National Fitness Hall of Fame
National Fitness Hall of Fame is an American hall of fame for notable fitness professionals. It includes notable figures involved in fitness instruction, training, education, fitness management and product development. The mission is to recognize and support fitness professionals for their dedication to helping others "Get Fit and Stay Healthy" and provide programs and services that helps all individuals achieve a better level of health and fitness.
Formation | December 2, 2004 |
---|---|
Founder | John Figarelli |
Purpose | Honor individuals and organizations involved in fitness |
Region | United States |
Official language | English |
President | John Figarelli |
Website | www |
History
John Figarelli founded the National Fitness Hall of Fame on December 2, 2004 to honor individuals and organizations who had made a lifetime contribution to health and fitness. Inductees are classed as pioneers, educators, instructors, sports medicine, celebrity spokespeople, and organizations.[1] One of the criteria for membership is at least twenty-five years of service as a full-time Health and Fitness industry professional.[2] Figarelli formed the National Fitness Organization, a corporation, in December 2004, with his wife, mother and father. They rented a small location in Sycamore, Illinois, to hold Figarelli's collection of fitness memorabilia, which would form the nucleus of the museum.[3]
The first class of 2005 had twelve members, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack LaLanne and Charles Atlas.[1] Other inductees included Joe Weider, Vic Tanny, Arthur Jones, Paul Bragg and Kenneth H. Cooper.[3] The National Fitness Hall of Fame is the only institution in the nation that recognizes those individuals who pioneered the fitness industry, preservers fitness history and promotes the future of fitness in America.[1]
The fourth class of ten members was inducted in 2008 with a dinner, silent auction and ceremony, and was attended by many of the inductees.[1] The ceremony was held at the Oak Meadows Golf Club in Addison, Illinois, and was hosted by Gilad Janklowicz of the television show Bodies in Motion. There were about 250 attendees. Inductees included Cory Everson, Tamilee Webb, Charles Kuntzleman, Michael Thurmond and others.[1]
In November 2014 Bill Crawford (2012 NFHOF Inductee) a fitness trainer and owner of a gym in Scottsdale, Arizona, was appointed Chairman of the National Fitness Hall of Fame and served a 3-year term ending in 2017.[4]
Inclusive among the National Fitness Hall of Fame inductees are four elected Fellows in the National Academy of Kinesiology: Steven N. Blair, P.E.D., Fellow #302, who also served as Academy President during 1994-1995; Janice S. Todd, Ph.D., Fellow #511; Thomas K. Cureton, Ph.D., Fellow #119, who received the Academy's Highest Honor, the Hetherington Award, in 1976; and Dudley Allen Sargent, M.D., Honorary Fellow in Memoriam.[5]
Inductees
- Charles Atlas[4]
- Paul Bernstein[6]
- Joe Bonomo
- Dr. Paul C. Bragg, ND[3]
- Kenneth H. Cooper[3]
- Nancy Claussen
- Bill Crawford[4]
- Debbie Drake[7]
- Clyde Emrich
- Jane Fonda[4]
- Cathe Friedrich
- Bob Gajda
- Marilu Henner
- Bob Hoffman
- Gilad Janklowicz[8]
- Kathy Kaehler[9]
- Professor Len Kravitz
- Jack LaLanne[4]
- Joe Lupo
- David Lyons
- Tony Little[4]
- Anibal Lopez
- Bernarr Macfadden
- Lenda Murray
- Bill Pearl
- Joseph Pilates[10]
- Bonnie Prudden[11]
- Forbes Riley[12]
- Leslie Sansone
- Professor Thomas Sattler
- Arnold Schwarzenegger[13]
- Richard Simmons[4]
- Kathy Smith[4]
- Vic Tanny[3]
- Michael Thurmond[1]
- Dennis Tinerino
- Terry Todd
- Tamilee Webb[4]
- David P. Webster
- Ben Weider
- Betty Weider
- Joe Weider[3]
- Dr. Robert Weil, DPM
(Complete list of NFHOF Inductees can be found at the website: www.NationalFitnessHallofFame.com)
References
- Ron Skrabacz (April 18, 2008). "National Fitness Hall of Fame introduces Class of 2008". Daily Herald. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- "Lifeline Founder to be Inducted into National Fitness Hall of Fame". Clubindustry.com. April 16, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- Ron Skrabacz (March 3, 2006). "Man turns his passion into National Fitness Hall of Fame". Daily Herald: 1–2. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- Bret McKeand (November 16, 2014). "Basic Training MedX owner to chair National Fitness Hall of Fame". Scottsdale Independent. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- Cardinal, Bradley J (2022). "The National Academy of Kinesiology: Its founding, focus, and future". Kinesiology Review. 11 (1): 6–25. doi:10.1123/kr.2021-0064.
- "National Fitness Hall of Fame".
- "Debbie Drake: America's First Female TV Fitness Guru". January 5, 2021.
- Akaka (2007), United States of America Congressional Record, Government Printing Office, p. 6535, GGKEY:E3NZG0D0HX5, retrieved December 4, 2015
- Koff, Ashley; Kaehler, Kathy (January 1, 2011), Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged, Hay House, Inc, p. 1, ISBN 978-1-4019-3153-7
- Kim Wilmath (March 15, 2011). "Female bodybuilder still an iron maven at 79". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- "Bonnie Prudden named to National Fitness Hall of Fame". The Berkshire Eagle. June 18, 2006.
- Beck, Charity; Hellman, Jen, Positive Impact Magazine, Positive Impact Magazine, pp. 58–, GGKEY:DAT062D4Q44
- Hollie McKay (May 25, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: National Fitness Hall of Fame Considers Expelling Arnold Schwarzenegger". Fox News. Retrieved December 4, 2015.