The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) has chosen six industry leaders to be inducted into its inaugural HFA Hall of Fame class. The inductees are Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Rick Caro, Red Lerille, Julie Main, John McCarthy, and Augie Nieto.
The honorees will be inducted into the HFA Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. March 11 at The HFA Show in Las Vegas.
“The establishment of the HFA Hall of Fame allows the industry to celebrate those who revolutionized our industry,” says HFA President and CEO Liz Clark. “These visionaries are the innovators and leaders who we strive to emulate in countless ways. This year’s inductees hold a special place as our inaugural class.”
The HFA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose contributions have elevated the association and industry’s profiles, set new standards for excellence in leadership, and supported the industry’s commitment to improving physical and mental health for all.
- Dr. Kenneth Cooper: Cooper founded The Cooper Institute and Cooper Aerobics Center and is known as the man who coined the term “aerobics” in 1966. He has published multiple books, written nearly 700 papers, and earned more than 70 top honors from public health groups. At one time, he had his own “Healthy Living” radio show syndicated on 40 stations. Cooper founded Our Kids Health Foundation to combat childhood obesity, and he was instrumental in the passage of a bill in Texas that requires more physical education in schools and annual physical fitness testing. He collaborated with PepsiCo to eliminate trans fats from its Frito-Lay snack line, which led to other companies doing the same.
- Rick Caro: Caro is president of consulting firm Management Vision, but he started in the fitness industry more than 50 years ago as the owner and operator of eight multi-sport clubs. He was one of the founders of the Health & Fitness Association under its original name as International Racquet & Sportsclub Association. He served twice on the board of HFA (once as president), and he also has served on the board of the American Council on Exercise. Caro helped standardize financial best practices and operational methods for the industry and helped the industry attract interest and partnership opportunities from sophisticated institutional investors, analysts, researchers, and global business consultants.
- Red Lerille: Lerille founded Red Lerille’s Health & Racquet Club in 1963 after winning several bodybuilding titles, including Mr. America in 1960. He counted Joe Gold, founder of Gold’s Gym and World Gym International, as his mentor. Lerille’s hands-on style at his club, which included greeting many of his members at the door, and his support of his community of Lafayette, Louisiana, made him a well-known person in his town. One of his mottos was to always be changing, which led to continual improvements to his club that benefitted his members and cultivated intense loyalty from those members and his staff. He also was active in a roundtable where he shared his expertise and positive outlook with other club operators.
- Julie Main: Main was co-owner and president of the West Coast Athletic Clubs, a group of five clubs in California. She served on the HFA board of directors for several years, including time as the second female board president. She was a role model of volunteerism, serving on multiple board committees. During her battle with cancer, she learned first-hand how exercise can help with cancer treatment and rehabilitation. As a result, she co-founded the Cancer Well-Fit Program, which incorporated regular exercise as a component of the cancer recovery process. To honor her after her death in 2009, the HFA established the Julie Main Woman Leader Award, which recognizes women who exemplify professionalism, excellence, courage, perseverance, and tireless contribution to the industry and community. Main’s induction is posthumous.
- John McCarthy: McCarthy was the first executive director of the Health & Fitness Association (then called the International Racquet & Sportsclub Association). His interest in fitness began with basketball, which he played in college and as a member of the Washington Generals, perennial opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters. He then went to seminary school and served as a priest but left after 11 years. He then operated tennis and racquet clubs before being tapped as the first head of the association. Under his leadership, the HFA expanded its reach to support fitness facility operators around the world, established federations in multiple countries, and launched multiple events and research products. After retiring from the association in 2006, he advised several businesses in the industry and served as chairman of Augie’s Bash, an annual event that brought the fitness industry together to raise money to cure ALS.
- Augie Nieto: Nieto was a co-founder of Life Fitness, a brand that was initially based on the LifeCycle, the first automated stationary bike for health clubs. The LifeCycle helped to establish cardio as a category in health clubs, drawing in more female members. He began as a California health club owner in the late 1970s. Later in life, he was diagnosed with ALS and founded Augie’s Quest, a nonprofit research organization with a goal to cure ALS. The organization brought together the fitness industry in an annual fundraiser. He continued to serve the industry as an advisor. Nieto’s induction is posthumous.
The inductees were selected by a panel of industry leaders: Amy Bantham, founder and CEO of Move to Live More; Chris Craytor, CEO of acac Fitness and Wellness; Art Curtis, president of Curtis Club Advisors; Alan Leach, CEO of West Wood Club; Carol Nalevanko, president of DMB Sports Clubs; Jim Schmaltz, editor-in-chief of Club Business International; Chris Smith, president and CEO of Fitness World Canada; and Greta Wagner, executive director and executive vice president of Chelsea Piers Connecticut.