SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to adults ages 50+.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • How to Get Involved
    • NSGA Showcase Video
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • 30th Anniversary
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How To Qualify
    • National Games Information
      • Athlete Check-In
      • Registration
      • Competition Schedules
      • Hotels & Lodging
      • Limited Events Verification Form
      • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
      • Results & Records
      • Special Events
      • Team Partner Finder
      • Transportation & Parking
      • Venue Information
      • Volunteer for the Games
    • NSG CUP
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • SPORTS
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Pickleball
      • Power Walk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • NON-AMBULATORY SPORTS
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • TEAM SPORTS
      • Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH & WELL-BEING
    • Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
    • Exercise & Well-Being Resources
    • Humana Healthy Living and Prevention Resources
    • Fitness Videos
    • ACE Training Tips
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • MEDIA
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2023 Photo Gallery
      • 2023 Softball Championships Photo Gallery
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Games Videos
      • 2022 NSG Video Recaps
      • 2019 NSG Video Recaps
    • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2023 Games Daily News
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Newsletter
    • Press Room
    • Athlete of the Month
    • Personal Best Features
DONATE
NOW!
 December 1, 2023

“Plus Factor” – May 2017 Athlete of the Month

“Plus Factor” – May 2017 Athlete of the Month

by Del Moon / Sunday, 07 May 2017 / Published in Athlete of the Month

Dick Lane, 87, Livonia, Michigan 

An exciting new development for the 2017 National Senior Games presented by Humana is the addition of the 85+ age division for men’s basketball. This five-year shift upwards means that there will be now an 80-84 age group of teams under this new age threshold. One of the main forces helping to make this happen is 87-year-old hoopster Dick Lane of Livonia, Michigan.

The eight-time National Senior Games participant wrote to NSGA in the spring of 2016 to petition for the new division. In order to make it a reality, NSGA required that at least four teams had to register to create the higher division. Dick got to work, scouring the nation for players by word of mouth and communicating with state games organizers. “There were twelve 80+ men’s teams in 2013 and 2015, and nobody was sure if we could get enough to come,” Dick explains. “I made and received a lot of phone calls and emails to help pull it together.”

His efforts were met with success, and there will be six men’s 85+ teams competing at The Games in Birmingham. With a background of Air Force service, obtaining a masters degree from the University of Michigan, and a successful career in hospital administration that included three CEO assignments, Dick proved to be the right guy for the mission. “During my occupational career, I would acquire a gym and bring together doctors and employees in the hospital who played basketball and have some fun,” he recalls. “My passion is that an exercise lifestyle is one the greatest things to keep you going. If you can find an exercise that you enjoy, that is just pure dynamite.”

As a youth, Dick did not have many opportunities to pursue sports. “I went to a small high school with no sports teams. I was also shoveling manure on our 160-acre farm, so I didn’t have time to go down to the gym to play ball.” He did play intramural sports in college, and says he’s always walked or jogged to keep his body in tune.

Twenty years ago, Dick bumped into the Michigan Senior Olympics, and a new career as a senior athlete began. He has played with teams from Ann Arbor and Detroit through the years, and he hopes to repeat the 2015 silver medal performance in the new age group with his Oldies But Goodies team. “I’m having the time of my life. I’ll admit I like to have fun, and the exercise is also good for my heart, legs and lungs.”

Dick has no doubt that 85+ is here to stay. “Some of the guys I spoke to were 84. They are now looking forward to being in that age group the next time around. I feel certain it will continue to fly.”

“I’m glad I did it,” he continues. “Many might not have heard about this, and the guys are all excited about this. I am just tickled to death to see it happen.”

  • Tweet

About Del Moon

What you can read next

This Doctor Delivers Babies – And Records
Around the World in Wavy Ways Athlete of the Month February 2023
Extra Frames and Extra Innings June 2023 Athlete of the Month

Recent Posts

  • Competition Updates for 2025 National Senior Games

    The National Senior Games Association announced...
  • Senior Games Athletes Make a Difference: You are The Games!

    By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health ...
  • “The Indian Runner” Meets His Destiny

    “The Indian Runner” Meets His Destiny By Del Mo...
  • Fitness Foundation Keeps Table Tennis Medalist Spinning

    November 2023 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon,...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Memorial Fund
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA E-Newsletter and General Interest E-Mail Sign Up

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2023 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT