Chad Colley

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Chad Colley

| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|5|13}}

| birth_place = Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|1|30|1944|5|13}}

| country = United States

| sport = Para-alpine skiing

| medaltemplates=

}}

Ralph C. Colley Jr. (May 13, 1944 – January 30, 2021), known as Chad Colley, was an American para-alpine skier, army officer and advocate for disabled Americans. He represented the United States at the 1992 Winter Paralympics held in Tignes and Albertville, France.{{Cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/chad-colley-8372/|title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-17}}

Biography

Colley born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on May 12, 1944. He was commissioned into the US Army in 1966 and served in the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam war. Whilst commanding an infantry company he lost both legs and his left arm in July 1968 when a landmine exploded. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart and left the army with the rank of captain.{{Cite web|url=https://independencecorps.org/about/chad-colley/|title=Chad Colley|date=2018-02-19|website=independencecorps.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-17}} On his return home he entered into a career in real estate and was active in disabled veterans' affairs. President George H. W. Bush appointed him Vice Chairman of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and he served as National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans association. He died on January 30, 2021, at the age of 76.{{Cite web|title=Ralph C. Colley Jr|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-smith-ar/ralph-colley-10035568|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202082035/https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-smith-ar/ralph-colley-10035568|archive-date=February 2, 2021|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Dignity Memorial}}

Paralympic medals

At the 1992 Winter Paralympics held in Tignes and Albertville, France, he won the gold medal in the Men's Downhill LW10 event and in the Men's Super-G LW10 event.{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/sdms4/hira/web/results/albertville-1992/alpine-skiing/mens-downhill-lw10|title=Alpine Skiing at the Albertville 1992 Paralympic Winter Games – Men's Downhill LW10|publisher=paralympic.org|accessdate=August 14, 2019|archive-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813235011/https://www.paralympic.org/sdms4/hira/web/results/albertville-1992/alpine-skiing/mens-downhill-lw10|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/sdms4/hira/web/results/albertville-1992/alpine-skiing/mens-super-g-lw10|title=Alpine Skiing at the Albertville 1992 Paralympic Winter Games – Men's Super-G LW10|publisher=paralympic.org|accessdate=August 14, 2019|archive-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813235025/https://www.paralympic.org/sdms4/hira/web/results/albertville-1992/alpine-skiing/mens-super-g-lw10|url-status=live}}

Military awards

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}} Silver Star
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} Bronze Star
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}} Purple Heart