Raymond “Ray” Hadden III

New Milford, CT

Raymond “Ray” Hadden III is excited to be the first athlete from Connecticut to become a coach for a Special Olympics USA Games event! He will be coaching bowling at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis. Ray lives in New Milford and works at the Canterbury School as a utility worker in the dining hall. Ray has been involved in Special Olympics Connecticut for over 42 years and he’s trained and competed in alpine skiing, basketball, bowling, bocce, floor hockey, snowshoeing, and track and field. He is also a Global Messenger, Health Leader, coach for the New Milford bowling team, and a Special Olympics Ambassador/Liaison for the New Milford Police Department!

“I could not imagine Special Olympics not being a part of my life. Special Olympics has given me so much more than the opportunity to compete,” says Ray. 

Ray also credits Special Olympics for helping him make friends and gain self-confidence which he says contributed to him becoming a productive adult and successfully employed. 

One of his most significant achievements was winning the Special Olympics Connecticut Eunice Kennedy Shriver Award in 2015. He was also honored with “Ray Day” at Canterbury School, where he works. 

Ray also finds coaching the New Milford bowling team very rewarding. “Watching my athletes work hard and seeing them grow and improve makes me very proud,” shared Ray. 

Ray served on the Special Olympics Connecticut Board of Directors, co-chaired the Athletic Input Council, and served on the SONA Coaches Resource Development team. 

He has also traveled to Washington DC to participate in Special Olympics’ Capitol Hill Day and speak to his state representatives about the impact of Special Olympics and participated in the US Health and Fitness Conference and Coaches Education Training.

In addition to Special Olympics, Ray enjoys listening to music, watching a good movie, and spending time with his nieces and nephews. Ray is a “people person” who enjoys meeting new people and listening to their stories.

“I am honored and very excited to have been asked to be a team member of Team Connecticut. It has been a dream of mine for many years to attend the USA Games,” says Ray.