"I try to carve out time each day to find a Chattanooga Times Free Press article that my students might find interesting. When I read the “Photo Moment” article about Warren Barger, there was no question: my students MUST read about this outstanding man!
We read the article and discussed Mr. Barger’s incredible fitness. How could someone compete in the high jump, shotput, discus and long jump . . . at the age of 90!? we wondered. The group was very impressed and inspired. Wouldn’t it be cool to meet him? I asked them. The enthusiastic response was YES!
I took a chance and called Mr. Barger and invited him to come hang out with us for 45 minutes or whatever time he had available. I imagined he would be very busy practicing for the upcoming National Senior Olympics in Houston. He called me back a few days later and said he’d love to come to speak with us.
From the moment he walked in our classroom, Mr. Barger was our friend. His warm smile, engaging personality and strong handshake endeared us to him immediately. Were we in for a treat! For about two hours, Mr. Barger chatted with us about the Senior Olympics (he competes both locally and nationally), his family, his background, his faith, and all that inspires him.
He encouraged the students to stay on course and told them how much they inspired him for working toward their goal of a high-school equivalency diploma at Re:Start. He said one's never too old to learn something new.
I think I speak for all of us when I say: we hope Warren Barger meets and surpasses every goal he sets for himself . . . and we hope he’ll visit with us again!"
Andrea Pitkow, Re:Start Instructor
