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Fitness Teams Open the Illinois State Fair
Four fitness teams traveled over 565 miles from all points in the State, "leading the way" By Milly Wallace, Editor
Recently, Illinois residents received a personal challenge — by example — to encourage staying mentally and physically fit. Four fitness teams of recreation/leisure services profesionals and their friends — one walk, one run, one bicycle and one wheelchair — traveled over 565 miles from all points in the State to promote the value of personal fitness. Each fitness team carried a part of the scissors and banner to be used for opening ceremonies at the fair. Along their routes, the teams made stops to meet with area residents and call attention to local park and recreation opportunities. The Run Team The run team led off the event by starting their 155-mile jog through southern Illinois from Carbondale on Sunday, August 7. They carried a section of the ribbon for the fair's opening. The first day of the run route was completed by Phillip Lindberg, Board vice president, and commissioner Roger Oilie, both of Carbondale Park District. Members of the River to River Road Runners Club accompanied them through southern Illinois. Gary Baker, assistant Drector of Canton Park District and cair of the state-wide event, took over the last three days of the run route with Derron Bishop, a high school senior and Canton Park District employee. George Whitehead, executive director of Carbondale Park District, was the team's support driver. The run team traveled through the communities of Carbondale, Murphysboro, Vergennes, Pinkneyville, Nashville, New Minden, Carlyle, Greenville, Donaldson, Hillsboro, Butler, Raymond, and Pawnee to Springfield. The Walk Team The walk team began on Monday, August 8, and traveled 85 miles from Peoria carrying one half of the scissors used for the fair's ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Two husband and wife teams comprised the walkers. Schaumburg Park District director Jerry Handlon and his wife Barb were joined by Bolingbrook Park District director Ray Ochromowicz and his wife Kathy, who is assistant superintendent of recreation for Wheaton Park District. Gene Konrad from WIRL-Radio in Peoria walked with the team for the first day of the route.
The team walked a route from Peoria through Bartonville, Pekin, Green Valley, Mason City, Petersburg and Athens to Springfield. The Wheelchair Team The wheelchair team began on Monday, August 8, from Champaign/Urbana. They carried the second half of the ceremonial ribbon, pushing 90 miles through the cities of Monticello, Bement, Cerro Gordo, Decatur, Illiopolis and Buffalo to Springfield. The team's roster included Brad Hedrick and Don Thompson of Champaign/Urbana, Kevin Orr or Algonquin, Ann Walters of Bloomfield and Amy Gregson of Belleville. Fritz Miericke and Bob Frank of Paul's Bicycle Shop in Urbana were the support drivers for the team. By the way, Hedrick is the director of recreation and athletics at University of Illinois' Rehabilitation Center. He was recently named womens' Illinois Parks and Recreation 6 September/October 1988 head basketball coach for the 1988 Paralympic Games to be held in Seoul, Korea. Kevin Orr and Ann Walters are both members of the 1988 Paralympic team. (Go for the Gold!) The Bike Team The bike team traveled 235 miles, the longest leg of the event. Starting out from Rockford on Monday morning, August 8, the team carried the second half of the pair of scissors used in the fair's ribbon cutting ceremonies.
The three-person bike team included Alex Roberts, recreation director for the city of Woodstock, Jim Ensign, facilities coordinator for Naperville Park District and Rich Esposito, commissioner of Byron Park District and a Country Companies district underwriter. The bikers wheeled through the cities of Byron, Oregon, Ghana, Rochelle, DeKalb, Leiand, Ottawa, Grand Ridge, Streator, Cornell, Pontiac, Lexington, Bloomington/Normal, Atlanta, Lincoln, Elkhart and Williamsville to Springfield. Converging in Springfield Persevering through the week's sizzling temperatures, the teams arrived in Springfield on Wednesday, August 10, to participate in the annual State Fair Twilight Parade. Fittingly so, the parade's theme, "Illinois Salutes the Olympic Spirit", seemed appropriate for the tremendous effort each team made reaching Springfield. IAPD president and Arlington Heights Park commissioner, Sandra Fernstrom, greeted the teams in Springfield and walked the parade route with the teams to the fairgrounds' Main Gate.
Opening Day Ceremonies On Thursday morning, August 11, the team members arrived with Fernstrom at the Main Gate again. The scissors and banner were reassembled and presented to Governor Jim Thompson for the official opening of the fair. Gov. Thompson personally greeted and thanked each team member for completing their arduous, symbolic journey. Fernstrom stepped to the microphone and began the motions of official business by making brief congratulatory remarks to the media, thanking the teams and the event's sponsors. She then spoke about the benefits of mental and physical fitness and abundant park and recreation opportunities in Illinois. Fernstrom then handed the scissors to the Governor. After a short address describing his pride in Illinois and its residents, Gov. Thompson gave the scissors to his daughter, Samantha, who cut the ribbon and opened the gateway to a fantastic and entertaining 1988 State Fair. Corporate Sponsorship For the second year, the Country Companies, an insurance and investment group specializing in health and life coverage, joined with the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) to sponsor the event "Fitness Is Leading The Way". Jim Williams, Country Companies' associate director of Community Education, said his company really enjoyed participating this year. "Our staff and agents liked being a part of "Fitness Leads The Way". We thought the event did a nice job of focusing public attention on the importance of fitness. We enjoyed our relationships with park and recreation professionals. We especially want to thank Gary Baker (Canton) for all of his efforts in leading and in organizing the event for the last two years." The Country Companies are the largest insurers of farm property, one of the top three automobile insurers and one of the four largest home insurers in Illinois. Additionally, the Country Companies have more ordinary life insurance in force on Illinois residents than any other life insurance company headquartered in the state. Last year the Country Companies gave over 450 safety and health presentations to more than 60,000 Illinois residents. Since they began presenting programs over 30 years ago, close to 3 million Illinois citizens have taken advantage of the programs. Their staff of veteran speakers offers free safety and health programs to school and adult groups, clubs, charities, churches, farms, civic and industrial organizations in an effort to promote better safety and health habits. The memberships of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association wish to warmly congratulate all of the team members for a fine exhibition of fitness and recreational opportunity to the citizens of our state. Our thanks go out to you for your commitment to fitness and for spreading our message through all points of Illinois. For further information about the "Fitness Is Leading The Way" event, contact Gary Baker, Canton Park District, 250 South Avenue D., Canton, IL 61520. Phone: 309/647-1345. Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 September/October 1988 |
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