A new executive director has been named to the Iowa Special Olympics, which Ames has hosted every year since 1984.

Rich Fellingham will be appointed Executive Director effective Jan. 1,1997. He is currently serving his third two-year term on the Board of the Iowa Special Olympics. Fellingham has participated in and has been involved with the Iowa Special Olympics program for more than 10 years.

In addition to being an active member of the Ames community, Fellingham has also served as the first Games chairman and was president of the organization for two years. He is also producer of the Cyclone Radio Network Men’s Basketball and Football programs, and is the announcer for the Cyclone Women’s Basketball program.

The Iowa Special Olympics was founded in 1969. Since then more than 18,000 athletes and 15,000 volunteers participate in this program year-round.

Fellingham said there are no changes that he plans to make when he becomes executive director.

“The games have been very successful, and I want to keep improving on the things that we are already doing,” Fellingham said. “It’s a very successful program.”

The City of Ames has a contract with the Iowa Special Olympics program to host the summer games until the year 2005.

There are many different activities that go on throughout year, Fellingham said, including the Winter Iowa Special Olympic Games, which will be held in Dubuque this year.

The summer games are always held the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Memorial Weekend.

Don Maruro, interim-executive director, said Fellingham’s years of service to the Iowa Special Olympics got him appointed to executive director.

“He’s been very active as a board member,” Maruro said.