Fred Thompson:  

Life How do I even begin to sum up 50 years of my life without leaving out some of the most important moments? As it is well known I was a genius all throughout school and so therefore had no problems with academics and graduating with honors in the top 10% of the class. I was also recognized for my artistic abilities and have won numerous art awards. I was also very active in sports and loved to play games of all sorts. Following my high school graduation I went into the United States Army and became a Medical Specialist and was stationed at West Point, New York, the Military Academy, Ft. Sam Houston, TX and Ft. Dix, NJ. I became very successful in the medical field and was retired in 1981 following an honorable discharge with medical reasons. I then went into working as a recreation assistant for over 7 years. Today I am a Rutgers University, New Brunswick graduate with my B.S. in Exercise Science. I've managed to perservere over the past 13 years within the health and fitness careers. I have been a trainer and fitness instructor, a fitness model, in movies (Double Platinum) and television (Spin City)and I have been competing as a Natural Masters Bodybuilding Champion for the past 7 years. I have won Mr. New Jersey Master's Championship 5 times. I have also met a few celebrities as well (Richard Simmons, Faith Evans, Willie Tate (Muhammed Ali's sparing partner), Dr. John Gray (Men are From Mars...), Brandi, Dianna Ross, and Michael J. Fox. I am an ordained minister of 14 years and the founder of "SPIRFIT," The Spirit of Fitness Ministries. I have two degrees (A.S. and B.S.) and a Doctorate in Divinity. I have always considered myself a natural healer of extraordinary talent. I love to work with people and I gain the greatest amount of satisfaction from working with children (I have 11) as a scout volunteer and a coach. I've been married 3 times also and my first wife is now deceased. I am always available for training and guidance. Well it's about the close of another fleeting year. I'm now living in Mesa, Arizona. My estranged wife and I have reconciled our marriage of 8 years this past July, 2005. My new job here at L.A. Fitness couldn't be any better. Now I can do what I love to do with all of the passion in the world! If anyone is reading this I hope that they attended our 30th class reunion last year. "IT WAS DA BOMB!" Although only about 80-90 of us showed up it was still enough to get the party started right. We even talked about holding a 35th. Stay in touch?! Love ya'll. School Boy oh boy what I remember about school. My elementary school sweetheart was Patricia Kreuger, my junior high school sweetheart was Hildy Kultinuk, and my high school sweetheart was Kathleen Halbert. I only had one best friend and his name was Mark J. D'Alessio and our friendship lasted all throughout elementary and junior high school until he moved. The things I remember most in elementary school were all of the riots that we used to have with the whites against the blacks. I remember the day we won when Curtis Gatson punched Frank Narcises in the gut and Frank keeled over like a little old maid. I guess he wasn't so tough after all. Anyway, the thing that I remember the most about junior high school was Hildy Kultinuk my junior high school sweetheart. We used to have so much fun at the school dances because she was such a great dancer and I knew that she loved music then. I remember her showing me her scar on her forearm from an accident she had and how sorry I felt for her. But I still loved her just the same. In high school I have the most fondest memories because that is where I was given the chance to do the most that I wanted to do. I believe that I had the best teachers in Middlesex County and in the State of New Jersey for all that matters. I remember that all I wanted to do was to learn as much as I possibly could. It seemed as if it was so easy for me then. Honors at first and then High Honors. Wow! I remember us winning the state championship in football my senior year and me beating the state champ in wrestling (Greg Niscivacci) 4-0 in a home duel meet. I remember beating out Larry Simms in winning the Ladies Auxilliary of Laurence Harbor art award. I even remember kissing Kathleen Halbert on our graduation night at a graduation party! I will never forget that kiss as long as I live it was my first high school kiss ever. Thank you Kathy, my wife then couldn't kiss half as good as you. I think I should have married you instead! College From Rutgers in 1997 to Brookdale in 1999. Graduation from Brookdale in 2001 and back into Rutgers in 2001. Graduating from Rutgers University this semester! Thank you God. Class of 2004, thirty (30) years since high school. A lot has happened but I am so grateful that it is finally over pretty soon. I did graduate with honors from Brookdale with a 3.5 G.P.A. but I don't know what happened at Rutgers because I think that a lot of what goes on there is strictly for political reasons. And therefore, I refuse to give my interpretation of my experiences at Rutgers. I can only truthfully admit that everything that was ever mentioned in regards to discrimination is the absolute truth. And I am a witness to that in both racism, sexism, ageism, skepticism and stigmatism. Because I am black, a male, 40's, a minister and with a disability, I have been subjected to discrimination in one form or another or in combination from one person or another at one time or another. And if you don't believe me just request a copy of my high school and college transcripts from Brookdale Community College and Rutgers University, University College--New Brunswick, N.J. I believe the grades do speak for themselves! Workplace In 2001 following the disaster of September 11, my wife and I were fortunate enough to open up our "Home Fitness and Recreation Studio business SPIRFIT." We've managed to maintain a steady amount of improvements and consistancies with the business although it is listed with the IRS as a not-for-profit ministry. Our clientele is growing slowly but the rewards just keep coming as each client is satisfied with their results and meeting their own personal goals. This has been our greatest success! The business is still fairly new but we hope to keep it up and one day expand from our home into an outside building. From the time that I was retired in 1981 from the U.S. Army I worked within the health field at a couple of hospitals and nursing homes. I even worked for the Visiting Nurse Association for 6 years. Then in 1995 I dsecided that I would return to college and pursue my degree in the fitness profession. So aside from working in the fitness profession for the past 13 years I spent the past 7 of those working as a fitness model, a Pfofessional Masters Natural Bod...Expand for more