Two days after we rocked Chicago with a Jim Peterik mini-concert, we rolled into Canton, Ohio where a celebrity from the sports world hopped on our tour event. The occasion was the Hall of Fame Senior Olympics and State Games Kick Off Breakfast held under a large tent next to the venerable Pro Football Hall of Fame, and despite the early start there was plenty of energy coming from the 150+ athletes and guests. And one in particular had a very familiar face.

Quarterback great and current ESPN college football analyst Todd Blackledge joined us at the podium to share a few words about fitness and assisted State Games Coordinator Larry Werstler and NSGA’s Communications and Media Director Del Moon in presenting a Personal Best Award to athlete Leurene Hildenbrand from nearby Hartville. Moon, filling in for CEO Marc T. Riker who had to tend to a family emergency, recounted the storied life of the 81 year old from farm girl to Goodyear research scientist, farmer, cattle rancher, boat builder and eventually senior athlete. “Her friends call her Wonder Woman, and after you hear her story there’s no wonder why,” he told the audience.

Hildenbrand, who divides the year between her 25 acre Hartville home and Pinellas Park, Florida, did her research and drew upon childhood running, skating and cycling to build up to participating in 17 sports in local and state senior games in Ohio and Florida. “I love being able to do this and I want to be an example for others,” said Hildenbrand, who did not have the opportunity to participate in sports as a youth. She will compete in table tennis and cycling at the National Senior Games Presented by Humana in Cleveland. There’s much more to discover about “Wonder Woman” when read her Personal Best profile.

Blackledge resides in Canton and serves on the board of trustees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He quarterbacked Penn State to a college football national championship in 1982, won the Davey O’Brien Award and then played seven years in the NFL before pursuing a broadcasting career. He expressed his admiration for senior athletes and expanded on the greater importance of encouraging everyone to stay active. “When I was an athlete I worked

out for the purpose of performing my best on the field. Not that I don’t compete any more my focus has shifted. I work out to maintain my best health and fitness. You just have to do it.”

It was a good morning to meet so many friendly athletes and great volunteers that make Ohio’s state games a success. Our thanks to games director Larry Werstler, volunteer and emcee Betty Smith and everyone who gave NSGA such a warm welcome. Getting a free look around the Pro Football Hall of Fame was pretty cool too. If you are a football fan it’s a must see experience.

Our tour continues to show variety both in our athlete stories and in the guests that come out to support our message. In addition to honoring Bob O’Connor of River Forest with a “Personal Best Award,” our Chicago press conference at the swank Ritz-Carlton also celebrated the rock and roll theme of the National Senior Games Presented by Humana taking place in Cleveland. Grammy winner and Chicago area native Jim Peterik entertained us with several of his hit songs, most notably the iconic sports anthem “Eye of the Tiger.” Just as importantly the rocker, now 62, spoke of his own fitness challenges and said he thinks our athletes and the National Senior Games are cool.

Peterik socialized and posed for photos with Illinois athletes in attendance and told stories to the audience between songs that also included “Burning Fire” from Rocky IV (Survivor), “Vehicle” (The Ides of March), “Hold on Loosely” (.38 Special). He expressed his strong connection to NSGA’s mission to re-define the meaning of personal best and spoke of his passion on the subject.

“So many people need this message, to have that encouragement when you’re past the age of 50 that you can keep going, and even get better,” Peterik said as he introduced his show-

closing acoustic rendition of “Eye of The Tiger,” the iconic theme song from the 1982 movie Rocky III. “That’s the personal best message and I love it.”

We have clips of Peterik’s performance and the presentation on our Youtube channel. Click here and enjoy.

67 year old trackster Bob O’Connor’s perseverance in overcoming a catastrophic Achilles injury in 2001 to return to the National Senior Games earned our attention to profile him in

Chicago. As our Personal Best profile explains, O’Connor, who is a psychologist, had to “psyche” himself up to learn to walk again and refuse to accept his first doctor’s advice to hang up his spikes. He also coaches and officiates youth sports.

“I’m very humbled. You could talk to a thousand other senior athletes and get a great story from each of them,” O’Connor said. “As we age it’s important that we’re able to embrace some natural limitations that occur, and turn them into challenges instead of something more negative.”

More than a dozen Illinois athletes going to the National Senior Games also asked to stand and be recognized by Jennifer Phillips, incoming coordinator for the Illinois State Senior Olympics held annually in Springfield. Phillips expressed how proud Illinois is to be the first state senior games to be organized and pledged to take it to new levels. Other speakers included noted physiologist and athlete Dr. Terry Nicola (who helped O’Connor return to competition shape) and Dr. Fred Tolin, Humana’s VP of marketing for Illinois. Peterik surprised Tolin when he told him during his show that his family is with Humana and how his wife of 42 years had recently had hip replacement surgery and they were pleased with how they were treated.

Speaking of recognition, we surprised Peterik after his performance when NSGA’s Del Moon presented him with a one-of-a-kind “NSGA Eye of the Tiger Award” which acknowledges he is achieving his own personal best on every stage of his life. Peterik spoke of overcoming weight issues and keeping fit now for life. “I love to rollerblade and work out regularly,” he told us. “Activity is a big part of my life and it’s all for one thing- to be able to go onstage and kick it. I was born to do this. I don’t want to go running around in the audience playing in people’s faces and run out of breath!”

The rocker made a new fan out of one senior athlete. After the program, 81 year old triathlete Dorothy Sinson emailed us this message: “The NSGA get together yesterday was very special. It’s not my kind of music, but it is now!”