450 friends, family members, and co-workers gathered last night at the Quincy Marriott to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dave McGillivray Sports Enterprises (DMSE).  Dave is the race director of the Boston Marathon, Joan Samuelson’s TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K, and much else.  Joining in the celebration were Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, an avid triathlete, marathon legend Bill Rodgers, and former Ironman World Champion Karen Smyers.  Each had been touched by the work of DMSE over the years.  I had the pleasure of co-emceeing the evening’s gala.  

But let’s go back 30 years to 1981

  It was “Morning in America”, or so Ronald Reagan had us believe.

The national savings rate hovered around 10%…and those who did run, ran fast…boy have times changed.

The Boston Celtics won their 14th NBA title, their first with Larry Bird,

Time magazine named Poland’s Solidarity leader Lech Walesa its “Man of the Year”,

and MTV went on the air for the first time that August showing The Buggles, “Video Killed the Radio Star” as their first video.

On the big screen, “Chariots of Fire” won best picture at Oscars,

And the year ended with Olivia Newton John’s “Lets Get Physical” holding down the top spot on the charts…a perfect piece of pop confection. Continue reading →