American George Pickard died on March 20th, 2016

American George Pickard died on March 20th, 2016 at the age of 86. He started as a  judge before becoming a coach and manager of the RSROA. Managing editor of Skate Magazine and executive director of the USARS (USA Roller Sports), he was the first American appointed secretary general of the FIRS.

In 2010, he writes Titan and Heroes of American Roller Skating, a book paying tribute to the opinion leaders and players of the skating industry who worked on the development of the practice for 150 years in the USA. He plunged into the archives of the National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln to retrace the historical facts and  un ouvrage qui rend hommage aux leaders d’opinion et aux acteurs de l’industrie du roller qui ont oeuvré au développement de la pratique depuis 150 ans aux USA. Il s’est plongé dans les archives du Musée National du Roller de Lincoln pour retracer les faits historiques, highlighting the role of the architects, of the inventors of skating.

Georges Pickard played a major part in the international development of skating as we know today.

His life in a few key-dates

• 1930                    Birth
• 1941                    Recreational Skater – Detroit, Michigan – Arcadia Roller Rink
• 1945 – 1948          RSROA Competitive Figure Skater – Detroit – Arena Gardens/Arcadia
• 1946 – 1956          RSROA Amateur Judge, Tests and Competitions – Figure & Speed Skating
• 1956 – 1961          SRSTA Teacher – Detroit Arcadia and Cleveland Rollercade
• 1961 – 1972          Sport Administrator – RSROA Staff – Detroit and Lincoln, Nebraska
• 1967 – 1988          Managing Editor – SKATE Magazine – RSROA – Detroit and Lincoln, Nebraska
• 1972 – 1988          Executive Director Roller Skating Rink Operators Association – Lincoln
• 1973 – 2001          Resident Agent/Corporate Secretary – USA Roller Sports (Volunteer)
• 1984 – Present      Member of USARS Hall of Fame Selection Committee
• 1988 – 2001          Executive Director USA Roller Sports (Staff)
• 1980 – 2005          Secretary/Treasurer National Museum of Roller Skating (Volunteer)
• 1981- Present       Secretary/Treasurer US Foundation of Amateur Roller Skating (Volunteer)
• 1982 – 1990          Secretary General – International Federation of Roller Sports (FIRS)
• 1994 – 2000          Executive Committee Member – FIRS Inline Hockey Discipline (CIRILH)
• 2000 – 2008          President FIRS Inline Hockey Discipline (CIRILH) (Volunteer)
• 2000 – 2008          Member FIRS Central Committee

Source: teamusa.org