John Hyndman, pictured here with his wife, Margarette and a number of medals he has won in Senior Olympics, is featured in a story and photo in today’s Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Record Herald. Here is a brief excerpt–to read the entire story click on http://www.therecordherald.com/articles/2007/07/14/local_news/news01.txt
Hyndman and his wife of 63 years, Margarette, talked about his seemingly endless activities and interests and their lives together during an interview this week at their Mount Vernon Terrace home.
Asked about what he has been involved in over the years, Hyndman paused to think.
“Let’s see, I retired from Frick Co. after 33 years,” he said. “Then I worked at Quincy Home as a nurses’ aide for six years. I guess I was almost 70 when I left there. I sang in the choir at Grace Brethren Church, taught Sunday School and was Sunday School superintendent.”
Hyndman stopped to take a breath and then continued.“I joined the local chapter of the AARP and was president of that for a year. I’ve been writing things for the AARP newsletter. My wife and I joined a group called the Kitchenaires. We’re still in it. There are between 12 and 17 of us. We sing and dance and play kitchen instruments, performing for people in nursing homes. We’ve had more than 280 engagements at old folks’ homes.”
. . . Hyndman pulled out a book of his own. In it are his many poems, most with at least a touch of humor. There are illustrations he’s drawn. Some of them are of the couple’s three children – Tom and John Hyndman and Barbara Gsell.
Then Hyndman and his wife walked into a room filled with Hyndman’s handiwork. He has made several wooden toys and crafted miniature churches out of wood and painted them. He’s put together three-dimensional landscape pictures.
Margarette said her husband uses whatever’s around the house – even sawdust – to bring his creations to life.
On the wall in the room are medals hanging from ribbons that Hyndman won during the five or so years he competed in the Senior Olympics. Before there were age brackets, he said he had to run against others who were much younger. It didn’t matter. He still managed to take the gold medal in the 50-yard dash every year he competed. All told, he has 15 gold medals from running events.