MinnePaul is sports and recreational club for the deaf and hard of hearing community in

Minnesota. MinnePaul is a Non-Profit 501c(3) organization that was founded in 1931 and incorporated in 1969.

History of Minnepaul

Minnepaul Oral Association was the original name of the organization.

This organization for the oral deaf was founded by Russell M. Corcoran, Joseph Lieb, Joseph Shama, and Allen Campbell in the year of 1931.

It was formed for the purposes of social friendship, to defend their oral deaf status and to establish closer feelings of this organization with the manual deaf organization and the hearing organizations. The change to current name and purpose happened in 1957.

Diamondball (Fast pitch softball) and Basketball were the primary sports of the organization for many years and they often played against local hearing teams and in city park and recreation leagues. Slow pitch softball is more popular today.

Midwest Athletic Association of the Deaf (MAAD) was formed in 1946 and MinnePaul as an affiliate participated in regional and national tournaments against other deaf clubs or teams.

In 1970, women were allowed to become full members for the first time and the right to vote at meetings.