In June 2001, NOW sponsored the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology conference in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Forty-seven internationally prominent researchers presented current research regarding aging with the goal of increasing public awareness of aging research. This was expected to lead to dietary and lifestyle changes, which would allow people to live longer and healthier lives. Dr. Denham Harman, MD, Ph.D., the originator of the Free Radical Theory of Aging, was the host and driving force to put the conference together and work with NOW to try and make extremely technical research understandable to the average reader. Elwood Richard has long had an interest in anti-aging research, especially since he turned 70 years old! His own theory about aging is similar to Dr. Harman’s and goes all the way back to the Tree of Life in Genesis. If the Genesis account is historical and factual, then it may be that the original Tree of Life was some sort of an antioxidant tree. Since we age largely because of oxidation, much like an apple oxidizes quickly when cut open, a powerful antioxidant may have acted in a physical way to keep Adam and Eve alive indefinitely. After all, they seemed to begin aging only after being removed from the Garden in Eden and away from the Tree of Life. The first humans may have needed to consume the antioxidant tree daily, in order to counteract the natural effects of being human. (Interestingly, the book of Revelation talks about a tree of life reinstituted in the end time, which may explain how people could be immortal once again!) In the meantime, folks are advised to consume more antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Glisodin and Grape Seed Extract, and refrain from oxidized foods such as fried chips that cause oxidation in the body. DREAMS DO COME TRUE On February 7, 2002 Elwood received a phone message from Bill Walton, former National Basketball Association player and late NBC basketball commentator. Our future President, Jim Emme, had sat next to him on a recent flight and told him that the owner of NOW still plays basketball weekly at 70 years of age. Apparently, Mr. Walton decided to make Elwood’s day, because he called the next week and left a very inspirational and humorous message. Listed below is a copy of that message, a call that made my Dad so giddy it was a day to remember. “Elwood Richard, my name is Bill Walton and I’m not calling to ask for anything. I was given your name by Jim Emme, Director of Marketing and Distribution. I ran into this fine gentleman on an airplane. He said that you are an outstanding basketball player, even though you may have lost that explosive quickness just a week or two ago. But, still very, very tough. I’m in the Basketball Hall of Fame and with NBC sports and I’m on my way to the All-Star game in Philadelphia this weekend. There’s been some injuries and we need some players who we can rely on. If you get a chance, if you have confidence, ability, poise, competitive greatness, physical fitness, skill level and commitment to the team, we’re looking for some really good players. There’s a big game in Philadelphia Sunday night and we don’t want a junk game, we need really solid players and I heard that you are one of the most solid players in the country, even though you have that nagging back injury. Please call me at ......... I’m not calling to ask for anything. I’m just calling to thank you for making this country and this world a better place. Keep shooting every time you get it. You can miss as well as the next guy. Congratulations. Be safe. Be quick, but don’t hurry. 1997-2002 91
