Among the graduates of the Horace Mann School Class of 1958 was an athlete known as a star in wrestling and track, and as a leader of his team. That graduate went on to compete in college, and continue to pursue athletics until an accident in 1965 left him without a leg. A little over a decade later he was back in competition, as the first amputee to run in the New York Marathon.

That graduate was Dick (Richard) Traum who became famous for his heroic effort. But Dr. Traum wasn't satisfied with his personal victory. Seeking to share the experience of athletic participation with other people with disabilities, he founded the Achilles Track Club. Starting with a small group in 1983 the club grew into Achilles International, an organization active in 70 countries that enables thousands of disabled people around the world to participate in athletics. Over the years, members of the Horace Mann School community have been part of Achilles' efforts, and for that, the organization named the School its honoree for 2010. Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly accepted the award on behalf of Horace Mann at a dinner in Manhattan on November 4.

Presenting the award to Dr. Kelly, Kirstin Cole, Achilles Board member, described the involvement of members of the Horace Mann School community with Achilles. Along with the organization's founder, Dick Traum '58, three other alumni serve on the Achilles International Board: Michael Hess '58, a former Chair of the Horace Mann Board of Trustees, Bob Katz '65, who succeeded Hess as Board Chair, and Nessia Sloane '04, the most recent HM alumna appointed to serve on the Achilles Board. In 1999, Horace Mann began coordinating an event on campus with Achilles Kids, one of the programs that grew out of Achilles International. Through the efforts of then Student Body President Andrew Kane '99 and HM Director of Community Service John McIvor, Horace Mann students coordinated a para-Olympics-type event for children with a variety of disabilities. Both Kane and John McIvor were present at the dinner, along with Director of Physical Education and Athletics Bob Annunziata, and Coaches Ray Barile and Rawlins Troop, who were also involved with the effort. Other alumni attending the dinner were Jeffrey Mohl '99, of the New York City Sports Commission, which runs a wheel-chair competition for adult athletes through Achilles, and Roger Ramirez '04. Director of Alumni Relations Greg Zuroski and Director of Admissions Lisa Moreira also represented Horace Mann School, and Horace Mann Record reporter Christine Kim '12 covered the event.

Head of School Tom Kelly, Achilles International President & Founder Richard Traum '58,
and Ms. Enza Jacobowitz, recipient of the 2010 Achilles Award for Honorable Service

Accepting the award Dr. Kelly recounted Dick Traum's remarkable story. As an athlete at Horace Mann he was a wrestling team co-captain who coached others, and track team member who took on some of the tougher tasks of discus and shot. "He always took one for the team," said Dr. Kelly. After he was injured, it was a quote from educator Horace Mann that Traum learned at the School that pushed him to turn his disability into ability, for himself, and today, for the myriad people that Achilles International has helped directly. The quote was "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity," Dr. Kelly told those gathered at the dinner. "When Dick Traum ran into the pages of history as the first amputee to complete a marathon, he won a victory for himself. The inspiration he provided countless other disabled, whether athlete or not, and the leadership he applied to founding and growing the Achilles organization, made that victory the win for humanity that we celebrate tonight. A high school athlete who led his team, took one for his team, and reached out to Horace Mann School alumni and students to be part of the worldwide team that grew from the Achilles Track Club he founded into Achilles International. We thank you Dick, and all of Achilles for honoring us tonight, but it is our School that is honored to be on your team."

The evening concluded with a special birthday tribute to Traum who turns 70 in November, and with the Achilles founder describing the inspiration he received at Horace Mann – a School that he described as having taught its students not just to achieve, but the value of achieving. Traum and Achilles are involved today in the "Hope and Possibility" program they recently launched to assist service people injured in Iraq and Afghanistan gain mobility using handcarts fitted for disabled athletes who compete in marathons and other running races worldwide. "I remember those lessons I learned at Horace Mann when I go to Walter Reade Hospital to meet with the wounded veterans," said Traum. With this in mind he tells them there is still more these heroes can achieve.

For more information about Achilles International, visit their website here.