Jerry Cunningham - You Don't Have To Shave To Run

Jerry was born in Atlanta and is the youngest of five children (a sister and three brothers).  His parents moved to Marietta when Jerry was in the third grade.  That is where his father managed a greenhouse operation.  The family moved again to Clarksville, Georgia when Jerry was in the fifth grade.  There his father taught Horticulture at North Georgia Technical School, home of the now expired Mountain Laurel 5K.  His mother worked as a nurse at the local hospital.  Jerry graduated from Habersham Central High Jerry with his familySchool in 1976.  So after, he married and had two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Leah.  Hannah has been married for twelve years, lives In Mt. Airy and works in Human Resources for Habersham Metal.   Leah has been married for two years, is employed for a job placement firm in Duluth and resides in Johns Creek.  Jerry remarried eight years ago to Christina and has a twelve year old step son, Noah, from that union.  Jerry has run a few races with Noah and hopes to convince him to do more.  

Jerry joined the Navy after school but this did not float his boat, so he left the maritime service when his tour of duty was up.  Jerry’s civilian career has consisted of fourteen years in the retail hardware business in Clarksville followed by twenty-two years with electric provider Habersham EMC.  Jerry’s trademark red beard sprouted after his military service and gives him the appearance of a true North Georgia mountain man.

The weekend warrior and adventurer in Jerry emerged as he joined the Georgia Army National Guard while in the hardware business.  He endured basic training and the annual training tours at Fort Stewart, Georgia.  During his twenty-eight year military career, he was able to travel with his unit to California, Iowa, and Germany.  Jerry was activated to assist flood victims in Albany, Georgia, earth quake victims in Ecuador and hurricane victims of Katrina.  Jerry spent a year on active duty with the Department of Homeland Security in Maryland.  His final activation, at the rank of Sergeant First Class, was to assist with providing security for the G-8 Summit held at Sea Island, Georgia.  Those in attendance were, President George Bush, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Jerry’s first series race was on his twenty-fifth birthday at the Big Red Apple 5K in nearby Cornelia, Georgia.  His incentive, he was tired of “hot dog” soldiers beating him on the Physical Fitness test administered semi-annually in the National Guard.  Jerry has competed in twenty-five 4^th of July Peachtree Road Races, avoiding a consecutive streak by missing one while activated in Maryland.  His favorite races are the Soque River Ramble 6K in Batesville, Georgia and the Autumn Breeze 5K at Tallulah Falls, Georgia.  Jerry finished third in the formidable age 55-59 age group in 2013 both in the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix and the Black Bag race Series behind Roger Keel and Bo Ryles.  His wife offered to buy him a jacket as opposed to Jerry having to run in all the races but that “would not have been as much fun and he wouldn’t have earned it”.  Jerry has met “some really nice people and developed lasting friendships” with fellow series runners.  His inspirations are Bo Ryles, Darrell Worley, Jim Latimer, Wilson Page, Randy Ballew, Roger Keel, and the late Ron Landon. He said, “I think a lot of these men because they remind me of the Energizer Bunny, they just keep going and going” and Jerry wants to keep going.  

Bob, checking out from the back of the pack.  Watch for profiles on UGA’s Caitlin Conn and on happy tooth dentist Tom Skafidas.