State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) recently recognized Chuck Melton II of Hoyleton as a member of Team USA Wheelchair Rugby for a decade and team captain for six years. Rep. Meier recognized Melton before the Illinois House of Representatives and presented him with House Resolution 516 which was adopted by state lawmakers.
“I was proud to recognize and welcome Chuck Melton II before the Illinois House of Representatives,” said Rep. Charlie Meier. “Melton represented our great nation as a member of Team USA Wheelchair Rugby for a decade and served as captain of the team for six years. I appreciate his dedication and all the hard work he has done for those living with disabilities. Chuck’s perseverance should serve as an inspiration to us all.”
Chuck Melton moved to Hoyleton in May 2001 and worked at Nascote Industries, providing industrial cleaning services within the automotive plant. In 2002, Melton suffered a life-altering accident, severing his spinal cord and losing the use of his legs and partial use of his hands, while a father of two young children with a third on the way.
Melton attended Kaskaskia College and became involved in many organizations that promote physical activity for individuals with physical limitations, including Paraquad, which champions equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy, and the Disabled Athlete Sports Association, which empowers individuals with physical disabilities to find their inner athlete through adaptive sports and fitness. His early experiences with these groups provided him with structure and strength after his accident, teaching him many life lessons.
After being introduced to the sport of wheelchair rugby, Chuck Melton spent many years and many long hours training with his family by his side. He played for the St. Louis wheelchair rugby team, the Spartans, for five years before deciding to advance to the national level.
Chuck Melton served on the developmental team in 2011 before being invited to try out for the US National Wheelchair Rugby team, defying all odds when he was named to the team after his first attempt in 2012.
While representing Team USA for a decade, Chuck Melton has accumulated many medals and honors over the course his athletic career. He played in both the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, earning a silver medal in both tournaments. Melton also earned a gold medal in the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, and he has played in three World Championship tournaments, Denmark 2014, Australia 2018, and Denmark 2022, where he earned two bronze medals and a silver medal for the US National team.
Chuck Melton is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and can be seen on the NCIS New Orleans episode “In Plain Sight” which frequently airs on CBS.
House Resolution 516 adopted by the Illinois House of Representatives which congratulates Chuck Melton on his achievements can be viewed here.