Photo Courtesy of Ronald Whittemore

For his accomplishments as a Senior Olympic Athlete and a retired computer programming analyst, Ronald Whittemore has been recognized as a by the Preferred Professionals Network.

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A renowned long-distance runner and jumper whose prominence in the sports arena has been recognized for decades, Ronald Whittemore has withstood the test of time and complications of heart disease - and remains to this day a competitive sports enthusiast. He has defied the odds to accomplish feats seldom seen at his age, turning 80 years old last April. 

   Frequently highlighted in such prestigious publications as The Eagle Times and Valley News in their respective sports’ section, Ronald was most recently featured in the July 2nd edition of The Eagle Times in recognition of the three gold medals he garnered at the Senior Olympic Games held in Burlington, VT. For his age group (80-84), he earned first place in the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter dash. Attending every National Senior Games since 1995, he notably jumped long enough to earn the title of number four in the all-time history of the Senior Games. 

   Involved in sports for most of his career, Ronald ran his first marathon in Boston, MA, in 1961 and continued to run at least one mile per day, every day, for more than seven consecutive years. After struggling with asthma and heart conditions, including three heart attacks and a blood transfusion, he limited himself to short distance running, long jumps, and triple jumps. In 2011, he surpassed his own expectations and achieved a bronze medal in the triple jump at the National Senior Games in Humble, TX. However, one of the highlights of his career was when he received his Masters All-American certificates. 

   Outside of his athletic achievements, Ronald served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965 and the United States Navy from 1956 to 1960. After getting married, he decided to focus on his family and enrolled in programming school, graduating magna cum laude from the institution. In 1966, he started working as a computer programmer for Cross Co. In 1968, he brought these skills to Joy Manufacturing, working as a senior programmer until 1973. That year, he joined Computac, LLC and worked at this venture until 1979. Since 1979, he has been a programming manager at Datamann, Wilder and retired in 2000. When Mr. Whittemore was 40 years old, he attended Hawthorn University and majored in business administration with a minor in accounting. He had been elected treasurer of the class and graduated magna cum laude. 

   Prior to these appointments, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960 and the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1965. Alongside his primary endeavors, he was the president of the Claremont Men’s Softball League and a chess coach at Stevens High School. 

   As a testament to his success, Ronald was named an All-American by the USA Track and Field. In addition, he earned Fourth Place in the triple jump and Second Place in the triple jump at the National Senior Olympics in 2013 and 2017, respectively. He has additionally received a fellowship from the Data Processing Management Association for his achievements in computer programming. 

  Ronald enjoys sprinting, jumping, bicycling, reading and playing chess in his spare time, he is happily married to Lois Whittemore and has one daughter, Debbie. 

   Ronald Whittemore has consistency delivered in all his endeavors. From his early days serving in the United States Air Force and Navy to becoming a computer programmer. Today for his many achievements, commitment, and perseverance, he has been recognized by the Preferred Professionals Network and will be listed among the Top Preferred Professionals of America.