Jack Countryman: an athlete and an inspiration to all

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/03/2017 (3467 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On his last birthday, Jack Countryman ran 15 miles or about 24 kilometres.

That was impressive enough but wait… his birthday is on Dec. 22 and he ran outdoors.

Still not overly impressed? How about the fact Jack had just turned 81?

Our city is filled with unique people but, for me, Jack stands out. He is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever had the privilege to know.

What makes Jack tick is his desire to remain healthy and young-at-heart. He has been a runner for a long time, received three medals from the Manitoba Marathon, and can be seen running through the streets of Winnipeg at any time of year.

In the summer, he still plays baseball with University of Manitoba law students. I first met Jack on a baseball field during my first year as general manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

We held a local tryout camp combined with an open house. At 57, Jack tried out as a pitcher for the Goldeyes. He was quite a figure on the mound – a tall left-handed thrower with a unique motion. The Winnipeg Free Press put his picture in the paper and wrote a story about the dream of playing professional baseball never dying.

I have played catch with Jack and even played with him in the first “Hard-Fast” game ever played. The game was one of a multitude of original ideas Jack has come up with, combining facets of baseball, softball and slo-pitch. Jack might be the only person anywhere at his age who can throw a windmill pitch over home plate from second base.

Jack had a book, Atlantis and the Seven Stars, internationally published in 1979 and he has written over 40 books. He is currently working on illustrations for a new comic strip he would like published in hardcover form.

Jack and I belong to the same Toastmaster Club and he can deliver an elaborate and entertaining speech on virtually any topic. Some of my favourites are when he speaks about timbre in one’s voice, 25th century medicine, or the lost island of Atlantis.

He is also an accomplished musician and plays the saxophone, the guitar and a lively harmonica. The University of Manitoba radio station has aired his CDs.

And we have another connection I just learned about. At the age of 16, Jack was the editorial cartoonist for The Lance.

Jack truly lives the “young-at-heart” mentality. He remains in good physical health, eats well, and thrives in an environment with other young-at-heart individuals. We could all learn something from his healthy lifestyle.

John Hindle is a community correspondent for St. Vital. Email him at john@johnhindle.com