1972-1976
Inaugural Class of 2004
Dan “Stork” Roddick
Dan “Stork” Roddick
Born: 1948 (Age 76)
Career Information
College
U.S. National Championships
4x U.S. College Champion (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
Awards
Rutgers team went 45-1 (with 44 straight): Named the "1973-74 Ultimate All-American Squad" chosen by college captains (1973)
U.S. Disc Golf Champion A.F.D.O. (1974)
World Frisbee Champion — Freestyle and Accuracy (1975)
World Record — Accuracy ( 20/28 ) (1976)
Inducted to Frisbee Hall of Fame (Charter Member) (1982)
World Senior Champion — D.D.C., S.C.F., and Overall (1983)
World Senior Champion — Accuracy and D.D.C. (1984)
World Senior Champion — Distance and Golf (1985)
World Senior Champion — D.D.C. and Overall (1986)
World Senior Champion — Freestyle (1988)
World Senior Champion — D.D.C. (1990)
World Senior Champion — D.D.C. (1991)
World Gollum Champion (1992)
World Grand Master D.D.C. Champion (1993)
Grand Master World Record — Accuracy ( 17/28 ) (1993)
WFDF Grand Master Overall Champion (1993)
Inducted to Disc Golf Hall of Fame (Charter member - PDGA Member #003) (1993)
World Gollum Champion (1994)
U.S. Open Grand Master Overall Champion (1994)
World Grandmasters DDC champion (2006)
World Senior Grandmasters Accuracy champion (2007)
World Senior Grandmasters DDC champion (2007)
World Senior Grandmasters DDC champion (2008)
Dan “Stork” Roddick is a long-time disc sport champion and organizer in both the U.S. and internationally. Stork was an early star of the game of Ultimate with college champion Rutgers University (with a record of 45-1), where he was Irv Kalb’s favorite scoring target, and he was a winner of national and world championships in individual events including disc golf, freestyle and accuracy. Stork was one of the driving forces behind promoting and supporting Ultimate and all other disc sports through his role as head of Wham-O’s sports marketing department from 1975-92, ensuring sufficient financial support for the UPA in its first decade of existence. Besides providing direction and support to TK (Tom Kennedy) and others for their efforts in the U.S., he also was instrumental in the international arena, serving as World Flying Disc Federation President from 1986-1992 and as secretary from 1998-2003. An Eagle Scout in his youth, Stork has written numerous articles and books on disc sports. He is credited with framing Ultimate’s defining “Spirit of the Game” philosophy which has guided play for the past 40 years of competition.
Off the playing field, Stork was one of the driving forces behind promoting and supporting Ultimate and all other disc sports through his role as head of Wham-O’s sports marketing department from 1975 to 1992. As head of the International Frisbee Association (IFA) he led developmental efforts outside of the U.S. He was also able to funnel Wham-O’s promotional funds into several World Frisbee Championships held in the rose Bowl in the mid-1970s, including the East-West All-Star Ultimate Game, for which travel expenses were provided. He developed the structure of flying disc sport organizations such as the Ultimate Players Association, Guts Players Association, and Freestyle Players Association, as well as the national Flying Disc Associations in numerous countries around the world. Furthermore, he identified charismatic individuals to lead these groups, and then helped fund these nascent organizations in a variety of creative ways without an explicit payback. Besides providing direction and support to the UPA and other groups in the U.S., he also was instrumental in the international arena, developing the concept for the World Flying Disc Federation and serving as the catalyst for its formation. He has served as WFDF, President, Secretary General, Board member, and general consultant, and remains active globally in the organization of flying disc events.
Contributions & Service
- 1963-Present: Numerous articles
- Mid-1970s: European "missionary" work
- 1975-1982: Director – International Frisbee Disc Association
- 1975-1994: Director of Sports Promotion, Wham-O Inc.
- 1975-1983: Editor, Frisbee World Magazine
- 1978-Present: The Discourse, A Guide for Teachers and Students, Wham-O Press
- 1979: Frisbee Sports and Games, w/ Charles Tips, Ten Speed Press
- 1980: Frisbee Basics, Prentice Hall
- 1982-Present: Contributing Author, World Book Encyclopedia
- 1986-1992: President – World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
- 1993-2004: Chair – WFDF Rules & Individual Events Committees
- 1998-2003: Secretary – WFDF
- 1994-1996: Director of Sports Promotion, Mattel Sports
Championship Tournaments
U.S. National Championships
| Year | Team | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Rutgers University College Men | 1st |
| 1974 | Rutgers University College Men | 1st |
| 1975 | Rutgers University College Men | 1st |
| 1976 | Rutgers University College Men | 1st |