My childhood buddy was an Olympic athlete
Salem’s Jim Trussell competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games
Life on Salem’s Crowley Avenue was idyllic in the 1960s and 70s. The narrow, semi-paved residential street was located just off South Commercial Street, one of the busiest arterials in the city. But in that time years ago, the homes on Crowley Avenue were surrounded by orchards and open fields of alfalfa—ideal for any sort of kid activity we could think of.
Jim Trussell was my closest buddy during that time. His family erected a double-wide trailer on a hill above the street in 1965. But that wasn’t all they added to the local landscape. On one piece of property next to the trailer, they built a putt-putt golf course. And on a prime piece of land just across the way from Crowley, Jim’s dad built a monstrous roller rink named Skateland.
I tell this story because Skateland was where Jim cut his teeth competing in all sorts of roller sports. But his real love was roller hockey. And his passion for the sport eventually landed him at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. These Games included the debut of the USA’s Dream Team in basketball and the gutsy bronze medal effort by hobbled decathlete Dave Johnson, who now resides in Salem. But it also marked Jim’s claim to Olympic Fame
Jim and I were best buddies on Crowley Avenue until my parents purchased a larger home about a mile away in 1972. Jim and I still went to the same high school, but didn’t interact that much. He was just trying to get through school—and spent most of his time playing better and better roller hockey in tournaments in California, Nebraska, and Texas among other exotic locations.
“I was pretty quiet in high school, admits the 62 year old Trussell. “The rink was where I was the man.”
Jim competed for a few years in California, and then decided he wanted to play hockey with the best. So he moved half way around the globe to Europe—specifically, Italy. It marked the real start of his career in a physically demanding sport adored by many Europeans.
Jim’s international career began with a successful performance in an Italian hockey tournament in 1985. Trussell’s skills were immediately recognized by local team owners, and he was signed to a contract to play in 60 to 70 games over nine months. It was the start of a nine-year career in Europe. His teams were successful, winning the Italian League crown once, and nabbing the European Cup of Champions. The sport paid well, but it came with a price. US professional players were not allowed to compete with their amateur USA teams. Jim figured the Olympics were never going to happen for him. But he was wrong.
In 1992, Olympic officials announced that roller (rink) hockey was to be a demonstration sport in the Barcelona Games, and that pros could now play on Olympic teams—see USA Basketball’s Dream Team. Jim was almost immediately contacted by Team USA officials to join them. But Trussell turned them down, pointing out he was already under contract in Italy and couldn’t just leave during the current season’s playoffs. But US Olympic supporters countered by asking Jim if they could bring the whole team to him for the tryout process. Jim had to make all the arrangements, but the entire US team did fly into Italy, and he did make the team in a daytime tryout.
“I never believed they wanted me that much,” recalls Jim. “But they opened the door and I went in.”
“I felt like it was a reward for my years of hard work in the United States.”
The American Roller Hockey players got to stay in Olympic Village rooms originally reserved for the Dream Team. The basketball squad stayed in a nearby local hotel that provided more security and larger beds.
“Those beds were definitely too small for the basketball team. We were happy to use them,” Trussell remembers.
The relatively inexperienced USA Roller Hockey team finished fourth out of five teams in pool play, and seventh overall with Argentina taking the gold medal.
Despite all the extra work involved in getting to Barcelona, Jim appreciated his Olympic experience.
“We fell a little short—our team could have been in the finals. Still, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it.”
Jim returned to Italy before the closing ceremonies were over, and reunited with his wife Donata, an Italian national who he married in 1986. He changed teams twice for more money before finally hanging up his skates in 1994. He had no regrets as he headed back to the States.
“I was just into skating… I just followed my path, and it was a good one,” recalled Trussell.
Jim and his bride moved with their kids to suburban Salt Lake City, Utah… a good place to raise their five children. Jim worked several different jobs, while his bride, Donata, worked for the local school district. Jim continued to be involved in roller hockey, this time as a coach for the US National Team. He directed his squad to B level World Championships in South Africa and Austria.
Jim then became manager of a local 150 thousand square foot fun center, complete with amusement rides, an indoor golf course, arcade, diner, and 15 movie theaters. He operated the center in Salt Lake until it was sold to a larger movie chain.
These days, Trussell is retired, now dealing with the effects of Crohn’s Disease. He is still busy, but has slowed his pace since quitting work for good in 2019.
Jim still coaches, and actually plays hockey, even with his illness. He played with family members in winning the Silver Division (2nd tier) National Championship in 2018. But mostly, he maintains rental units owned by his family, works with hockey leagues nationally, and plays a round of golf when he feels up to it.
Looking back, Trussell is satisfied with how his career played out. He looked at his Olympic experience in Barcelona as sort of a bonus to his time playing at the highest level of roller hockey.
Our extended phone interview of 2 ½ hours brought back lots of memories and a pledge that we would get together when Jim comes to visit family in Salem in a few months.
My neighbor and buddy has accomplished much in his life, but in many ways, he is still the grade school kid who shared adventures with me on Crowley Avenue so long ago.
Skateland and the putt putt golf course are gone, and our old street is more crowded with new homes, extra arterials, and lots of surrounding commercial shops. But the memories are still there for both of us.
Here’s to you, Jim.
another excellent article my friend....you're retirement job is looking pretty good to me