Navy vet wins 2 medals at games

Theron Hallock is a double silver medal winner, impressive for any 81-year-old who claims not to be an athlete.

Even more impressive is that he won his medals in a sports competition and never even left his chair.

Hallock, a Navy veteran who uses a motorized wheelchair, competed in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games last month in Spokane, Wash., where he took silver in archery and slalom events.

The games were presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, a group in which Hallock is active locally.

A former hiker with four trips to the top of Mount Wrightson to his credit, Hallock joined more than 500 athletes, including 17 from Arizona, in the annual wheelchair sports event, touted to be the largest of its kind in the world.

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System boasted 10 veterans representing Southern Arizona.

Hallock, a combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War, is a paraplegic and receives care through the VA Hospital in Tucson, although his condition is not attributed to combat injuries. Hallock’s coordination and balance became an issue about eight years ago and after seeing a specialist at the Mayo Clinic, he was diagnosed him with Arteriovenous Malformation.

He has been using his wheelchair since and visits the VA Hospital for rehabilitation.

All veterans with spinal cord injuries, diseases of the spine, amputations or other neurological problems are eligible to participate in the games. This is the second year Hallock has competed, entering five events including the javelin, nine-ball pool, bowling, slalom and archery.

“Our head coach, Karen Gialle, who is also a nurse practitioner, talked me into it the first time last year,” Hallock said. “She sort of just signed me up, even when I thought I was much too old. She’s pretty remarkable and I’m glad I went.”

Hallock won a silver medal in slalom and bronze medals in archery and nine-ball pool during his first national competition in 2008 at the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha.

“I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to go again this year,” he said. “I enjoy attending the games and find it exciting to compete in the various sports.”

Hallock said he also likes the camaraderie.

“The games have restored my desire to practice for future events,” he added. “I like the ones where I win medals the most — like archery.”

The slalom event allows competitors to race around an obstacle course on their motorized wheelchairs.

“The idea is not to knock over any cones and to get through the course as quickly as you can,” he said. “It’s an event I really like.”

Athletes in the games compete in three divisions. Masters are over age 40. A novice is a first-time competitor and an open competitor are all others. They also complete within classes according to their level of physical ability with three quadriplegic-level classes and four paraplegic-level or amputee classes.

“It all depends on where your spinal cord injury is and if you can move your arms,” he said. “I started the first year as a novice and moved up to the masters. I was competing against some pretty tough competition.”

A Green Valley resident since 1994, Hallock joined the Navy at 17. Although he never graduated high school, he breezed through to get his G.E.D., later earning a degree in mathematics from Western Michigan University. He worked several jobs, eventually retiring from Parker Hannifin, where he worked as a financial controller.

“I credit my wife for making me go to college,” Hallock said. “It paid off.”

Judy, his wife of 56 years, passed away four years ago from cancer.

Hallock hasn’t let anything stop him from staying active.

The VA hospital paid for his van to be converted so driving is no obstacle, he said.

Active with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, he has been instrumental in raising funds for the past two years specifically for the wheelchair games.

He is already excited about next year’s games in Denver.

In the meantime, Hallock volunteers for Friends In Deed, serving as president of the foundation board, a position he has held for nine years.

“I don’t have time not to be busy,” he said. “There’s not much I can’t do, even sitting down.”

rford@gvnews.com