial support for the UPA in its first decade of existence. Besides providing direction and support to TK (Tom Kennedy) and others for their efforts in the U.S., he also was instrumental in the international arena, serving as World Flying Disc Federation President from 1986-1992 and as secretary from 1998-2003. An Eagle Scout in his youth, Stork has written numerous articles and books on disc sports. He is credited with framing Ultimate’s defining "Spirit of the Game" philosophy which has guided play for the past 40 years of competition.
 

 


Playing Career | US Nationals | Contributions & Service | Other Accomplishments | Personal Life

Playing Career 

  • Rutgers Ultimate (N.J.) 1972- 76
     
  • Foothill Institute of Frisbee Culture (SoCal) 1978- 80 (finished second to condors at Western Championship)
     
  • Irvine (SoCal) Mudsharks Player/Coach 1981
     
  • Rutgers team went 45-1 (with 44 straight); Named the "1973-74 Ultimate All-American Squad" chosen by college captains

  • US National Championship Tournaments

Name    City    Year    Venue    Placing
Rutgers   New Brunswick, N.J.   1973   -   Consensus Champion
Rutgers   New Brunswick, N.J.   1974   -   Consensus Champion
Rutgers   New Brunswick, N.J.   1975   Yale University   First Place
Rutgers   New Brunswick, N.J.   1976   Hampshire College   First Place

     

  
 

Contributions and Service 

  • European "missionary" work in the mid-1970s
     
  • Director – International Frisbee Disc Association, 1975-82
     
  • President – World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), 1986-92
     
  • Chair – WFDF Rules & Individual Events Committees, 1993-2004
     
  • Secretary – WFDF, 1998-2003
     
  • 1975-94: Director of Sports Promotion, Wham-O Inc.
     
  • 1994-96: Director of Sports Promotion, Mattel Sports
     
  • Various Publications:   
    • Editor, Frisbee World Magazine, 1975-83
    • The Discourse, A Guide for Teachers and Students, Wham-O Press, 1978-present
    • Frisbee Sports and Games, w/ Charles Tips, Ten Speed Press, 1979
    • Frisbee Basics, Prentice Hall, 1980
    • Contributing Author, World Book Encyclopedia, 1982-present
    • Numerous articles, 1963-present


Off the playing field, Stork was one of the driving forces behind promoting and supporting Ultimate and all other disc sports through his role as head of Wham-O’s sports marketing department from 1975 to 1992. As head of the International Frisbee Association (IFA) he led developmental efforts outside of the U.S. He was also able to funnel Wham-O’s promotional funds into several World Frisbee Championships held in the rose Bowl in the mid-1970s, including the East-West All-Star Ultimate Game, for which travel expenses were provided. He developed the structure of flying disc sport organizations such as the Ultimate Players Association, Guts Players Association, and Freestyle Players Association, as well as the national Flying Disc Associations in numerous countries around the world. Furthermore, he identified charismatic individuals to lead these groups, and then helped fund these nascent organizations in a variety of creative ways without an explicit payback. Besides providing direction and support to the UPA and other groups in the U.S., he also was instrumental in the international arena, developing the concept for the World Flying Disc Federation and serving as the catalyst for its formation. He has served as WFDF, President, Secretary General, Board member, and general consultant, and remains active globally in the organization of flying disc events.

Other Accomplishments

• 1974: U.S. Disc Golf Champion A.F.D.O.
• 1975: World Frisbee Champion — Freestyle and Accuracy
• 1976: World Record — Accuracy ( 20/28 )
• 1982: Inducted to Frisbee Hall of Fame (Charter Member)
• 1983: World Senior Champion — D.D.C., S.C.F., and Overall
• 1984: World Senior Champion — Accuracy and D.D.C.
• 1985: World Senior Champion — Distance and Golf
• 1986: World Senior Champion — D.D.C. and Overall
• 1988: World Senior Champion — Freestyle
• 1990: World Senior Champion — D.D.C.
• 1991: World Senior Champion — D.D.C.
• 1992: World Gollum Champion
• 1993: World Grand Master D.D.C. Champion
• 1993: Grand Master World Record — Accuracy ( 17/28 )
• 1993: WFDF Grand Master Overall Champion
• 1993: Inducted to Disc Golf Hall of Fame (Charter member - PDGA Member #003)
• 1994: World Gollum Champion
• 1994: U.S. Open Grand Master Overall Champion
• 2006: World Grandmasters DDC champion
• 2007: World Senior Grandmasters Accuracy champion
• 2007: World Senior Grandmasters DDC champion
• 2008: World Senior Grandmasters DDC champion
  


 

Personal Life 

Stork lives in Pasadena, Calif. with his wife, Janet Capanna and their three children. He is currently a college lecturer in sociology and a writer and consultant. His father, Jack Roddick, and son, Tyler Roddick are both active players.

 



 

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