Sammie Provence Papers
Sammie L. Provence (1949-1982) contracted Bulbar polio at the age of 9, became quadriplegic, and spent ten months in Houston's Southwest Poliomyletis Respiratory Center. For the rest of his life, Mr. Provence relied on a respirator during the day...
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About Sammie Provence Papers
Sammie L. Provence (1949-1982) contracted Bulbar polio at the age of 9, became quadriplegic, and spent ten months in Houston's Southwest Poliomyletis Respiratory Center. For the rest of his life, Mr. Provence relied on a respirator during the day and an iron lung at night to help with breathing problems. He earned a B.S. in business and M.A. in history from the University of Texas at Arlington, and was just three weeks away from completing his teaching certificate at the time of his death in 1982. Provence was an activist and leader in promoting legislation for wheelchair accessibility. Provence co-established the Handicapped Students Association at UTA and was instrumental in leading the university to become a barrier-free model campus. In 1977, he founded and was the first president of the Arlington Handicapped Association. Provence was an advocate for public transportation for the disabled. In addition, he served on a number of city, state, and national committees for the disabled, including the Dallas Committee for the Handicapped. Provence realized his dream in 1982, when he obtained funding to establish residences for six severely disabled men that would allow them to live independently.