LPA History
1950's
1957 - Founding of LPA - Reno, Nevada 20 Charter Members - Billy Barty, Pres.
1960's
1960 - First National Convention - Las Vegas, Nev. 139 Attended - Dan Turner, Pres.
1961 - National Convention - Las Vegas 137 Attended - By Laws Approved
1961 - Began assisting individuals wishing to adopt children with dwarfism
1961 - Incorporation in Indianapolis, Indiana
1961 - District and Chapter organization structure adopted
1961 - Membership dues collected and cards issued
1962 - LPA Newsletter published
1964 - First chapter, Dal Worth, Texas, organized - Lee Kitchens,Pres.
1964 - LPA Parent's Auxiliary Group was formed
1965 - Membership at 736
1967 - National Conference in Hollywood, CA - 300 in attendance
1968 - Medical Advisory Board established - Chuck Bedow, Pres.
1969 - LPA Foundation established
1970's
1970 - George "Joe" Alexander, Pres
1972 - First Short Stature Symposium - Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
1974 - Gerald Rasa, Pres
1975 - LPA charters it's 25th Chapter Pennsylvania Dutch, PA
1975 - Membership at 2200
1977 - LPA members participate in White House Conference on Handicapped
1977 - "My Child is a Dwarf" published by LPA
1979 - "My Child is a Dwarf", Second Edition, published by LPA.
1980's
1980 - Robert Van Etten, Pres
1982 - 25th anniversary Convention, Reno, Nevada - Mary Carten, Pres
1982 - First International Conference of Little People - Washington d.c.
1984 - LPA members appear on Phil Donohue and Oprah - Robert Van Etten, Pres.
1984 - "Little People in America" by Joan Ablon published - Praeger
1986 - Dwarf Athletic Association of America formed. First national games
1986 - Daniel Margulies, Pres.
1988 - LPA participates in meetings supporting Americans with Disabilities Act.
1988 - Mary Carten, Pres.
1988 - My Child is a Dwarf - Translated and Published in Spanish
1988 - LPA Delegate Am. National Standards Institute (Access Standards)
1989 - LPA Board of Directors issues position on "Limb Lengthening" (ELL)
1989 - William Webster, Dwarf Puppet, debuts on "Kids on the Block"
1990's
1990 - Florida members of LPA lobby and Florida bans Dwarf Tossing
1990 - Membershiip at 4700 - Marge Carlisle, Pres.
1991 - "Idea Machine" published and distributed
1993 - LPA charters it's 50th Chapter - Southwest Florida
1993 - First World Dwarf Games - Chicago, Illinois
1994 - Ruth Ricker, Pres
1994 - LPA Inc. and LPA Foundation merge
1995 - Membership at 5345
1995 - The gene for Achondroplasia is discovered
1996 - Leroy Bankowski, Pres.
1998 - Los Angeles Conference - 1500 Attendees
1998 - LPA publishes "It's A Whole New View"
1998 - LPA hires first paid employee
2000's
2000 - Membership at 7400
2000 - Death of Billy Barty
2002 - Matt Rolloff, Pres
2002 -"It's A Whole New View" Spanish Edition published by LPA
2003 - Death of Lee Kitchens - His Personal papers donated to LPA
2004 - Dwarfs begin appearing in TV reality shows.
2004 - National Headquarters Office opened in Hillsboro, Oregon
2004 - Rick Spiegel, Pres. - Tricia Mason, Pres
2004 - LPA Archive Organized in Hillsboro, Oregon
2005 - Orlando Conference - 2000 Attendees
2005 - LPA Delegate -Transportation Security Administration
2005 - Craig Holloway, Pres. - Angela Van Etten, Pres.
2005 - First campers at Painted Turtle
2006 - Lois Lamb, Pres.
2007 - Joanna Canmpbell hired as Executive Director
2007 - $50 for 50 years annual fundraiser started
2008 - National Headquarters moved to Tustin, CA
2008 - LPA Archive moved to Sacramento, CA
2010's
2010 - 72nd Chartered Chapter - Road Runner, AZ
2011 - Gary Arnold, Pres.
2012 - Last National Conference hosted by a District - Dallas, TX
2012 - National Conference Planning Committee formed
2012 - Bio Marin begins drug trial for Achondroplasia treatment
2013 - 20th World Dwarf Games
2013 - First National Conference produced by National Office - Washington, DC
2015 - LPA Archive moved to Tustin, Calif.
2017 - Mark Povinelli, Pres.
2020's
2020 - LPA Conference in Austin, Texas, cancelled due to Carona Virus
2020 - District and Chapter Meetings cacelled due to Carona Virus
2020 - Mark Povinelli, Re-elected Pres.
2020 - Virtualpalooza - On-line virtual events presented for members
2020 - LPA Archive moved to National City, Calif.
