Friday, November 1, 2002

Former Olympian to speak at monthly running club meeting

Mel Pender's philosophy in life can be summarized as "To whom much is given, much is required." Members of the Peachtree City Running Club will get to hear Pender speak at their monthly club meeting on Monday.

Pender is a forwer world-class athlete. He currently holds world records in the 50- and 60-yard dashes and once held records in the 70- and 100-yard dashes as well as the 100-meter dash. Pender competed in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay at the 1968 games in Mexico City.

Pender retired as a captain from the U.S. Army after 21 years of service. As a comanding officer in the 82nd Airborne, he earned a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. He also served as the U.S. Military Academy's head track coach.

Pender has spent many years giving back to his community. As a native Atlantan, retired Army officer, entrepeneur and communtiy leader he has made numerous contributions to the community. He serves on the board of directors of the United States Sports Academy, the Sickle Cell Foundation, the Inner City Games and the Hank Aaron Rookie League. His past board memberships include Southwest Hospital and the policy and advisory board of the Atlanta project.

Committed to children, he supports the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In fact, he considers speaking to young people among his most significant contributions. His professional experiences have provided a platform to motivate youngsters to reach their goals.

The Peachtree City Running Club will meet at the Wyndham Peachtree Executive Conference Center at 7:30 p.m. The punlic is cordially invited to come and hear this dynamic motivational speaker discuss his athletic and professional experiences. Phone Bill Werling at 770-460-1425 for more information.

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