Iron Pumpers coach a finalist for UPS award

As a coach, Pat Gray sees one of his roles as encouraging athletes who live in a world that tells them what they can’t do.

Gray has volunteered more than 18 years coaching the Spokane Iron Pumpers powerlifting team with members who compete in Special Olympics at local, state and national levels. Some go on to World Games. Spokane Parks and Recreation’s specialized recreation offers the program, with twice weekly practices at the downtown YMCA.

For his dedication to the program, Gray was recently recognized by his employer, UPS, as one of 12 finalists internationally for the Jim Casey Community Service Award.

“Basically, I like to instill some positive reinforcement in people and help them set goals and achieve those goals,” said Gray, 46, who with his wife and two daughters lives in North Spokane.

“I like to see the self-confidence grow for them. They live in a world that tells them that they can’t do this and they can’t do that.”

A former football player, Gray did weight training for when he was an outside linebacker in high school and for Spokane Falls Community College. Later, when a friend asked him to help with the Iron Pumpers, organizers learned about Gray’s weight training experience. They asked him to sign on officially as the coach.

Gray works as a UPS supervisor. Every year, more than 400,000 UPS employees can nominate a co-worker to receive the Jim Casey Community Service Award. The award is named after the company’s founder and given annually to focus on community volunteer efforts that set an example for others.

“I’m not doing this for recognition, but it’s a great honor to be recognized by UPS,” said Gray. He also described wanting to contribute. “It’s a nice thing to do to give back to the community.”

Rather than talk about himself, Gray sounds most animated when describing how well his team members are doing. The 12 athletes in Iron Pumpers range in age from 24 to 63.

“I’ve got two who are going to compete in the nationals in Iowa. In 1999, I had three of my athletes go to the World Games in North Carolina. All of them placed either in second or third, silver and bronze, in their weight category.”

“At this June’s state games, most of my athletes came in first and second in their weight classes. Probably the highlight I had was one power lifter who was able to dead-lift 450 pounds. He was excited.”

Gray works with two assistant coaches, Ron Layman and Jerry Nelson. Nelson has a son, Lance, on the team. When asked what works best for him in coaching, Gray described focus.

“I just keep reminding them of the goal,” he said. “With the individual, if they get out of focus, I try to get them back to what is the goal. From time to time I let them know, we’re this close to it.”

The group has set its focus now on the next competitions: area games next April, state games in June 2007 and then World Games in China in 2007.

“A lot of the ones who finish top with silver or gold at state can be part of a drawing to go to China. They go through an application process, and if they’re selected, they get to go to the World Games.”

“I will continue doing this. It’s not about me. It’s about the people I help.”