University of West Florida recreation and sports services director, William M. Healey, was recently recognized as a 2015 Gulf Coast Region Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee. Healey’s daughter and UWF student, Rachel Healey, was also honored with the Robert L. Lindsey Meritorious Service Award for her coaching service to the sport. W. Healey was honored with the same award in 2010.
“It was a wonderful surprise to receive this award,” W. Healey said. “I am humbled to be honored in this way by my peers. It was especially enjoyable to have my daughter be a part of the night.”
The Gulf Coast Region’s Volleyball Hall of Fame was created to honor significant contributors to the sport from the Mississippi to Florida region. The hall of fame is housed in Orange Beach, Alabama.
As recreation and sports services director, W. Healey provides leadership and oversight for recreation and sports services developments. He also served as an athletic facility strategic planning member and master plan consultant; NCAA self-study reviewer; and serves on the Athletic Visioning Team Executive Committee.
W. Healey serves on the board of the West Florida Waves Volleyball Club and is proprietor of Williams Healey Consulting, LLC. He has held a variety of roles within the sports industry, including board member and president for Pensacola Sports Association; trainer for New Games Foundation; devoting his time and service to volleyball clubs at the regional and national levels; and serving Pensacola volleyball clubs for more than three decades, an unprecedented accomplishment in this region.
R. Healey, a senior criminal justice major, has been involved in the organization for eight years.
“I am honored to receive the Robert L. Lindsey Award,” said R. Healey. “To be recognized is validation that I am making a difference. Although my workload is challenging, my academic advisor, Eric Kollar, has been an incredible support. He has helped me balance my academic and volleyball careers.”
Named in honor of Robert L. Lindsay, eighth President of the USVBA (1980-1984), "Frier" Award winner, Legend In Volleyball Award recipient and long-time Referee-Emeritus, who was instrumental in the success of the National Team-In-Residence Program, which set a new standard for all National Governing Bodies. Each Region of USA Volleyball is allowed to nominate up to five individuals per year for recognition for their service to volleyball in their Regions.
The Gulf Coast Region Volleyball Association oversees youth and adult volleyball activities in the gulf coast region. The Gulf Coast Region Volleyball Association is nationally governed by USA Volleyball.
To learn more about the Gulf Coast Region Volleyball Association, visit http://www.gulfcoastvball.org.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: UWF recreation and sports services director and UWF student recognized by Gulf Coast Region Volleyb