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Lance Dreher, PhD – 2019 NFHOF Inductee 

Lance is regarded as one the countries premier experts on wellness for baby boomers.  He is a featured speaker on Men’s Health and Diabetes and feature writer for New Hope Publications.  Lance is also the host of “Doctor Fitness Show” on iHeart radio from 1991 until the present. 

Understudy to Bob Gajda, Lance took Bob’s methods and used them to benefit his many clients nationwide.  As a bodybuilder Lance won the prestigious title of Collegiate Mr. America, NPC Mr. America, IFBB Mr. Universe and NABBA Pro Mr. Universe. 

Lance’s past and present accomplishments include but not exclusive to the following:

·       Supervisor Health and Tennis Corporation 1979/1984

·       Outstanding Young Man in America 1984

·       Honorary Member of the Royal Society of the Mentally and Physically Handicapped Britain

·       Presidential Sports Achievement Award/Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, 1982

·       Outstanding Leadership Award, Arizona Governor Council on Exercise, Physical Fitness and Sports, 2001  

Lance is the creator of The pH-at Diet Program/a wellness guide; released in 2005.  He has been vetted by the State of Arizona to develop Wellness Program for DES and administer it to its 10,000 plus employees and was a guest speaker on wellness and nutrition at Midwestern University. 


David Lyons – 2019 NFHOF Inductee

David Lyons, world renowned co-founder of the MS Fitness Challenge with wife Kendra, has dedicated his life to educating people with Multiple Sclerosis and their trainers on fitness. 

David is the recipient of the 2009 MS Society Milestone Award; the 2013 Health Advocate of the Year Award along with Lou Ferrigno.  He is the only person with MS to receive the Health Advocate LAA - Lifetime Achievement Award from Arnold Schwarzenegger (2015).   David received the "Lifetime Fitness Inspiration Award" from the Global Bodybuilding Organization (GBO) and the Special Recognition Inspiration Award from the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2017 while becoming a Founding Partner of the organization’s Institute for learning. 

David is the author of Everyday Health & Fitness with Multiple Sclerosis; writer for Everyday Health; and has partnered with NFPT on his MS Fitness Training Specialist certification.  He is the Senior Fitness Director of MS Workouts and the VP of Adaptive Sports for the United Intercontinental Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (UIBFF). 

David is a sought after motivational speaker dedicated to helping others by sharing the lessons gained from his life experience and is now honored as a 2019 inductee into the National Fitness Hall of Fame.  


Dr. Robert Weil, DPM – 2019 NFHOF Inductee 

“Live from Chicago –it’s The Sports Doctor!”  Dr. Robert Weil, prominent Illinois Sports Podiatrist, has treated an endless array of some of the world’s best athletes in all sports in his specialty of orthotics therapy and foot, ankle strengthening. Born and raised in NY, he still practices his New York accent weekly on his show! For over 3 decades, in various venues, the show features topics on sports medicine, fitness, and wellness with a variety of local, national and international guests. 

Presently, the show is on world leading internet talk radio bbsradio.com and on UK Health Radio. He is a frequent guest on local and national radio shows. 

Dr. Bob has written for numerous newspaper and magazine publications on the important role of the foot in sports. He has contributed to numerous books and recently, co-authored “#HeySportsParents-An Essential Guide for any Parent with a Child in Sports”, available on Amazon.  


Lucille Roberts – 2019 NFHOF Inductee

 (December 7, 1943 - July 17, 2003) 

Lucille was an American businesswoman and entrepreneur who founded the Lucille Roberts chain of health clubs.  A self-proclaimed "exercise nut", she turned her passion for working out into a health club empire worth $30 million at the time of her death. 

In 1969, Roberts and her husband opened a spa in midtown Manhattan next to Macy's.  Lucille’s goal was to offer affordable exercise facilities geared towards women.  She eventually built her chain of health clubs to over 50 gyms with 200,000 members in New York and the surrounding region by charging half or less of what many competitors asked.  Her clubs were for women only, partly because she wanted to protect women from being ogled in coed gyms. 

Lucille also wrote and published the books, Computercise and The Lucille Roberts 14 Day Makeover.  Roberts died from lung cancer on July 17, 2003, aged 59, at a Manhattan hospital. She was survived by her husband and their two children.  


Dr. George Sheehan, MD – 2019 NFHOF Inductee

(November 5, 1918 - November 1, 1993)

Dr. Sheehan was born in Brooklyn in 1918 as was the oldest of fourteen children.  An outstanding student, he was also a track star at Manhattan College.  He became a cardiologist like his father.  After medical school he served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II as a doctor on the battleship U.S.S. Daly.  Just before leaving for active service he married “the most beautiful woman on the

Jersey Shore,” Mary Jane Fleming, and together they subsequently raised a dozen children. 

He began writing a weekly column in the local paper.  In short time, the running world was listening.  This self-described loner from Red Bank, NJ became one of the most sought out experts on health and fitness.  He continued the column for twenty five years.  Many of these years were served as the medical editor for Runner’s World magazine.  

Dr. Sheehan wrote eight books and lectured around the world. “Listen to your body,” was his slogan.  “We are each an experiment of one.”  He was fond of quoting Robert Frost’s line, “I am no longer concerned with good and evil. What concerns me is whether my offering will be acceptable.” 

He also ran a 4:47 mile, which was the world’s first sub-five-minute time by a 50-year-old.

(November 5, 1918 – November 1, 1993)



National Fitness Hall of Fame - “15 Years and Counting!” (2004-2019)

Wow, what a wonderful weekend, except for the late April snowstorm that hit on Saturday night.  (The good news is that it all melted by the next day).  On Saturday evening, during our VIP Meet & Greet, the National Fitness Hall of Fame recognized, 2007 NFHOF Inductee, Gilad Janklowicz with a “First in Fitness” award for being the first person to host a national television fitness show, “On-Location.”  Prior to Gilad, all TV fitness shows were recorded in studio.  After Gilad introduced the “on-location” concept, fitness participation exploded!  (FYI - Gilad has been doing this now for a record 36+ years!)  Fellow Hall of Famer, Brenda Dykgraaf provided a wonderful and heartfelt introduction to her good friend and long-time associate, Gilad.

The next day, at noon, everyone was invited to participate in the launch of the NFHOF’s new “Fitness For All Traveling Expo.”  Participants checked-in and received a fitness scorecard where they recorded their results from the several fitness stations that were set-up.  Their knowledge of fitness history was also tested and they got to use the new “History of Fitness” display as a “cheat sheet” to get some of their answers.  During the expo, Gilad and Jackie Lupo (NFHOF Professional Member) lead an epic, impromptu exercise class where many Hall of Famers joined in the fun. 

After a brief rest bit everyone got primed and proper for our Gala event, the 15th Annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner.  Red Carpet interviews were conducted by local celebrity, Don “The Don of Sports” Figarelli and M/C honors went to Bill Crawford (2012 NFHOF Inductee).  The newest inductees, David Lyons, Lance Dreher and Dr. Bob Weil, DPM, all were in attendance to meet both past inductees and spend time with their adoring fans and family!  

The event was held at the beautifully ornate Medinah Shriners Banquet Hall in Addison, Illinois.  NFHOF founder, John Figarelli thanked its Gold Sponsor, Bragg Live Foods and its fantastic volunteers for supporting this terrific organization and event.






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