Gloria and Mac Petty stay healthy and active walking and playing tennis and golf.
John M. Bottorff, D.C., C.C.S.T., is a 1981 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and a second generation chiropractor. He is certified in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma. He is a triathlete and an avid cyclist, runner and swimmer. He can be contacted at Bottorff Advanced Chiropractic at 362-8833 or online at www.Cvillepainrelief.com.
When it comes to health and fitness, this week’s Health Heroes have been all-in since childhood. Gloria and Mac Petty place health and fitness high on the list things to do as a game winning strategy in their life’s adventure.
Both Gloria and Mac hail from Wooster Ohio, and were active in organized sports in school. Gloria was in the pre-Title IX era, before women had the same opportunities as men in the classroom and sports activities.
“We had the G.A.A. or Girl’s Athletic Association and ours was very active,” she said. “I participated in basketball, field hockey, swimming and gymnastics.”
She felt her level of commitment was due to the influence of her brother and friends who were active in athletics.
Mac used his 6’4” frame and skills to earn an All-State status in basketball and baseball. His efforts gained him a scholarship to play both sports at Tennessee University starting in 1963. He was red-shirted in his freshman year of basketball and ended up playing five years for the Volunteers as a forward, and four years of baseball as a pitcher. In his sophomore year, Mac was drafted by baseball’s New York Mets but passed on the opportunity. No surprise that Mac majored in physical education.
For the first time in collegiate sports, weight lifting was introduced into the fitness programs and Mac was a part of that. He went and added 20 pounds of muscle going from 180 pounds to 200. Surprisingly Mac’s coach also had them in karate, to improve balance and agility.
After high school, Gloria headed off to the University of Missouri, but after her freshman year transferred to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to be with Mac. The two married in their junior year, a short 51 years ago. She majored in education and history, working for the Crawfordsville School Corporation. Gloria retired in 2003 after 27 years of teaching.
After one of his final basketball games Mac was offered a coaching job at Sweanee, the University of the South. He was an assistant coach for two years and head coach for three years. In 1968, the couple had their daughter Susan, and in 1971 their son Matt joined the family.
During this time, on top of “mom duties,” Gloria took up tennis as a means of staying fit. Mac, meanwhile, had gained almost 30 pounds. He felt players look to a coach as a role model and he should be fit. Watching his diet and working out, Mac got back into his playing weight.
When Mac Petty called his old friend, Bobby Knight, about a job opening at a place called Wabash College, Bobby asked his lawyer for advice. The attorney told Bobby that Wabash was a diamond in the rough. Unbeknownst to either men was that the attorney was a Wabash graduate. In 1976 Mac took over the reigns of a program with a 15-year loosing record and in 1982 took Wabash to a Division III National Championship victory. He coached for 35 seasons.
Earlier this year, Mac’s activities slowed down with a bad hip.
“I love walking with Gloria and when I slowed down she slowed down,” Mac said.
The inactivity did not set well with the two, giving them a renewed appreciation for their well being. Mac had surgery and is back in the weight room working out. Gloria still plays tennis once a week and golfs nearly every day.
“My doctor tells me I’m boring health-wise,” she confided.
At 72 years of age and married 51 years, the Pettys are enjoying the benefits of an active life.
See you in the pool.
