Above: Stormy Eoton ond Pam Murphy
Mark "Stormy" Eaton, 45, who owned and operated Desert Devils Gymnastics School in Scottsdale, Ariz., was killed Wednesday, March 15, in a plane crash west of Winslow, Ariz. Pilot David Ellis, 55, also died. A third passenger, Eaton's fiance, Pamela Murphy, 35, was taken to Winslow Hospital where she was listed in stable condition with multiple fractures and lacerations . Murphy is improving daily and wants to get back to her normal active lifestyle. The three were returning from Lake Powell after working to repair a boat. Eaton had taught Ellis' and Murphy's daughters gymnastics. Ellis was flying low over a friend's home when the plane became caught in electrical wires and crashed, Sheriff's Sgt. Kathy Paleski said. Roe Kreutzer, a past Olympic assistant coach and longtime member of the USA Gymnastics National Team Coaching Staff, said Eaton's credentials were among the best: "It's a tragedy. I still can't believe it. He's well-known and loved not just nationally but internationally. It'sa very big loss. He's such a charismatic person. He touched gymnastics in every way - as a coach, athlete, performer and owner. He aIways sold happiness. The gym should be fun." she said. Some of Eaton's top National Team gymnasts includeSandyWoolsey, who is now at the University of Utah, and Elisabeth Crandall and Juliet Bangerter, who are now at Brigham Young University. MAY/JUNE 1995
GYMNASTICS . COACH ST<:)RMV • • • • •
EATc)N DIES IN PLANE CRASH •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Murphy's daughter, Coreen, • • 12, is one of the current elite gymnasts at Eaton's gym. • Eaton was the 1971 NCAA • floor exercise champion, sil- • • ver medalist at the 1974 World • Championships in trampoline, • and participated in marathons, ironman triathlons, scuba div• ing and sky diving. His coachingbrought him many distinc- • tions including being named • Elite Coach of the Year in 1989 • • by USA Gymnastics and he • • served as the assistant coach • to the World Championships Team in Stuttgart, Germany. • • In 1991, he was chosen as one • • ofthe coaches for the USA Jun- • • ior National Team. He accom- • • panied the team to meets in • • Holland and Japan. Eaton ' most recently served as the • announcer at many USA Gymnastics events.
"STORMY'S GREATEST ASSET WAS HIS MOTIVATION. HE HAD A WAY OF MOTIVATING KIDS TO GET THE BEST OUT OF THEM." -£DBURCH
Jon Aitken, Stormy's busi- • former teammate at the University of New Mexico said, ness partner and best friend, "Stormy's greatest asset was said, "Stormy had a personalhis motivation. He had a way ity that everybody loved a lot. of motivating kids to get the He had a positive outlook. His best out of them." Burch was idea of being a successful coach was not, who won the most • also Stormy's son Geoff's gymnastics coach. meets, but who could produce girls who love the sport and A Memorial has been estabwould come back one day and • lished in Stormy's name enthank him and tell him they titled, "The Stormy Eaton had a great time." Scholarship Fund." The fund will pay for underprivileged He is survived by a son, children to take gymnastics Geoff, and daughter Jessica. lessons. Donations can be sent Ed Burch, coach at Gold Cup to: M & I Thunderbird Bank, Gymnastics and Stormy's • 9333 N. 90th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Account#18703855. Below: 1991 USA World Championships delegation Below right: Stormy and his gymnasts Sandy Waolsey and Juliet Bangerter
LOOK FOR MORE GYMNASTICS UPDATE ON PAGE 37! • • • • • • •