Chance Crawford
Chance Crawford grew up with a love for sports and he was particularly good in football and baseball. He was the first freshman at Salem High School to play varsity baseball, and he quarterbacked the varsity football team. Chance was scheduled to graduate in the spring of 1981 but a football accident, in which he suffered a severe spinal injury, left him a paraplegic with very limited use of the upper body. However, rehabilitation was begun locally and, with his determination and support from many people, he improved sufficiently to graduate from Salem High School in the summer of 1982.
Chance again displayed something “extra” by enrolling at Radford University that fall and was there for three years before going to Florida for two years of extensive special rehabilitation. This brought about substantial improvement in use of the upper body and trunk components enabling a return to Radford. In the summer of 1989, he received a B.S. degree in business with majors in finance and insurance. In speaking of his college years, Chance never fails to mention the tremendous support and help he received from family members, students, faculty, and friends.
After college, Chance was employed by Allstate Insurance Company as an underwriter but was later encouraged to run for the vacated office of Clerk of the Circuit Court in Salem which had five years remaining on the term. He won and, in 1995, ran unopposed for re-election to a full eight year term. As clerk of the court, Chance and his staff have followed through with the work of his predecessor, James Tobey, to bring about improvements in service and efficiency so that, today, the clerk’s office in Salem is equal to any in the Commonwealth.
When Chance was injured a ground-swell of local effort arose to help with the expense of rehabilitation resulting in creation of “The Chance Crawford Fund.” Part of the proceeds were developed through a soft-pitch softball tournament named in his honor. It continues today and has become the nation’s largest benefit of its kind. In 1996 proceeds exceeded $20,000 with half going towards scholarships for Salem High School graduates and the remainder to such worthy programs as Camp Dare, Little League Challengers (disabled children), the Salem Rescue Squad and the Salem Sports Foundation. Chance is fully active in this benefit program giving both of his time and financial support.
Chance continually gives of himself in an effort to help others, particularly the youth of the community. He serves as a motivational speaker are Camp Dare; board member, Salem Educational Foundation; coaches Dixie Youth Baseball; serves on the host committee for the NCAA Stagg Bowl; member, Jim Brady’s National Organization for the Disabled; member, Disability Service Board of the Fifth Planning District and; board member, Blue Ridge Center for Independent Living. Chance also helped develop rehabilitation programs at Lewis Gale Hospital; established an endowment in his mother’s name through junior high students on local government; participates in the Seek Program for helping youngsters youth skills in this sport.
Chance is the son of Gary Crawford and the late Janice Crawford, parents who were always there for him providing encouragement during his critical time of need. Clearly, they served as an inspiration that no doubt has played a role in Chance retaining a totally positive outlook on life. It is also true that he has a way of transmitting this to those fortunate enough to know him.
He received the 1995 J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award for Community Service and, G. Chance Crawford was among charter members inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association in 1996.
