Chief Harold Scoggins

RESUME: Chief of the Seattle Fire Department

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE ON THE BOARD? It’s an opportunity to have an impact on something that’s greater than you. It’s a chance for me to learn more about Special Olympics as an organization and the athletes. I’m anxious to find ways that I can contribute and that’s what I’m looking forward to.

WHAT SPORTS HAVE YOU PLAYED? I do more watching than participating now although I did compete in the Seattle Firefighter Stair Climb to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a kid, football was my first love, but I also played basketball and baseball.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM SPORTS THAT YOU’VE APPLIED TO YOUR CAREER? The discipline, the repetition to get things right. Teamwork. Trust and belief in others. There are very few things in life you can do alone and you really learn that through team sports. Everyone believing in a bigger goal is what team sports are all about. Achieving a goal together.

WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO SEATTLE TO HOST THE GAMES? I think it’s an opportunity to highlight the city and all the good things that are going on here. We can host an event of this size and we’ll pull it off without a hitch and really shine the spotlight on how we treat people. I hope people get a lot out of the games.

WHAT SHOULD ATHLETES SEE WHEN THEY VISIT SEATTLE? My wife and I like to go to the waterfront on either the Puget Sound side or the Lake Washington side. It’s such a relaxing environment and we really enjoy that. It’s very peaceful.