Debbie Schulte - Gwinnett Runner with a Patriotic Gene

Debbie was born in East Atlanta.  Her father worked the night shift for the US Postal Service and her mother did secretarial work on the day shift.  Debbie’s family relocated to then suburban Forest Park when she entered the fifth grade.  She graduated from Forest Park High and attended West Georgia College (now a University) in Carrollton.  Her freshman year led to an introduction to her future husband, Gene Schulte, who had just completed his active duty Army responsibilities.  Debbie transferred to Clayton State Junior College (now a four year degree institution) in 1972.   Clayton College required a PE credit for graduation so Debbie elected to matriculate in Jogging 101.  Her lack of conditioning led her to plead to be dropped from the course.  Her professor disapproved the request so she ran laps with the class with the final lap being a one mile timed run.  Content to earn her credit, this experience turned Debbie off from running.  Gene followed Debbie to Georgia State University where they graduated together in 1975. 

Not satisfied with one certificate, Debbie acquired another by marrying Gene after graduation.  They have two children-Laura born in 1978 and Philip was born in 1982.  Many of us recall providing goodies for Anne Patrick to enclose in care packages to Philip in Iraq where he was stationed in the Marine Corp.  Philip continued his military service as an Embassy Security Guard stationed in Germany, Zambia, and Chile.  Debbie was able to run her first marine Corp Marathon in 2010 while Phillip was at Quantico, VA awaiting his discharge from active duty.  Philip and Gene cheered her on from the sidelines that day. 

Debbie began her work experience at Miller Grove High in DeKalb County as a paraprofessional.  In 1989 the family moved to Snellville and Debbie transferred to Brookwood High in Gwinnett County.  Her career progressed to where she became a Technology Support Technician.  Debbie said this translated to “network administrator” whose responsibility was to protect the school computer from being hacked by high school computer wizards.  Debbie retired in 2011 with the goal of having more leisure time and visiting with her granddaughters.  Gene retired as a Head Start Specialist in 2013 after forty years as a Government Service (GS) employee with the Federal Government.  Daughter Laura and her husband Matt Losch, are teaching in Dalian, China so this presents a challenge as Debbie is able to visit with them once a year.  Her granddaughters, Mabry and Marlee are now age five and three.  She enjoys babysitting her sixteen month old grandson Tyler (Philip’s son), who lives in nearby Loganville, GA. 

Philip, Debbie and GeneDebbie resumed running in 1992 when the family joined the Greater Gwinnett Road Runners (GGRR).  Personalities encountered through GGRR were, among others, Elaine Geiger, Bob Chaapel, Linda Zeeman, and Gary Jenkins.  The family begin to participate in races, loading up each Saturday morning to travel to a new town or village in Georgia for a race.  Enthused by other runners who participate in marathons, Debbie ran her first, the Chickamauga Marathon, in 1997.  She has since completed forty-six marathons.  Marathon destinations include New York, Vancouver, Hawaii, Alaska, and London among others. 

Among race “characters” encountered was memorable Will Chamberlin.  Debbie ended up assisting Will on numerous Classic Race Service races in the infancy of Will’s business startup.  This relationship is the reason that Debbie’s favorite race is the Bishop, GA Santa Stroll 8K that Carole Black has organized each year in Will’s memory.  This race has become an annual occasion to remember runners who have passed away during the year.  Debbie admires Carol Black’s success as a female race coordinator, her success in growing Classic Race Services, and establishing the Black Bag Race Series. 

An additional goal in retirement is to avoid major projects.  Debbie, however, has joined an Atlanta Track Club marathon training group in preparation in her second Marine Corp Marathon in October. 

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Watch for the profile on senior runner Bill Tweedell and on Athens’ Marge Finnerty.