The Spirit of Senior Games

Fred & Eva Haller, 91 & 85, Macon County Senior Games

Fred & Eva Haller are long-time participants and volunteers with North Carolina Senior Games. The two met when they were living in Florida, and married in 1972. 35 years ago, they visited North Carolina on vacation and loved the area so much that they decided to retire here. Not too long after, they both got involved with their Local Games.

They have been a part of Macon County Senior Games since its second year in 1992. Fred has served as president of Macon County Senior Games for almost 30 years, and served on the NCSG Board of Directors for 6 years. Eva helps with administration work for their Local Games, including the computer program. They are both volunteers at State Finals and serve as NCSG Ambassadors.

What got you both involved in Senior Games?

Fred: [Senior Games] was going on in the community building where I did taxes. I started talking to the person that started it and got involved that way. I did a lot of the events that were going on and started meeting all the people that also participated.

Eva: Fred comes home from the community building one day, and he and the coordinator signed me up!

What Senior Games activities do you do?

Fred: I do almost all of them, I usually do 30-35 events.

Eva: His big thing has always been racewalking.

Fred: Yea that’s what got me started in it. 

Eva: Now I don’t do as much, but I was a swimmer. I also play shuffleboard and bocce. I didn’t participate in sports when I was younger. But that’s the best thing about Senior Games; you don’t have to win all the time.

Do you have a favorite Senior Games memory?

Eva: Our favorite memories are always from State Finals; we've always had so much fun from going to State Finals. I don't know if we could pick out one!

Fred: [Macon Co Sr Games] always took a big group, and had good times while we were there. We were never able to get Follies tickets when it was at Athens Drive High School, so I volunteered to work backstage so I could see the show, and I’ve been doing that ever since. I also give out medals at the Bowling Alley; I do that almost every year.

Eva: Fred gets his face in every picture!

Do you have any Senior Games accomplishments you are proud of?

Fred: I try to get a gold medal in everything I do, and I’ve done most of them. We pretty much participated in everything we could in Senior Games. I also went to the 1999 National Senior Games in Orlando, Florida.

Eva: I just go out there and do! 

What does Senior Games mean to you; why do you participate?

Eva: I think mostly for the camaraderie. You know we have built a great big supply of friends. Even in Raleigh [at State Finals] it’s the same thing. We build up a friendship everywhere we go, and it’s great!

Fred: Yes, I’ll be playing in the 91 year age division. I always compete with Rudolph [Becton]. We’re good friends. It’s a lot of fun; you meet a lot of nice people. We do things year-round at Macon County Senior Games. 

Eva: We try to keep people out of their rocking chairs and out doing things!