From the very beginning, the XXth World Gymnastics Championship held in Fort Worth, Texas was destined to be remarkable. The young gymnasts of today will not recall that this was the first ever World Championship outside of Europe. Jamile (Jay) Ashmore and Frank Bare already had selected Tarrant County Convention Center as the best possible site for the 1979 event when the Federation of International Gymnastics awarded the championship to the United States Gymnastics Federation (USGF). As preparations began, the Fort Worth community responded beyond expectations to the request “for all the assistance that could be mustered” to make the first ever World Championship held in the United States successful. Among those many wonderful people who “answered the call” were Dan and Janna Poland.

After the first meeting with the Tarrant County Convention Center CEO, Mr. Lou Owens, USGF organizers knew their choice of host city and venue were perfect. Discussions were held and plans were made. Bare was assigned the political/social aspects of the XXth World Championships and Ashmore was named the Event Director. When Bare and Ashmore immediately turned their attention to locating volunteers, they sought the assistance of Fort Worth’s Junior Women’s League and met the unique, high energy, one and only Janna Poland. This dynamo of a lady and her husband, Dan, long-time residents of Fort Worth, had always been involved in community and were an invaluable source of information and direction as arrangements for the 1979 event were made. Janna mobilized 800 volunteers who generously gave their time and energy. With the magnanimous, selfless help of the Poland’s, the Junior Women’s League and many others, the XXth World Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth remains one of the most successful, well planned and directed championships in the history of gymnastics. Dan and Janna became friends of gymnastics, a friendship that endures today. Once again Janna Poland demonstrated her support for gymnastics when the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame moved to its new location in Oklahoma City at the OmniPlex.