Roland "Commander" Sykes
June 1st, 1953 - March 10th, 2008
Wizard, Bit Twiddler, Philosopher, Teacher, and most fun of
all...
The Bus Driver for ADAPT
From: Nancy Griffin
Dear Friends,
Roland had a kind and loving soul. He was funny and passionate and he filled my life with love, once upon a time.
This son of a coal miner -- and a miner himself – had a spirit that was always positive, always passionate and always willing to take on any challenge from his rehab, to college at Wright State, to challenging the VR system in Illinois, to running the CIL in Tulsa. He was a wheelchair track and field competitor, coached w/c basketball and flew both airplanes and his 16-foot Hobycat sailboat.
He was there before the beginning of NCIL, working to build the community of ILC’s in Illinois. He was there in Tulsa with Woody, facing down the city and forcing them to create an accessible bus system long before the ADA. He was there before the internet, creating a computer networking system for CILs across the country use a “Peach” luggable computer from our guest bedroom. And he’s been there for ADAPT from the very beginning, fighting for civil rights and supporting others to join the struggle.
He was an extraordinary individual, a friend for life and a true patriot. He will live on in my heart and many, many others. May his spirit and grit carry us all forward for disability rights in America and across the globe.
Nancy Griffin
