Oct. 20, 1999

The Show-Me STATE GAMES (SMSG) announced the 1999 Xerox Female and Male Athletes-of-the-Year on October 16, 1999. Becky McGuire of St. Joseph and Russ Bell of Jefferson City, as well as a freshman on the Tigers track and field team, were named as the honorees. The awards were presented prior to the kick-off of Missouri's Homecoming football game by State Treasurer Bob Holden.

Show-Me STATE GAMES Executive Director Gary Filbert said, "Russ and Becky represent what amateur athletics is all about, competing for the love of the sport. We thank Xerox for sponsoring these wonderful awards and for supporting the Show-Me STATE GAMES mission of providing Missourians of all ages and abilities statewide competition opportunities, while encouraging sportsmanship, physical fitness, healthy life-styles and family fun."

Russ Bell has been a dedicated Show-Me STATE GAMES athlete for the past 6 years, in his words, "I never want to miss one." An outstanding athlete, he was a 3-time Missouri State Champion in the discus and won the first-ever State Games of America discus and shot put events. This past year he was ranked as one of the top-5 high school throwers in the nation. Russ was invited to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in San Diego this past summer prior to coming to Missouri.

The Xerox Athlete-of-the-Year is a program of the Show-Me STATE GAMES. The criteria for selection of the "Athlete-of-the-Year" included: Participation in the Show-Me STATE GAMES, special attributes and effort, representation of the spirit of amateur athletics and overall athletic participation and achievement.