Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 11, 1985, edition 1 / Page 16
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Rehabilitative Exercises Become Challenge For Weightlifter Joe Russel By Jaly*e Strong - Pest SUN Writer “My name is Joe Russel. I am paralysed from my cheat down, the result of an auto accident eight years ago. I am 77 years old. Even though 1 use a wheelchair, braces and crutches, I am a proficient weightlifter in the bench press.” This is bow Joe Russel, current ly living In Charlotte, expresses, in brief, his life story to this point. However, “proficient weightlifter” doesn’t quite reveal the full weight of Russel’s accomplishments. When the car accident in 1976 took away Russel’s use of his legs, his therapist instructed him to use weight lifting as a method to help strengthen his arms and upper torso, building the muscles neces sary to support his body on crutch es. The rehabilitative exercises soon became a type of challenge for Russel as he found that he could increase the amount of weights he was lifting with some effort. His own determination, and little else, took the 125 pound Russel to his first weightlifting competition in Georgia in 1960. There he placed first in the featherweight competi tion by lifting 230 potmds. He has since competed in the National Wheelchair Games in Seattle, Wash., placing third by lifting 245 pounds and be woo a gold medal at the National Wheelchair Games in Hawaii in 1983. Plus Russel won a bronze medal in the International Wheelchair Games in England in 1983, for lifting 292 pounds. It’s taken Russel’s full discipline, dedication and concentration to have come this far. Yet the ac colades have proven to him that as a physically disabled person he is still able to accomplish extraordinary feats. He is proudest of the fact that in 1983, he tied the North Carolina Abled Bodied record by lifting 280 pounds. ' Now that he is fully aware of his capabilities, Russel has other press ing interests. He explains, “I want to get the black community Involved in wheelchair athletics." Joe Russel .Proficient weightlifter Through all his competitions, that have taken him all over the world, Russel points out, ‘T have been the only black competitor.” With over 350,000 physically handicapped indi viduals in North Carolina, one won den why more Macks are not in volved in the "handicapable” ac tivites. Russel feels it is for several rea sons. ‘‘Many people don’t know about the wheelchair athletics,” he says, admitting, “For a number of years I didn’t know about them.” To educate people, blacks in particu lar, about wheelchair sports is now one of Russel’s goals. He’s become involved in weightlifting exhibitions at various locations to show the benefits of exercise for the phy sically impaired. He’s planning to be in the Arne Keggie Mobley Among 10 State Finalists In 'DECA Competition oy juiyne sirong ;; P«t Staff Writer Reggie Mobley remembers that just last year, as a tenth grader at Harding High School, he dfafa't participate In any extra-curricular activities. “1 though only studious people could be active in such things,” he claims. But this year, when he decided to reach for an opportunity, Reggie came away with the brass ring. ' Through his involvement with DECA and the Freedom Mall’s Teen Advisory Board, Reggie has be come one of North Carolina’s ten state finalists in the DECA com petition. An achievement that will' take him to San Francisco, Cal., to compete in the finals. Reggie has learned, “It doesn’t take a genius'to get in these ac tivities,’’ he relates. “It »»*— a person who is nof afraid to try different things, a person who is willing to accept others’ opinions and a persop who is willing to put forth the effort to do something for him or herself.” Like one of the main characters in the “Wizard of Ox,” Reggie had the ability within him all along. It just took some significant persons to pull it out. One such person was Ms MDE Coordinator at school, Ms. Cheese man. “Ms. Cheeseman recom mended that I apply for the Free dom Mall Advisory Board,” Reg gie explains. He was to fill out an applica tion and then interview with Ms. Jean Reynold*, marketing director for Freedom Mall. Says Jean Reynolds, “Reggie was the only male applicant and I initially thought having one man on the board would cause problems. But the idea went right out of my head after I talked to Reggie for two minutee.” Reggie became the only male member of 11 students on the Teen Advisory Board, and not only that, he was also promptly nominated as the chairman of the board. Reynolds now says, "Reggie is one of the nicest young people I’ve met. He’s a bright star. I can’t sing his praises loudly enough" To Reynolds’ compliments, Reggie responds in kind, “She’s great. Mrs. Reynolds and Ms. Cheeseman are two of a kind. They’ve helped me so much.” Many people have become ena mored with Reggie and since Ms winning the trip to San Francisco they’ve rallied around to aid Mm. “Mrs. Reynolds and the Freedom Mail's Merchant Association have given me file to cover food ex penses in 8an Francisco. I’ve re ceived a 1406 scholarship from an association that aids minority stu dents. The Executive Council of Harding has donated $100,” recounts Reggie Mrs. Reynolds husband offered Reggie to pick any pair of shoes he'd like from Kinney Shoe Store and Fran Farrer-Bradley, advertising manager for The Charlotte Post, is treating Reggie to a shopping trip for clothes “I’m very grateful to them all,” t Reggie Mobley . . ...Reached for expresses Reggie. “The trip would have cost I7S0 but I don’t have to worry about it because if s been all taken care of.” Reggie, employed with Interna tional House of Pancakes, entered the state DECA competition in the category of Restaurant - Marketing Master Employee. The competition involved a series of written events and a performance teat. "I thought the competition was fairly easy," ■ays Reggie. “But 1 hear the finals are going to be a lot tougher I’U have to use my time wisely and study. I’m a little nervous.” He may be feeling a little tre pidation about the upcoming con tests, yet Reggie reveals that he’s earned the opportunity. “I’m due for It,” he stresses. “I put In a lot of hard work, kept my grades up and tried vary hard to do what was asked of me ’’ His work with Freedom Mall’s Teen Advisory Board hm included participating in a special promotion for Walden Book Store which was the moat successful promotion for the store in the city. Reggie and the other members of the board are now preparing for a large fashion show involving 24 stores from the mall. ' About being the only male on the board, Reggie smiles, "Hey, 1 love women. I’m glad I waa selected. I get along well with all the ladles and enjoy working with them." The entire experience la a great opportunity for Reggia. And pre sently he is enjoying being recog nized for his achievements, “ft's changed my life greatly,’' he em phasizes. "Teachprs have more con fidence in me now. And I feel good about myself because (his was some thing 1 did on my own.!' Now in the position to advise, if year old Reggie urges, “Students get involved in anything you can. It’s worth the trouble you go through for CREATIVE INNOVATIVE THE CHARLOTTE POST IS ON THE MOVE I — CALL 376-0496 FOR YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ncan Fitness exhibition at Spring Test this year. Russel has already demonstrated at the Charlotte Re habilitation Hospital and at the Alex ander Children Center. He was also instrumental in starting a physical education class for. the handicapped at Centra] Piedmont Community College. His message is, “Exercise is good for you. It makes you feel better. But most importantly, it makes you feel good about yourself. And if a person with a disability doesn’t use the parts of the body that work, addi tional health problems will develop. “Many people think things can’t get worse," Russel states. “But they can. v . . To his dismay, Russel has found through his experiences that too many black physically handicapped individuals strive only to maintain bare existence. “Always thinking about how to pay the rent and other bills leaves little time to expand one’s thoughts into other areas,’’ he reasons. Russel's hoping he’ll set an ex ample for others, stating, “There’s more to do than just stay home. Whatever your interest is, you can do it." He stresses, "Change your disabilities into capabilities.” Always athletically inclined, Rus sel calls his paralysis ”a little inconvenience.’*-Aside from his weightlifting prowess, he has com peted in table tennis, shotput, javelin and discus contests. Russel, a member of the TRIAD Wheel chair Athletic Association, plays with the TRIAD Smoker’s Basket ball team and, also with the Nation al Wheelchair Basketball Athletic Association, he is a member of the Carolina Tarwheels basketball team. With his desire to get more blacks --L._ involved in wheelchair athletics, Russel does not negate the expense of the activities, one final reason why there aren't many blacks in volved. » There were many times when Rus sel didn’t have the funds necessary for travel expenses to compete in a contest until the very last minute. Presently, he’s working with WGIV radio station, in a fund raising ef fort to sponsor his trip to Belgium to compete in the European Weight lifting Championships. He was glad that Marsha Burton of WGIV was “very receptive and eager to help out” when he called about this endeavor. And Russel would like to see more of that type of enthu siasm from the black community as as whole. “I’d like to see more support financially from the black commun ity to help wheelchair athletics so that others with physical impair ments can get involved in the sports,” comments Russel. "You get more from wheelchair sports than exercise and competi tion. It is also good social exer cise,” reveals Russel. "To be able to travel and meet people plus learning to compete and knowing there’s no limit to what you can-do if the desire is there." Russel puts no limits on himself. He has competed and continues to compete in weightlifting and basket ball and other sports. He once worked at Wachovia Bank as a proof operator. The Job, however, inter fered with his ability to travel frequently. Now Russel maintains that he wants to work again phis he’s decided what type of work he likes best. "I like working with people. I’d like a Job with an airline which would help out with traveling,” he informs. If Russel is fortunate enough to become employed with a company which would also help sponsor him for competitions, he feels that he could greatly benefit that business. He assures, "Their name would ap pear in the paper each time mine does. You can’t put a dollar amount on the free publicity which will also show their good will towards the physically handicapped.” With his plans for more travel and competition, securing employment, and increased community involve ment, Russel says he is expanding his talents and abilities, sharing them with others, using them for good. He expresses, "Life is God’s gift to us and our gift to Him is what we do with it." — No Longer Needed Items In THE CHARLOTTE POST Classified Section it f •' ,*»' .ITr'vf'- ,,Wj Call mm t l Y You've Had A Wreck Your Head & Back Hurt Your Car h Wrecked and You Dread An , Insurance Hassle Vs,__=# Relax....... Co" Hie Watts Chiropractic Center A Accident Clinic • We can treat *1Whiplash & related injuria9* • We can help “File Insurance claims* • We can get wreck estimates for collision insurance • So You Can RELAX & CONCENTRATE On Getting Wed 1 1 ■ ■ i y1ip; ★ We Have 2 Locations Where You’re Always Welcome* 600-51-Hwy 51 Matthews 847-2447 2501 Beattie* Ford Rd. Charlotte 393-3333 j I WQMnp$GnPSP.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 11, 1985, edition 1
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