FATHER KNEW BEST Bernard Miller at the White House with President Kennedy
A sound mind in a sound body. Or in today's language, "An Affirm Mind in a Firm Body." Both describe the Golden Age of Greece. That was my Dad's goal. He wanted to see that Golden Age happen in the U.S. He thought the way to accomplish that was through education -- in schools and with parents.

To reach his goal, he worked very hard to achieve positions of authority where he could influence teachers, administrators, politicians -- including presidents and community leaders; people of power who could change policy and educational curricula. 

 I think he reached those authoritative posts. You tell me. he was Chairman of the Department of Physical Education at UCLA for over ten years. He served on Presidents Eisenhower's and Kennedy's Advisory Committee on Youth Fitness. He was President of the American College of Sports Medicine and a FEllow of the American School Health Association and the American Public Health Association. Remember this is the work of just one man.

He was President of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. His career in  national and international organizations allowed him many opportunities to travel. He visited over eighty countries and was able to gather information about the history of physical education and sport. He created a class on the subject, which he taught at UCLA. He also organized and was a charter member of the North American Society of Sports historians. 

dad gave over two hundred fifty addresses in the U.S.. and abroad, fifty of which were published. He and Mom attended all the Olympic Games from 1932 to 1984. 
I almost forgot: He wrote a book, "PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR BOYS," in 1943d dedicated it to "The Physical Fitness Leaders of American Youth."

Bragging about my dad? -- you bet! -- very! Sad? -- terribly!

After over half a century of dedication and hard work, dad looked at his legacy and this is what he saw:

• The United States has the fattest population in the world.
• The youth of our nation are further from being physically fit than ever.
• Those same youths are starting to have diabetes.
• Our country is in the midst of an obesity epidemic. The definition of obesity is: "Anyone that is one hundred pounds or more over their healthy weight."

When Dad headed the physical education department (now called the Physiological Science Department) at UCLA, they had over one hundred professors, associate professors, assistants and clerical workers. It now numbers less than twenty people. And, physical education are not a requirement for the general student body.

How sad for our country. How sad for Dad. Before he passed on, he saw a society that could be called, The Golden Age of Grease." He said when a future Darwin chroniclers our time here on earth he'll name it, "Survival of the Fattest."

The information in my fitness book, ME TARZAN! YOU TRAIN! NO PAIN! is knowledge about fitness that is available to us all. This knowledge is backed by hundreds of studies made by physical educators, medical doctors, physical therapists and nutritionists who are not selling anything but fitness. These people are not in anybody's pocket. They are independent researchers.

Fitness is no big mystery. It's not hard to understand how to be fit. My Dad tried his best to yell it from the rooftops. I've tried to follow his advice and in my seventies I know being fit has made my life more enjoyable, more productive and more rewarding. I'm sure Dad would want me to pass the word along.

Thanks Dad! I'm glad I listened. You were right. You still are.