A good many things have changed since 1978. Gasoline cost less than $0.65 per gallon, the average income was $17,000 per year and the average cost for a house was $54,800. Olivia Newton John and John Travolta were hot at the box office in the movie Grease and disco music and dancing was in with the Bee Gees and the movie Saturday Night Fever. Happy Days and Little House on the Prairie were popular shows on television.
Things were happening at Louisiana Tech that would have a substantial impact many years later. A young grad student named Les Guice received his master’s degree in Civil Engineering and after graduating became an assistant professor in Tech’s department of Civil Engineering. The Lady Techsters led by Sonja Hogg went 34-4 in the 1978-79 season encountering the Volunteers of Tennessee for the first time in 1978. They earned their first ever national ranking that year. The Bulldogs football team won the Independence Bowl beating East Carolina. The Department of Kinesiology was known as the Department of Health and Physical Education and the Senior Adult Fitness Program was known as the “Come Alive at Sixty-Five” Program. The Come Alive at Sixty-Five Program began that year -1978.
Some things never change though. “Aging is inevitable, and inside each one of us dwells much the same person we will always be – persons who need to feel loved, needed and useful. It therefore, behooves each of us to be vitally concerned with the opportunities, policies and legislation involving the aged – for the senior adults of tomorrow- are the rest of us today.” This quote by Sybil Leachman, the founder and first director of the Come Alive at Sixty-Five Program, was written almost 40 years ago.
As we look forward to the 40th anniversary of one of the most successful fitness programs in the United States, take a step back in time with us as we learn a little about the beginnings of the program and the history that has gotten us to today.
The following is taken from an article written by Sybil after the program creation:
“In 1974, the Louisiana legislature passed a law decreeing that any individual 65 or older could attend tuition free, any state supported educational institution. This is a unique provision as only a very few state to date have provided a similar opportunity for their aged.
As a result of this legislation, at Louisiana Tech University, in the fall of 1978, a “Come Alive at Sixty-Five” program was initiated with the purpose of revitalizing the senior adult who was lonely or simply bored with a lifestyle that was largely devoid of meaning. In the words of one senior citizen, “I dreaded each week and the week-ends even more.”
It is hoped that this program can gradually evolve into one whereby not only will the senior adult be able to involve himself or herself as a student, but can continue to broaden his or her horizons to the extent that his or her hours of leisure can become hours of valuable service to others in various community capacities.”
The article continues, “The response to this program has been slow in numbers, but tremendous in enthusiasm. As this enthusiasm spread to friends, the numbers are expected to grow by leaps and bounds. The program is presently directed toward involving the senior adult in an academic program of study of his or her own choosing. The individual may choose to pursue a degree or in the case of most, choose random courses of special interest. A class may be taken for college credit or the person may choose to audit it. At any rate, the individual finds him or herself at age 70 or 80, classified as a student, seated in class beside a jean clad coed. Both ages think it is a super idea.
The Physical Education Department has developed a special class for the over 65 group, entitled, “Fitness for the Senior Adult”. It was initiated as an experimental class to determine what specific sociological, psychological, and physiological benefits were to be derived from a class of this type, and what activities the older adult could safely participate in to achieve desirable outcomes.
In this special class, taught in the Fall of 1978, an effort was made to stimulate all the body systems by exercises which were executed in chairs, behind chairs, and on the floor. Joints and muscles were special targets each day as the exercise period began. The number of repetitions per exercise was gradually increased throughout the course. Isotonic and isometric exercises were utilized as a major factor in achieving desirable physiological improvements.
Everyone was encouraged to exercise until the body began to tire—no more and no less. All were constantly reminded that exercise is not competitive, and that each person was to be concerned with satisfying the needs of their own individual body, which may be very different from the needs of others in the class.
Rhythm balls were used with music and proved to be an added dimension to the exercise portion of the class, giving variety as well as fun. Walking was also a vital part of the planned activity and all were encouraged to gradually increase the distance and the speed in which that distance was covered. One 75 year old lady set the pace for walking and proved to be a challenge to others in the class.
Various sports activities were utilized for physiological and sociological betterment. A great deal of enthusiasm was displayed by all for each activity introduced.
Swimming was a class favorite, but the cold weather forced a hasty return to the gymnasium after only two weeks. A few class members chose not to swim, but others were reluctant to return inside. Several felt their arthritis was benefited by the warm water. One participant learned to float and one healthy 70 year old did jack knives off the diving board. Several used their student identification cards and swam on their own in the late afternoons.
On several occasions, campus field trips substituted for the walking portion of the class. Visits were made to the observation tower, art gallery, track, nature trail, and other areas of special interest. These were instigated as a means of exposing the class members to the total campus facility and to additional opportunities that were available to them. They also had an opportunity to observe the many changes evident on the university campus today, and to marvel at the contrast between the campus and the student of today and yesteryear.
A portion of class time was devoted to lecture and discussion on various health topics. Diet, nutrition, and exercise for the aged proved a basis for many learning experiences together. There were several verbal commitments toward need changes in daily diet and exercise habits.
Class members were ecstatic in evaluation their experiences. Most were surprised at the range of motion that was still theirs and all were interested in pursuing the limit of this range. Many expressed what they referred to as “a sense of well-being,” feeling they possessed more energy than before they began to exercise. Others commented on the social aspect of companionship. It was noted that most of them lived alone. The competitive aspect of games was a factor they had not recently experienced and it proved to be a source of real fun and provided much self-satisfaction. All class members indicated a desire to repeat the class during the spring quarter and many have encouraged friends to enroll.”
Over the last 40 years, the program has only had four directors, Sybil Leachman, Gail Clark, Rhonda Boyd, and Lacey Deal. There is a rich and unique connection between the directors and several of the instructors in the program. Under Mrs. Leachman’s leadership, Smiley Reeves, a current Department of Kinesiology faculty member and program instructor completed her practicum. Under Gail Clark’s leadership, I (Rhonda Boyd) served as a practicum student and then later became a faculty instructor and director of the program. Under me (Rhonda Boyd) Lacey Deal served as a teaching assistant while she was in graduate school. Lacey later became an instructor in the program and now serves as the program director.
What a privilege it was for me to have had an opportunity to recently sit down with Sybil and reminisce about the program. At 87, she is still a lovely lady with a lively and vibrant personality. Sybil never thought she would teach at Louisiana Tech University much less start a program that would have the longevity this one has had. While teaching and coaching softball at Downsville High School, Sybil brought her team to a rally being held at Tech. The Women’s Department Chair at the time, Edna Yarbrough, encouraged Sybil to get her master’s degree in the new program at Northwestern State University and then come back and teach at Tech. She did just that. After several years of teaching activity and lecture classes, Sybil was given the task by Dr. Jay Akers, the Department Chair at the time, of starting an exercise class for seniors.
I asked Sybil how did she know what to do and her response was, “I had no idea! I researched books and there was nothing!” Not knowing what the activity levels of the participants would be, what limitations they may have or what they could or could not do, she had to use trial and error. There was no internet, no Google to assist in this effort. She decided to use exercises that could be done sitting and standing using a folding chair to provide stability. Sybil said, “There were few participants, “students” at first, but word quickly spread around the community and the program grew from one class to eventually 4 chair classes and 3 water classes. The water classes were taught at the Ruston City Pool at the time”.
I asked Sybil “When you began the program in 1978, did you ever imagined that it would be a community and university success and still be around 40 years later?” She quickly responded, “No, I would not have believed it.” We talked about how many thousands of older people have come through the program including two generations in several families. We talked about how many thousands of kinesiology students have done their practicums, giving them the hands-on experience they need which helps set them apart when they apply to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant programs. We even talked about how it was a career changer for me when I did my practicum in the program 31 years ago.
The “chair” land based exercise classes still remain as do the water classes. An “After Five Fitness” section was also added to the class schedule about 12 years ago. Through the years there have been dance and bowling classes, and even satellite classes taught at the Arcadia and Ringgold senior centers. The Winter Games held in February and Fish Fry in April have become annual events.
Even though there have been many changes through the years with directors, instructors, members, students, classes, and special events, one thing remains the same, the quality of the program. The program is one of the longest running and most successful programs in the country. Smiley and I have done several national presentations about the program through the years. Instructors from other universities, rec centers, and senior centers are constantly amazed at the level of activities we teach. Even though we cannot control the quantity of years our members live, we strive to impact the quality of their years through exercise and socialization.
The members and students alike still enjoy the interaction of “playing” together. The community impact is phenomenal when you think that weekly hundreds of older individuals come to the Tech campus to work out with and next to college students. Even on non-class days, it is not uncommon to see an older adult on a treadmill, using a weight machine, or swimming in a lane in the pool with a college student on the adjacent machine or lane. Special relationships are made that carry over to Tech sporting events and even into former student’s careers as many have returned to Ruston to practice as physical and occupational therapists, physician assistants, and personal trainers.
What a privilege it is for me to be a part of this special program, first as a student, then as a director, and now as an instructor. What a joy it was to sit down with Sybil and relive some of the special memories of the program. What a legacy, what an impact this program and the Department of Kinesiology makes in the lives of so many young and older individuals. I cannot wait to see what the next 40 years holds for this special gem of a program.
The Exponential Factor 