DR. MELVIN “Mel” PENDER celebrated his 82nd birthday on October 31, 2019.
Mel is the voice of hope.
He co-authored Expression of Hope: The Mel Pender Story with his wife Debbie. Mel enjoys sharing how practicing hopefulness is not old-fashioned and why it remains universally relevant.
Mel is a natural storyteller.
He vividly describes his highest and lowest moments like acts in a stage play.
Despite it all, he won a gold medal in the 4 x100m at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. In 1964, Mel competed for the United States, along with Bullet Bob Hayes, at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He is a decorated veteran who risked his life during two tours in Vietnam.
Mel broke the color-barrier in track and field coaching at the United States Military Academy (West Point) and he also broke through the socioeconomic-barrier as a business owner. He experienced segregation. He held executive positions with the National Football League Players Association (NFL) and the Atlanta Hawks Professional Basketball (NBA). He is a member of eleven Halls of Fame, including (the major ones).
As a leader, Mel has extended his abilities outside the US to establish a pool for the youth in Vietnam, a water company for people in South Africa and a community pool for the disadvantaged youth in his hometown.
His stories about earning an undergraduate degree and receiving an honorary doctorate degree are lessons about the inevitable sacrifices and rewards of remaining hopeful.
TOPICS
Pain with Defeat: Hope to Victory
Breaking Barriers with Hope
Why Hope is Still Relevant
Hope Without Faith is Hopeless
Sprint Towards Success with Hope
MEL PRESENTS HIS GOLD MEDAL TO MUSEUM