'Steady' Ed Headrick (1924-2002)
From: "Victor Malafronte" Greetings Frisbee Friends:
The frisbee world lost it's founding father today. Steady Ed (001) Headrick died at 3:30 AM today (8/12/02). He was surrounded by his loving family and close friends at his home in California.
Steady Ed suffered a stroke while attending the PDGA Amateur Worlds at Kendall Park in Florida. He suffered another stroke while at the hospital. Although his condition was grave, Steady Ed continued to hang on. He still had his sense of humor. However, his condition was starting to deteriorate. The strokes left him paralyzed and unable to speak. It was only a matter of time before he would leave this world. Steady Ed did not want a funeral. He wanted everyone to have a party. To celebrate life.
Steady Ed touched the lives of millions of people from around the world. He was the father of frisbee and disc golf. He dedicated his life to spreading the joy and fun of the frisbee game and especially disc golf. His vision, enthusiasm and selflessness has given us a way of life that will endure until we come to the last disc golf hole.
For those of you who are not old timers, Steady Ed invented the Wham-O Pro Model frisbee in 1964, founded the IFA in 1969, the WFC Rose Bowl events in 1974, hired Dan "Stork" Roddick in 1975, invented the Disc Pole Hole and created the DGA in 1976. He installed nearly 800 disc golf courses in 20 countries. He was a husband and father of 4 children. He was my friend, my mentor and butt kicker when I needed it. He was our ambassador, our disc golf renaissance man.
We urge everyone who was touched by this great man to hold a moment of silent celebration in his honor and memory. If you can do it, then present you "Steady Ed Memorial Disc Golf or frisbee event for the world to enjoy. And, never forget the man who gave you the game that you love to play. Play it again for the man you once loved. And then, play it again!
Steady Ed said, "Disc Golf will change your life!" It changed mine, big time! We will surely miss him! Victor002
(Please send this message to all the frisbee people in your email address book. Thanks.)
DAGENS NYHETER (Sweden) article, 8-20-02
Baltimore Sun article, 8-15-02
Los Vegas Sun article, 8-15-02
La Vanguardia Digital (Spain) article, 8-15-02
The Guardian (United Kingdom) article, 8-15-02
The Times Online (United Kingdom) article, 8-15-02
Hurriyetim (Turkey) article, 8-15-02
Scotsman.com (Scotland) article, 8-15-02
The Independent (United Kingdom) article, 8-15-02
Washington Post article, 8-14-02
BBC (United Kingdom) article, 8-14-02
London Evening Standard (United Kingdom) article, 8-14-02
(South Africa) article, 8-14-02
De Telegraaf article (Holland), 8-14-02
The Age article (Australia), 8-14-02
Handelsblatt.com article (Germany), 8-14-02
Houston Chronicle article, 8-14-02
San Francisco Chronicle article 1, 8-13-02
San Francisco Chronicle article 2, 8-13-02