Local News

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1998

Glenn's return to space inspires area seniors

77-year-old's flight called reminder to stay in shape physically, socially

By GUY H. LAWRENCE
Staff Writer

   Ray Reyes recalls studying guided missile systems at a California Navy base in 1962 - the same time astronaut John Glenn rocketed into space.
   "It made (Reyes and other employees) proud to be working on the same type of systems," said Reyes, 73.
   Now attention is returning to the 77-year-old Glenn - the first American to orbit the Earth - as he prepares for a second venture into space. He and six other shuttle Discovery astronauts are scheduled for a Thursday afternoon blastoff.
   Reyes is among many older Americans who see Glenn's return to space as a symbolic reminder for seniors to remain active physically and socially.
   "I see a lot of people half his age that don't care about themselves," Reyes said. "It will get people to exercise and stay in shape. You don't know how good in shape you are until you are out of it."
   Reyes, who said he boxed, played football and baseball and ran track as a youth in Corpus Christi, still hits the weights at the downtown YMCA. The former Marine worked as a civilian employee at Naval Air Station Alameda, where he studied guided missile systems when U.S. space exploration was in its infancy.
   Now, Reyes goes to the YMCA every day and spends a few hours working out, stretching, doing calisthenics and relaxing in the sauna. Reyes usually winds up his day working at a used car lot.
   Others said they aren't surprised that a man of Glenn's age is physically fit enough to travel into space.
   "It's getting better all the time, compared to what it use to be when people felt like they had to retire and lay around or something," said Virginia Jacobson, a volunteer ombudsman for the Coastal Bend Area Agency on Aging.
   W.G. West, at 76, is the state speaker for the Silver-Haired Legislature and a volunteer at the Nueces County Juvenile Department. West said that the image of an inactive older population is false and that some of the legislative members are in their 80s and remain active.
   "They may not all be as visible as some, but the vast majority of them are involved," West said. "There is more opportunity to be involved then they can take advantage of."
   At 84, Don Miller still goes to the YMCA, a habit he started more than 25 years ago when the center was a place where you could eat and sleep.
   "I admire (Glenn) because he didn't give up," said Miller, a World War II bombardier in the Philippines. "I think it is a goal he set for himself and he has to be admired for it."
   Ruben De Leon, health and wellness director for the downtown YMCA, said physical activity is invigorating to seniors who participate in a class he leads. One woman used to use her walker to get around the weight machines, but not after a few weeks of working out, he said.
   "You can pretty much see that they are so full of spirit," De Leon said. "It is unreal."
   Glenn will be the oldest person in space by 16 years when Discovery takes off on Thursday. In his case, age is an advantage - he talked NASA into giving him a ride so he could conduct geriatric tests in orbit.
   The aging process on Earth, in many ways, is similar to the effects of weightlessness, and NASA wants to know why.
   In addition to emphasizing physical fitness for older Americans, Glenn's mission is bringing attention to how people in their late 70s can contribute to their communities. Former Mayor Luther Jones said that Glenn's pending mission is a great lift for senior citizens and should inspire many to find ways to continue contributing.
   "I think it gives a great boost to senior citizens," said Jones, 82. "I think the message is we shouldn't stack arms - a military term used to mean you quit. What this is saying is this man is 77 years old, and we all, as citizens, should look at what can we do and what should we be doing within our capabilities to make this a better place to live."
   Getting older doesn't necessarily mean slowing down, said Jones, a 29-year military veteran. He said he regularly exercises, sometimes walking a mall or playing golf. A career in the military helped build the routine of healthy activity, and he said he remains active in the community through membership on the hospital board and a social agency.
   "I suppose the most important element of that is a mental attitude toward wanting to be involved," Jones said.
   The Associated Press contributed to this story. Staff writer Guy H. Lawrence can be reached at 886-3792 or by e-mail at lawrenceg@scripps.com

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  © 1998 Corpus Christi Caller Times, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.