Hall of Fame gymnast remains active into 80s

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Gus Luckert would challenge mentor Ed Straub, year after year.

Straub won, year after year. He would stand longer on his head than did Luckert. No matter that few if anyone else Straub's age even could imagine being upside down, at least on purpose.

A generation younger, Luckert finally prevailed. At 86, though, Straub still looks like he could toss a Kia across a parking lot. He remains a barrel-chested jock on the go, putting off our visit until he could go hunting a time or two.

"Still climbing trees," he told me.

This comes after deciding to put off having a couple of leaking heart valves replaced. The doctor left it up to Straub and Straub seemingly leaves it up, well, to the benefits of a lifetime devoted to fitness.

Straub introduced local children to exercise, as much as did anyone. During school, after school, summers and weekends, he taught them, coached them and inspired them. If Straub could work up a sweat, could stand on his hands, why couldn't they.

The history of school physical education in our area features Straub early and often. Many programs he didn't introduce he stepped up. "He changed the whole region," Kelly Fust, another Straub protege and co-owner of SIGS Sportsplex, said. "He's legendary. To think of the lives he's touched and the people he's motivated...."

Straub's induction last year into Indiana's Gymnastics Hall of Fame only begins to reflect his impact. "He's meant a whole lot to a whole lot of people," Luckert, a retired P.E. teacher who Straub brought into that career, said.

Even after retiring from teaching and coaching, Straub organized softball and basketball leagues for players 50 and up, then a hoops one for die-hards at least 60. Straub played himself this and that, on and on, most everything that burns more calories than Tiddlywinks.

If understandably slowed, Straub continues to keep moving. He identifies unusual trees - tallest and the like - as well as varieties of wildflowers. "When I'm out hiking, looking around," he said.

"I just love the outdoors and it's a challenge."

Straub grew up in Indianapolis where, at 10, he lost his right eye in an accident. Like that would slow him; he jumped into athletics especially at the American Turners club. With that group's help, Straub ended up as an Indiana University gymnast, captain of the team. After graduation, he took on the task of introducing P.E. and gymnasts in the Clarksville schools.

His teams won four consecutive state high school titles. Straub said no local team, before or since, has so dominated.

Straub took his talents to schools in Louisville and then to Greater Clark's. He stayed active, as well, at the American Turner's in Louisville, setting up and leading activities at each stop. When need be, Straub built equipment and gave demonstrations. Swimming, flag football, Straub liked to say yes. "I'm a pioneer," he said. "I just love to start new things."

That includes two decades of after-school gymnastics lessons in Jeffersonville that seemed to attract most every kid in town. "He puts gymnastics on the map in Clark County," Fust said.

Now a great-grandfather, Clarksville-resident Straub appreciates being a hall of famer and the fond looking back the salute spurred. The rigor of old age always gets its way. Few of us put up as much of a fight like has Straub, however. He discussed giving up hunting, then seemed to try to convince himself to keep going. "You don't stop playing because you get old," Straub said, taking from a poem.

"You get old because you stop playing."

___

Source: News and Tribune, http://bit.ly/2mkH1j3

___

Information from: News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind., http://www.newsandtribune.com