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Wish Lemons
Wishard Lemons has run in locations from Wyoming to Peru to the North Slope of Alaska and the oil rigs in Borneo and Indonesia. He couldn’t run through the jungles or on Alaskan trails so he would run around the rig location. “People thought I was crazy,” Wish says. “I ran in jeans and my work boots. Sometimes I had to run in place. In Alaska I ran around the Dead Horse International Airport in my street clothes.”
Wish started running in 1963 in Roswell, New Mexico. It was time to get in better shape so he joined the “Run for Your Life” program at the local YMCA. He has been running ever since, and doesn’t let anything stop him.
He recalls their first winter in Tulsa after his appointment as associate minister to First United Methodist Church in 1968. “My wife Wanda and a friend were riding in a car down Riverside. It was snowing! Wanda’s friend said, ‘Look at that idiot running along in the snow! Maybe he needs a ride.’ Wanda replied, ‘That happens to be my husband. He likes to run; don’t pick him up!’” Every day at noon Wish ran three to five miles along Riverside Drive. Just because it was snowing was no reason not to run.
Neal Sweeney
Balance of mind, body, and spirit is an attribute Neal Sweeney embodied. He was active in the business community, he was an avid runner, and he was a leader in our church family. Neal was a member of First United Methodist Church for over 30 years, and he was a beloved teacher for the senior youth group, known for his stories. Neal believed that faith in God could be witnessed in many ways and that led him to being an original member of the Youth and Family Center. Always available to lend a hand, share an encouraging word, or give one of his famous hugs, he could always be counted on for support and love. Neal believed in having a balance in life which he maintained by putting faith and family first, while striving for excellence in strength and work. Neal will always be remembered and loved for being a champion of mind, body, and spirit.
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