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Anthony Filippis, SR.
Anthony “Tony” Filippis
was born September 13, 1915, a nationally-known and beloved icon in the
movement to improve the live of persons with disabilities, passed away
on January 23, 2007, at the age of 91.
The founder of Wright &
Filippis, Inc., Michigan’s largest provider of home healthcare products
and services, Tony dedicated his personal and professional life to
assisting persons with disabilities. He officially retired from the
company in 1995, maintaining an office until the time of his death to
continue his significant philanthropic efforts.
Tony experienced the
frustration and heartache frequently confronted by persons with
disabilities when he lost both of his legs below the knee in a train
accident at the age of 13. Tony said, “I loved sports – I lived sports.
Sports were always an important part of my life, and as I got older, it
was going to be a way for me to reach out to people who needed a break,
who needed to be active.”
“I hired in at a lot of
places. But when they found out I had artificial legs, they fired me,”
Tony said. Tony took his anger and frustration to Carl Wright, a friend
who worked at Martin-Halstead Co. and the gentleman who had made
Filippis’ artificial legs.
Wright offered Tony a
job as an apprentice. Tony worked with Carl Wright for 10 years before
they formed their own company – Wright & Filippis. (1944), now with more
than 30 facilities throughout Michigan and the Midwest.
In 1946, he formed the
first bowling league for the disabled, and established a swimming
program for the disabled at Detroit’s Patton Pool. He developed a
variety of other sports programs for both able-bodied and disabled
athletes, including basketball, baseball, softball, golf, tennis,
boxing, and track & field.
Tony participated in
all of these sports. He won gold medals in the shot put, javelin, discus
and baseball throw in the Michigan Wheelchair Athletic Association
Regional Games – at the time Tony was 82 years old competing in an open
division against athletes of all ages. He established state records in
all four events and qualified for the national games.
For more than 25 years,
Wright & Filippis has hosted “Wheelchair Daze”, a free picnic annually
welcoming more than 1,200 persons with disabilities and their guests; as
the official sponsor of the Detroit Free Press Marathon Disabilities
Division for more than 20 years; and the Gene Filippis Memorial Golf
Benefit (in memory of his son) raises more than $50,000 each year for a
variety of community non-profit organizations.
Tony founded the
Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame (ADHF) in 1999. The mission of
the ADHF is to honor Michigan’s athletes with disabilities. This unique
non-profit organization strives to provide support for recreation and
education programs for persons with disabilities.
The ADHF now supports
and serves the newly-formed Adaptive Sports Coalition, and alliance of
more than 20 locally-based groups which provide various recreation
opportunities for persons with disabilities focusing on education,
awareness and scholarship programs.
The ADHF recently
developed a mentoring program in which its alumni visit classrooms and
deliver motivational speeches to students throughout the state; and has
also established a scholarship endowment to benefit young athletes with
disabilities and youth who aspire to careers that will benefit the
disabled community.
Filippis was honored
many times for his significant contributions. Among his notable
achievements and awards: named a 2004 Michiganian-of-the-year (presented
by the Detroit News); and the 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award (the
Arthritis Foundation); the 2003 da Vinci Lifetime Achievement Award (the
Muscular Sclerosis Society); and the 2002 William Clay Ford Community
Quarterback Award (the Detroit Lions). In addition, the 2000 Gerald Ford
Sports Person of the Year Award (the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame); and
Humanitarian Award (the Neuro-Muscular Institute with Providence
Hospital and Medical Centers).
Anthony Filippis, Sr. is
remembered for his hard work and vision that have brought hope to
thousands of disabled persons, nurturing belief and filling dreams. He
once said “Each generation is better off than the last, and it’s our job
to see to it that we make this world a better place for everyone.”
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