It's important to stay physically active as long as possible.

And, if we watch our health and remain passionate about life there's no reason we can't continue to excel at almost any endeavor well into our 80's and beyond.  

There's one man in town who continues to perform at the top of his game decades after he first came to national prominence in the sport he loves. 

Most sports legends just fade away but this one is still in there swinging, till hitting it right down the middle every time.
Jack Fleck won the U.S. Open an unbelievable 54 years ago, making him now..."The oldest active living golf professional who has won majors," Fleck says.

His 1955 open championship is the stuff of myth. He outlasted the seemingly unbeatable Ben Hogan in an 18-hole playoff. 
It was an upset that golf historians are still talking about.

"He was a great idol of mine. I hated to deprive him of his fifth, unprecedented U.S. open," says Fleck.

But what makes Jack Fleck so amazing isn't what he's done but what he's doing. At 86 he still has the same driving passion he had as a young man.  

"I don't hit it quite as well as I feel I'm able to and, of course, I've had a lot of pros and others say what do you expect at your age, look what you've got now, how do you expect more? Well, I think I can improve," says Fleck.

Jack represents aging successfully at it's best. He's committed to happiness, health, eating right,  and exercise.

"First thing, you've got to take care of your body. That's the greatest thing in the world, the greatest thing that God ever developed for man," Fleck says.

Yoga has helped him stay fit for years. 

"I practiced that everyday. I was strong enough to walk through a wall."

As his doctor, I know he's had his share of physical setbacks, like most men his age.  Yet his one simple, powerful philosophy keeps him playing almost every day.

"As you think so shall you be, so I think I can play yet and I can play better."

As you think so shall you be. If we all practiced that our lives would be richer and healther. 

"I think if you want to know who my hero is it's Jack Fleck," says Dr. David.

And it has nothing to do with being better than Ben Hogan all those years ago.  It's because he's always striving to be a better Jack Fleck tomorrow.

Jack Fleck’s passion for golf keeps him active and physically fit. St. Vincent can help you find ways to remain physically active through the VIVA Active Adults Program. Click here to find out more. (St. Vincent Senior Program - Social Activities, Bingo, Safe Driving Classes, Tours in Arkansas and out of state.)

VIVA Active Adults Program
St. Vincent Health System is a sponsor of the VIVA Program for active adults, age 55 +. VIVA members enjoy a wide variety of services designed to maintain good health, independence and current knowledge of health issues - new treatments and technology as well as disease prevention and management.

As a VIVA member, your benefits include:
* Quarterly newsletter with articles to inform you of important current events in health care and a calendar of events.
* Personal invitations to special events at St. Vincent sponsored activities.
* Group travel opportunities with A Way We Go Tours/ VIVA.

Click here to find out more about becoming a VIVA member at St. Vincent.

National Institutes of Health Longevity Studies

Chances are people like Mr. Fleck have family members who are also long-lived. According to the National Institutes of Health, people who live in good health for 100 years and longer aren’t just lucky they often have company… in their very own families. Recent studies have revealed that, as a group, people who lived to be 100 years or more (centenarians) were healthier at younger ages than their peers. Genetics may play a role. Studies of very old people and their families in specific populations—such as those in Iceland and Okinawa, and in Ashkenazi Jewish, Mormon and Amish communities—have shown that exceptionally long life runs in families. Centenarians’ children have lower mortality rates from cancer and heart disease, and fewer age-related diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and stroke.

You or someone you know may be able to help researchers discover the secrets to a longer, healthier life. The LLFS investigators are looking for people age 80 years or older who have at least one living brother or sister age 80 years or older. If this describes you and your family, click here to visit the study website or make a toll-free call to one of the recruitment offices listed below to get involved:

Boston University:
1-888-333-6327

University of Pittsburgh:
1-800-872-3653

Columbia University, New York:
1-800-304-4317

After you sign up, someone from the study will call you and ask for more information about your family.  Calls may be followed by home visits, where researchers take physical measurements and blood for analysis.