The Special Olympics movement would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Jim Long, who passed away Feb. 2, 2009.  Long was the longest serving Commissioner of Insurance for North Carolina, holding the position 1985-2008.   However, many may not know he was also one of the key volunteer leaders who helped Special Olympics get started in North Carolina four decades ago.   

A native of Burlington, NC, Long was involved with the Burlington Jaycees which was the first civic group in the state to organize a state-level Summer Games for Special Olympics.  The first games were held May 29-31, 1970, at Elon College (now Elon University) for 400 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  

From the experience of volunteering with those first games, Long donated his professional skills as an attorney to file the necessary paperwork in 1971 to establish what today is Special Olympics North Carolina, Inc.   The Special Olympics movement has grown from those few hundred athletes in 1970 to more than 38,000 registered statewide today.    Additionally, the state hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 1999 for 7,000 athletes from more than 150 nations. 

Special Olympics is fortunate that Commissioner Long shared the vision of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.  Both believed that given the chance, children and adults with intellectual disabilities could share the joys of life through sports and improve their lives in ways that all of us want to enjoy.  

"In the late 1960s when he learned about the mission of Special Olympics, Jim immediately saw the importance the organization would have.  He lived a life of giving back and helping others," said Keith L. Fishburne, SONC president/CEO. "He was an outstanding person and leader." 

At his retirement reception on Jan. 17, 2009, at the NC Democratic Headquarters in Raleigh, Fishburne presented Commissioner Long with the 2008 Special Olympics North Carolina President's Award.   This award is presented to individuals who have shown outstanding leadership and commitment to Special Olympics in North Carolina. 

"The lasting impact Jim had in founding the Special Olympics movement in our state showed tremendous vision and made him an outstanding recipient of the award," said Fishburne.  "With Jim's passing we lose a dear friend and advocate of the Special Olympics movement."   

During his years as Commissioner of Insurance, Long often asked companies and organizations to send his honorariums for speaking engagements to Special Olympics.  As recently as Oct. 2008, the NC Association of Insurance Agents made a $25,000 contribution to Special Olympics North Carolina in honor of Jim's role as one of the founders of Special Olympics North Carolina.   Since no athlete is ever charged a fee to participate in Special Olympics, these funds will be a great tribute to Commissioner Long's legacy of wanting to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sports.  

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