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Alvah "Linda" Hadley

1961 U.S. World Team professional

Alvah Lynn ("Linda") Hart, 31, did not have any competitive experience herself; yet in just five years of teaching, she became an Olympic coach. The youngest of seven siblings, she was born in Winfield, Kan. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Salem, Ore., where she learned to roller and ice skate. She changed her name professionally to "Linda" when she performed in touring skating shows. After marrying Ray Hadley, Sr., in 1954, she taught alongside her husband at the Seattle Civic Arena as well as at the Ballard, Tacoma and Yakima rinks. Hart taught singles and pairs, and Hadley taught ice dancing. They both taught Hadley's children--Ila Ray Hadley and Ray Hadley, Jr.--who competed in all three disciplines. Hart was an innovative coach; she was a good choreographer and introduced new moves into her students' routines. Hadley, Sr., and Hart opened their own rink--the Hadley and Hart Ice Studio--in November 1960. The Hadley siblings won the 1957 U.S. junior pairs title, and Hart accompanied them to Paris, where they performed exhibitions at the 1958 World Figure Skating Championships. They competed at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games and placed second at the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Hadley, Sr., who stayed behind to run their studio, planned to meet his wife and children in Prague for the 1961 World Championships later in the week.

Bio written by Patricia Shelley Bushman, author of Indelible Tracings.