I’ve always admired runners with that special speed and stamina to make anything from a 5K (3.1 miles) to a marathon (26.2 miles) or anything in between look so easy. However in recent years, my running idol has been Danville native Ron Chilton.
No, “Radio Ron” is not the fastest runner around but at age 89 — yes, 89 — I don’t know anyone else who can get out and do all he can.
That’s why it was so much fun to spend just over an hour with him Friday morning on the Danville High School cross country course around Admiral Stadium doing a 5K with him along with Angela Todd of Stanford and Troy Vonn of Danville, two friends and avid runners.
Chilton, a 1953 Danville High School graduate, wanted to compete again in the Coach Plummer’s 5K Saturday as he has done for the last 10 years when he rises early, drives from Louisville to Danville, does his 3.1 miles and then drives back home. However, he had a problem — Saturday is also the Kentucky Senior Games at Transylvania University. He has competed in every Senior Games since 1998 and normally dominates his age division.
To allow him to do both, former Danville cross country/track coach E.G. Plummer suggested Chilton do the Plummer 5K Saturday and then the Kentucky Senior Games Saturday. So that’s why we were on the cross country course with Chilton Thursday and it was such a fun time.
Chilton entertained us with so many stories of his Danville High School days, 40 plus years of radio that started in Danville and ended in Louisville, running stories, nutrition advice and 13 movie appearances he has made.
Yes, Chilton is somewhat of a movie star since he has been in these movies: Raintree County, April Love, The Great Race, Stripes, Bluegrass, Eight Men Out, Fire Down Below, The Insider, Dreamer, Elizabethtown, Secretariat, Seabiscuit and Wildcat.
He once appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show” and interviewed personalities such as Richard Simmons, Johnny Mathis and Steven Seagal along with many others
Stripes with Bill Murray is one of my all-time favorite movies. Raintree County was filmed in Danville and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
Chilton loved telling us how he was the “stand-in” for Clift and the director called for him to do a face-to-face with Taylor because Clift had to go make a wardrobe change
“That’s not something you forget,” Chilton told us as we made our way around the course.
He had a memorable encounter with Murray also during the filming of Stripes. He always liked to get his photograph with the star of the movie and asked Murray about a photo and the actor quickly agreed.
“He put his arm around my shoulder and just before the picture was snapped, he gave me a ‘noogie’ on top of my head and said, ‘How’s that for your photo?’” Chilton said.
His only regret was that his friend taking the photo didn’t have time to react and get Murray giving him the boogie.
Probably a lot of others will want to get their picture with Chilton at the Senior Games. He will be competing in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes along with the shot put, discus, javelin, hammer throw, long jump and triple jump. The 50 (he can sprint it all) and hammer (he likes getting to wind up and throw) are his favorite events.
He will carry the torch and light the cauldron to open the 2024 Kentucky Senior Games Saturday and I could not think of a better man for the job.
So good luck Saturday Radio Ron and go kick butt like you always do and did again Thursday when you let myself, Todd and Vonn join you on Danville’s cross country course.
