STEUBENVILLE - Three members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 won gold medals at the Ohio Police and Fire Games held in June in Canton.
Retired Steubenville Police Capt. Leon Stinson won gold medals in the strip curl, power lift and dead lift events, while Toronto Police Capt. Jack Daniels won a gold medal for the bench press and Steubenville Patrolman Bob Shoemaker took a gold medal for the raw bench press.
"These are three local guys who we wanted to help. So our F.O.P. Lodge agreed to sponsor them, and we are very proud of all three men for winning gold at the Ohio Police and Fire Games in Canton," stated Jim Marquis, president of F.O.P. Lodge No. 1.
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Dave Gossett
GOLD MEDAL WINNERS — Three members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 won gold medals during the Ohio Police and Fire Games in Canton. The gold medal winners included Toronto Police Capt. Jack Daniels, retired Steubenville Police Capt. Leon Stinson and Steubenville Patrolman Bob Shoemaker. All three men were sponsored by the local F.O.P. Taking part in a recent ceremony were, from left, Kenny Anderson, trustee, Jason Hanlin, vice president; Jim Marquis, president; Daniels, Stinson and Shoemaker; Shawn Scott, chaplain; and Mark Taylor; trustee. Erik Dervos and Toronto Police Chief Randy Henry also serve as F.O.P. trustees.
Stinson will turn 74 years old on Sunday and still competes annually in the Ohio Police and Fire Games as well as other power lifting events.
"It is my life and I am still learning. I met Nancy Vecchio at the YMCA facility at the St. John Arena and she taught me how yoga can help me physically and mentally. She really taught me some new techniques, and now I am using yoga as part of my training. She was a major reason for me lifting 65 pounds more this year than last year," explained Stinson.
"Dr. Santiago Ching continues to help me physically, and I also want to thank Steubenville Recreation Director Troy Kirkendall and the guys at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center who encouraged me in so many ways," said Stinson.
"And a big thanks this year to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1, which sponsored me and the other two guys at the games in Canton. I also want to express my thanks to my best friend, Chester Bell, who drives for me when I am competing," declared Stinson.
Daniels started lifting weights 28 years ago when he joined the Toronto Police Department.
"I weighed about 150 pounds back then and I started lifting to improve myself physically. Now I lift weights for my health. I lift five days a week," Daniels explained.
"Retired Toronto Police Capt. Howard Mosti has been my mentor for weightlifting. He got me involved initially and has guided me throughout my career. I owe him a lot. He got me involved in the competitive lifting. But Leon is our inspiration. He is amazing," the 58-year-old Daniels said.
Shoemaker said the Canton event was his first competitive event in two years.
"I competed in a lifting event a couple years ago with Nick Busick. The Canton games were close to home, so I decided to start training on a serious level and I was fortunate enough to win a gold medal," said Shoemaker.
"I train four days a week and I am considering competing again next year when the Ohio Police and Fire Games are in Cleveland. This keeps me in shape and I enjoy the lifting," said Shoemaker, who is celebrating his 46th birthday today.
