Determined in the face of illness

John Hershiser cruises in his customized golf cart in Sky Valley. Hershiser was diagnosed in February with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, which destroys neurons in the central nervous system responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements. The cart, a gift from his daughter, enables Hershiser to drive without restriction through the neighborhood.

By Chris McCaa Staff Writer
Published:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 1:16 PM EDT



"I've been living on borrowed time for 46 years," John Hershiser said while holding up a faded black and white photo of twisted wreckage.

The mangled mess of chrome and steel was all that remained of his 1962 Corvette after the vehicle slid into two concrete pillars of a New York throughway in the early 1960s.

Years after his brush with death, the retired Sky Valley resident has opted for a less hazardous form of transportation, a golf cart.

The cart, a gift from his daughter, features a customized paint job and is decorated with decals celebrating his service in the U.S Marines.


"It enables me to run around the neighborhood," he said.

But for the retired Marine, the cart is more than just a mode of transportation, it's a symbol of pride and defiance in the face of a terminal illness.

In February, Hershiser was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease destroys neurons in the central nervous system responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements.

"A year ago April I was snowmobiling in Colorado at the Continental Divide," he said. "In July, I started getting winded walking up a staircase."

After several visits to the doctor, Hershiser was diagnosed with the debilitating disease, which gradually robs an individual of control over bodily functions.

The command of his body was a highly prized commodity for Hershiser, who served with honor in the Marine Corps. Hershiser was a lance corporal in the Presidential Honor Guard at Camp David, Md.

"We were there with Khrushchev and Churchill," he said.

After his time in the service, Hershiser experienced professional success on a level few are able to obtain.

For eight years, Hershiser served as senior vice president of The Houston Chronicle.

"I took over all engineering and all the presses for the newspaper," Hershiser said.

Hershiser started his career in the ink business as a photo engraver and ran his first printing plant in 1972 in Lufkin, Texas. In 1989, Hershiser became president of Promotional Printing, a printing press owned by The Chronicle.

"When I got there, they were $1 million in the hole, and within a year they were in the black," Hershiser said.

During his time at the helm of Promotional Printing, Hershiser improved the print and color quality of The Chronicle before attaining the position as senior vice president.

After a brief retirement, he returned to the work force and helped turn around American Color, a plant where he worked in the early years of his career.

Finally on Jan. 17, Hershiser retired for good.

After his diagnosis, his daughter, Karla Sidey, talked the Texan into making the move to the North Georgia mountains.

Sidey helped move Hershiser into her Sky Valley neighborhood just a few houses down from hers. His proximity has allowed Sidey, her husband and six children to spend quality time with the family patriarch.

Sidey said it was the least she could do for a man who spent his whole life lending a hand to others in need.

Hershiser's home was modified to become handicapped friendly, but for now he has no need for such accommodations.

Still moving with relative ease, he can periodically be seen on the links playing nine holes of his sport of choice. Despite the disease, or perhaps because of it, Hershiser said his swing had remained respectable.

"I can only hit the ball about 130 yards, so I don't lose as many balls that way," he said.

Hershiser has also become active in the fight against ALS. In November, he plans to participate in the 2008 Walk to Defeat ALS in Atlanta. The three-mile walk will raise money to support the fight against the disease.

Hershiser, along with friends and family, has formed a team for the walk called Hoofin' for Hershiser.

Sidey welcomes donations from individuals or local businesses looking to donate to the team. She also is trying to raise awareness of the rare disease. She said the chances of developing ALS were one in 100,000.

"There are at least two people with ALS in Rabun County that I know of," Sidey said. "That's a lot, so we really need to get the word out."

Hershiser also plans on attending a 50-year reunion of the Presidential Honor Guard in Quantico, Va., in November.

But for now and the days to come, Hershiser will continue to cruise on his new set of patriotic wheels, driving grandchildren to the bus stop or simply dropping by a neighbor's house for a visit.

"He's a neighborhood ambassador with that golf cart," said neighbor Charlie Fitt. "He's the best neighbor anybody could hope for."

To donate to Hoofin' for Hershiser, call Sidey at 706-746-0091.

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