Amber Reeves - The Short of It

Amber, two years older than her sister Jennifer, was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina some forty-five-minute drive from Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Fayetteville, North Carolina is known to us military types as Fayettenam!  Her mother toiled as a machine operator making drill bits and her father laid cable for AT&T.  They both got tired of this and divorced when Amber was age four.  Amber lived with her mother through her school years graduating from Scotland High School in Laurinburg where she was on the tennis team.  Amber married after graduation in 1999 and subsequently had two daughters (Alexandria (2000) and Caitlin (2001).  Both daughters are featured in accompanying photos with Amber.    Amber moved to Georgia in 2004, after a divorce, to be near her mother.

Daughter Alex, Amber and Daughter CaitlinAfter being a stay at home mom, Amber with the encouragement of her sister Jennifer, began a career with Biolab, where she participated in producing the brand of cleaners we all know as “Grease Lightening”.  She was there until the decline in the economy caught up with her and she was laid off in 2009.  The layoff spurred Amber to return to school, acquiring a certification in medical billing from Everest Technical College.  Amber formed her own entity in a niche she found doing medical mental health billing for providers.  She now works full time as an independent contractor for one medical entity and in addition does medical billing for three other firms on the side.   

Amber, Sherri Price and Daughter AlexAmber’s first race was the Brain Tumor 5K at Atlantic Station in 2013, as she was convinced to participate in honor of a friend whose daughter suffered from a brain tumor.  She enjoyed the experience so much that she began to google upcoming races and stumbled on the Classic Race Services site.  Running was a way to lose weight, and she found that plugging in her earbuds while running was a therapeutic way to “get lost in the music while clearing my head.”  Amber’s two daughters accompanied her to races providing a non-generational activity that they could do together.  Eventually long term boyfriend Mitch joined the entourage. 

Amber completed one hundred and forty-nine races in 2015 and is first in the 30-34 female age group. Amber is ranked first in her age group in Run and See Georgia, Black Bag, and Clover Glove races series for 2015.  Her favorite races are all those without steep hills!  Her goal for 2016 is to slow down and enjoy races that she has not participated in before and to participate in at least two half marathons.  If you are intrigued about the title of this profile, Amber’s height is 4’10” yet can stride a 5K in 26:40.  She is short but you cannot see her feet in her driver’s license photo!      

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile on long time senior runner Bill Costantino and profile of Decatur runner Amy Hall.

Herman Sasser - Even Old Men Can Get High

Herman, grew up on a farm in Union County, North Carolina in an era where farm children, like Herman, from age eight to seventeen milked cows, picked cotton, and did “all sorts of farm work”.  Herman was a 1944 war baby whose father was a Sergeant in a tank division that moved through France to Berlin before he could return home to see his offspring.  As a versatile athlete Herman excelled in Basketball, Football and Baseball-anything to avoid farm chores!  Herman was a scholar as well, receiving a congressional appointment to West Point Military Academy (Slowpants was advised that Dr. Ben Carson did not want him to fact check this!).  Herman’s astigmatism precluded him from passing the entrance exam physical.  Herman had offers from Duke and the University of North Carolina (UNC).  Herman became a tarheel and graduated from UNC in 1967 with a B.A. in Psychology.

Herman’s younger brothers were equally athletic and his sister academically inclined following the example Herman set.  Jon, in his early 50s, has completed four Iron Man events as well as a large number of triathlons.  Charles, age 68, bike races in the masters competitions in North Carolina and recently climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.  Sister Jane is a published writer and teacher.

Six months after graduation Herman received his draft notice.  The Army initially sent Herman to Fort Polk, Louisiana (career Army refer to this installation as the armpit of the Army) for Basic and Advanced Infantry training.  Herman applied for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was selected attending Engineer Branch OCS at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.  Herman’s follow up assignment as a REMF (ask Chris Scammon what this is!) was as a recruiting officer for the states of Virginia and West Virginia.  Herman was able to earn a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the University of Richmond in the evenings while on recruiting duty.  Herman could not have studied that hard as he met his wife Connie, forty-eight years and counting, in Richmond.  Both were avid tennis players and Herman aced her!  The Army finally realized that Herman had not been to Vietnam and to Connie’s consternation issued him orders to deploy that were voided by the war ending before Herman could be shipped overseas.  The Army advised Herman that if they wanted him to have a wife that they would have issued him one!  They had a son, Herman Wallace Sasser, III, and three grandchildren Carolina (age 7), Lincoln (age 5), and Palmer (3).    

Post military, Herman became a Merrill Lynch stock broker.  Herman parlayed his experience to a position with American Savings and Loan servicing high deposit corporate clients.  After the savings and loan crisis, Herman transitioned to a follow on career as a Management Consultant.  The only person I have ever seen Herman consult with is Dave Oblinger about bumming a ride!   

Ever the Energizer Bunny, Herman plays a lot of golf, including over three hundred rounds a few years ago.  Herman has been active the Run and See Grand Prix, Black Bag, and Clover Glove series since 2005, contributing to a weight loss of twenty-five pounds in 2014.  Herman is in the running in the 70-74 age category, much to the chagrin of Jim Latimer and Bill Tweedell.  All their times are close and Herman’s favorite races are when they all three are contenders.  He also prefers races where he does not take a wrong turn and get lost, “which has happened an embarrassing number of times”.   

Herman quips about getting high as “there is no doubt in my mind that running is an endorphin related addiction. However, it is a healthy addiction that involves more benefit that any other activity that I know.” 

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile of Amber Reeves and the profile of senior runner Bill Costantino.

Marge Finnerty-Redefining the Golden Years of Running

Marge was born in rural Churchville, Iowa in 1933.  The same year that, according to Wickepedia, the Catholic Church in the community was destroyed by fire.  Life got more exciting when the family moved to nearby Ames, Iowa when Marge was in the third grade.  After graduation from Ames High School, Marge met and at age twenty-two married her late husband Bill while both were matriculating at the University of Iowa.  This union produced six children and ten grandchildren.  Not being prejudiced, three were girls and three were boys.  Marge became qualified as a medical technician at the University Hospital while Bill was obtaining degrees in Bio Chemistry and Micro Biology.  Marge worked for two years as an x-ray technician in Iowa after earning her certification.

Bill and Marge moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where Bill completed post doctorate work in Micro Biology.  Later they relocated to Athens, GA where Bill did what overeducated people in Athens do and worked for the University of Georgia.  Bill and Marge were married for forty years before his untimely demise fifteen years ago.

Marge began running forty five years ago when she accepted a challenge from one of her children to “run around the block”.  Marge never stopped from that point and is still running at age eighty-two.  She can still run an age defying 38 minute 5K and has done so this year at a race I participated in at Watkinsville, GA.  She was running 5K races with a time under thirty minutes until she hit age seventy.  She now only runs three or four races a year in the Athens area and admits she always wins because of her competitive spirit and that competition in her age group is scarce.  Marge’s favorite race is the Human Race in Athens.  She likes the races that support the Special Olympics and any that “help other people”.  Marge has participated in three triathlons, the most recent three years ago at Lake Lanier at age seventy-nine.  Her favorite runner is Athenian Wilson Page, whom we all admire for his spirit and durability.

Marge keeps her mind young by doing volunteer work and “word puzzles” like filling out race registration forms.  She has exercised at the Athens YMCA for over forty years and still does so.  Marge routinely swims three times a week.  Marge will turn eighty-three in January and has a goal next year of running more frequently but not long distances.  The motivation is partially for her health but more to “be the best she can be”.     

Marge does not have or use a computer and declined to have any photos posted.  However, if you become curious and want to know who she is, just listen for her name at the awards ceremony for her name at an Athens area race.

Bob signing out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile on sassy Herman Sasser, and one on Amber Reeves in 2016.

Bill Tweedell - No Longer Dependent on Drugs

Melissa, Bill and HeatherWilliam (Bill) Lynn Tweedell was born in Sugar Valley (Gordon County), GA seventy-one years ago.  His family relocated to Athens, GA when Bill was in the first grade, later moving to nearby Bogart when Bill was in second grade.  His father was a skilled stone mason who built rock homes and his mother a homemaker.  The family eventually returned to their roots to reside in Resaca, GA back in Gordon County.  Bill graduated from Calhoun High School in 1962 and the University of Georgia in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy.  His degree included marrying his wife Jo Ann in June 1967.

Young BillBill’s professional career began with a stint in Toccoa, GA where he toiled for Pruitt’s Pharmacy as a rural pill pusher until March 1971.  While working at Pruitt’s in Toccoa, Bill met Jimmy Carter as he campaigned for governor of Georgia.  Later while working for Eckerd Drugs in Athens, Billy Carter came there.

After working in Winder, GA, Bill self-deported to work for Eckerd’s Drugs in Athens, GA in January 1972.  Bill became convinced that if he worked for a pharmacy, this insured that the pharmacy would be sold.  During his tenure as a pharmacist in the Athens area, he navigated through five buyout mergers with name changes and sometimes being relocated from one store to another but remaining in the Athens, GA area before retiring in 2010 from Rite Aid.

Bill and familyBill and Jo Ann have three children – son, Kenneth, daughter, Melissa and daughter, Heather.  Young Kenneth achieved family notoriety when he responded to a grade school exercise that his father’s work was to “sell drugs”.  This led to the principal’s office for a further explanation.  After Kenneth was older, he did something even worse, he became a politician.  He is on the city council for Winterville, GA.  Jo Ann suffered a heart attack in August 2010, and began attending cardiac rehab at St. Mary’s Hospital Wellness Center in Athens.  Bill decided to join her in the exercises and was introduced to a treadmill, his first foray into running.  

Daughter Melissa was into running at the time of her mother’s heart attack.  Bill at age sixty-eight began to run with Melissa.  He entered the Coach Mike 5K in 2012 and placed third in his age group.  His daughter encouraged Bill to participate in more races and he became a fixture in Black Bag and Clover Glove races with younger daughter Heather.  Bill and Heather ran the Butterfly Dreams 5K in 2013 and have continued running together.  Bill achieved over 1,000 points in the Run and See Grand Prix and over 400 points in the Black Bag Race Series in 2014.  In 2015 he is giving Herman Sasser and Jim Latimer stiff competition in the over age 70 geezer division.

Bill’s hobbies beyond obviously running include displaying his vintage 1978 Chevy truck in classic car venues with his son Kenneth.  Bill enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.  Bill and Jo Ann reside in Hull, Ga near Athens.  Hull is so small that if Bill ever contracts dementia, he cannot get lost!  His favorite races are any at the Sandy Creek Nature Center, and any race where he beats Herman Sasser and Jim Latimer!  Bill encourages race directors to conduct awards in the sequence of starting with the senior members of the running community before awarding winners in the younger age groups.

Look for the profile of Athens senior wonder Marge Finnerty and  on age group leading Herman Sasser. 

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.