An eye on the gold

Deirdre Newman

Seventy-nine-year-old Ralph Woodhead still feels the need for

speed.

On Wednesday, his feet scurried swiftly along the pavement as he

raced his wheelchair, outmaneuvering three other competitors to score

the gold in the Orange County Activity Director’s Assn. Senior Games.

“I just like to go,” said Woodhead, who is a World War II Navy

veteran.

This is the 14th year the games have been held at the Orange

County Fairgrounds. This year’s event had a decidedly patriotic

theme, “The Spirit of America,” which honored local heroes such as a

color guard from the STAC Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos

and an ambulance driver for American Medical Response singing the

national anthem. The Costa Mesa Fire Department also handed out the

medals during the closing ceremonies.

The games bring together more than 300 seniors from more than 30

facilities around the county.

It’s a chance for the seniors to get out, get physical and get

their competitive juices flowing.

“It’s so important for them to feel independent, successful, for

them to have choices,” said Candace Bartsch, who worked on the games’

organizing committee.

Gwen Black, 84, chose to try the target shooting using a

paint-ball gun. Black, who sported a sweatshirt that read “Unbearably

Cool,” kept her cool while trying to hit the bull’s-eye.

“I enjoyed it,” said Black, who did a little dance to prove her

point.

This year’s games were dedicated to Lawrence Ronquillo, a longtime

games contributor as an artist and activities director.

Ronquillo’s wife, Sharon, was on hand to help out, wearing a

T-shirt plastered with family pictures.

“I’ve stopped myself from crying a couple of times today,” Sharon

said, as she welcomed the seniors to the festivities.

One of the featured guests at Wednesday’s games was Tony Gonzalez,

tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. Gonzalez, who grew up in

Huntington Beach, said his experience working with senior citizens

dates back to his high school days. His mother also works as a

nursing home administrator

“It’s cool giving back,” Gonzalez said. “We’ll all be here

someday.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.