Steve Ross introduced our speaker, Gary Held.  Gary is an eight -year veteran of the US Air Force. He was a co-founder of Gametech International, once the largest electronic bingo company in the world.  While living with Multiple Sclerosis for over 40 years, Gary has been a lifelong entrepreneur. Gary spent 19 years in the bingo  business. He ended his career in the solar business.

During his forty years of living with the unpredictable, incurable disease, MS, Gary has experienced blindness, numbness in his limbs, time in a wheelchair and currently walks with the aid of two canes.  Now retired, Gary has recently published his first book, “From Spam To Ham And Back Again, “ a story about his journey through life living with MS.  Gary entered stand up comedy on a dare in 2016 and has been entertaining, engaging, and inspiring audiences for decades.

 

Gary began his presentation showing his sense of humor - as he moved slowly to the podium, he said "I'm gonna get to dinner - just not first!"  Gary told of his first memory of what he now understands to be his entrepreneurial spirit.  When he was nine years old, his teacher, Mrs. Reese, was particularly perturbed with his class and had everyone put their heads on their desk to reflect on their behavior.  As she moved slowly through the room, and was near his desk, he heard her mutter, "For two cents, I'd sell this class today."  Gary found two pennies and tried to close on that offer.  It is his first clear memory of using his imagination and acting.  

 

Growing up, three older siblings joined the Navy.  Gary wanted to be the first to go to college - in Mankato, Minnesota.  In the spring of his junior year in high school, Gary's father was diagnosed with cancer - four months later, he died.  Gary remembers him being a great father.  He clearly remembers being told, "Yo have my trust until you lose it."

 

The MS has presented many obstacles.  Instead of seeing them as road blocks, Gary has elected to see them as speed bumps.  "You should have zigged when you zagged."  There are adjustments that can be made.  

 

When he was growing up, high school counsellors didn't tell him about grants to help fund his education.  He saw an ad and ended up being an Air Force recruiter.  In December, 1976, he had a quota of four.  He recruited twenty-two.  He says it is still a record.

 

When he was at an event in 1976, he remembers his right side felt different than his left side.  He wasn't worried.  He was in Rochester - the home of the Mayo Clinic.  At that time, they were unable to diagnose the issue.  The Air Force sent him to another facility where they did spinal taps and ended up saying it was a psychiatric problem - that he had deep-rooted emotional problems.  He did NOT want to end up where that diagnosis would have taken him.  He went to the Wright Patterson Hospital and demanded a discharge.  A year later, the numbness was gone.

 

At one point, he was in a chair - unable t walk or move his legs.  He called ER and asked for a high dose of steroids and was able to walk after about an hour.

 

In 1984, after a shower, he was blind in his left eye - optic neuritis.  He was finally diagnosed with MS at age 31. He had a great job selling surgical equipment.  He lost that job and went into a funk that lasted six months.  His best friend goaded him to get up, get going, and he is thankful for that friend - took his advice ane never looked back.  Since then, he has let nothing squelch his entrepreneurial spirit.

 

There have been times when the MS slowed, but didn't stop him.

 

In 1981, he was sent home in a wheelchair.  He was his son's little league coach at the time. He placed his wheelchair behind home plate.  His son was hit in the face with a grounder, and was on the bench for a while, but wanted to get back into the game.  He was proud of his son's determination.  A couple of weeks later, he could walk again.

 

A favorite memory was when he was with the bingo company, and had made his first presentation in London, he flew back on the Concord.  He said it was an amazing experience.  

 

There were some changes in the ensuring years.  The recession took its toll.  He remembers on a Sunday in 2010, scraping his name off the door.  He changed one line in his resume.  He said he had an MS in Practical Business Applications from the School of Hard Knocks.  That change resulted in his being hired.

 

In 2016, smoking small cigars, and drinking bourbon, he was in a comedy club with open mics - and many bad comic wannabees - some of them with their jokes written on their arms.  Sixty days later, on a dare, his performed his first set at got hooked.  The jokes have to be original, and it's a lot of work.  He sells himself as a sit-down comic.  He noted that stages in comedy clubs are not ADA compliant.  He says he's never bombed and never had a heckler.  His ex-wife wanted to see him perform.  She wisely inquired as to whether he told jokes about her.  She's not been to one of his performances.  

 

He started his autobiographical book in 2017 to leave a legacy for his grandkids.  He got a lot done when in Pine in the snow, locked in the house for two weeks.  His book has been published on Amazon - From Spam to Ham and Back Again.  He had some books with him, and was glad to autograph books for anyone who wanted to buy one.  They are available on Amazon.  He says his life has been blessed and is thankful for his imagination and determination - and hopes to be an inspiration.

 

President Pam thanked Gary for his presentation.  She thanked Bob Jensen for attending via Zoom.  She thanked Cathy Roth for putting up with John and thanked John for getting up early.