Father's Day 2020 — The Ogre Compound

Wade Johnson and son Wes Johnson after the 2019 USA Powerlifting Swolemates Challenge in Franklin, Tennessee.

Happy Father’s Day
Today is Father’s day and of course, happy father’s day to all the dads out there. I want to say a few things about the men who had huge influences on my life. Today is when I pour a great bourbon I normally wouldn’t in homage to those that are no longer with us and then to some that are. Some may not want to be mentioned but, for today, I’m going to name names and say why.

Years ago, I met Charles “Chuck” Forseman. As per usual everyone in the gym ends up with some sort of nickname, even if it’s just a last name as currently we have 4 Wes’. Chuck wasn’t any different and it was Chris Gaines that dubbed him Diesel. I Had the honor of being the last person Chuck saw and spoke to in this world. It was a Thursday and the date escapes me but, the scene is still very clear in my head. We were warming up for decline. Long story short, Chuck was sitting there on a bench unresponsive, I got him to look up at me and talked to him and he spoke to me. I had already had the gym owner call 911. Moments later, Chuck had a massive heart attack. I didn’t get 200 compressions in before EMS was there and taking over.

Chuck passed away in my arms. He was in a place he loved dearly. And while this is sad, let me tell you, Diesel was always there. He encouraged me and more, believed in me even when I didn’t. More than once, Chuck would see me drive up, meet me outside to shake hands and have a $100 bill in it. I’d protest and he’d insist. He just wanted to help. He knew I was going to build a gym some day. While there are many plates now in the gym, the first pair of 100s the training group ever had, Chuck found them and bought them. When bands were the rage, he bought those, too. He’s help at meets and judge and set up.

Chuck trained with us and came back from one of the worst injuries I ever witnessed. He was squatting, warming up, 275. Knees buckled and down he went. We caught him but, both quads completely dislocated. I build Chuck a box, that lives this day in the gym, that he squatted to and did the same weight a year later. I’ll never forget his elation. He got a camera out and took a picture of all of us in the gym together and he even went on to compete again. The words that burn in my head was something Chuck said to me many times. I’d be upset, disappointed or discouraged and he’d say, “Wade, you are going to do great things, I can see it, I just know it”. Chuck did get to see the beginnings of what we now know as the Ogre Compound. He’d drive over 50 miles just to squat with us when I had a monolift here and we’d squat in my gym versus driving to Hermitage. I got to speak at Chuck’s funeral and still friends with his daughter and grand daughter “Football” girl. I will never forget Chuck simply believing so strongly in what we did.

Bob Shaefer and I wrote for a magazine called Powermag years and years ago. In the days of the forum GOHeavy, I saw a post from him and asked him to email me. That began a friendship that changed my life. I have written about Bob before. The amount of things I learned, the things I got to experience and the philosophy, not only on training and lifting but, simply about life, is something that I will forever cherish.

Bob loved training and the scheming and talking about all things related. He also loved dogs, likely more than he did people. It’s because of Bob, I met Joe Ladnier. Joe and I became great pals as well and both served with the SPF and VP and Chairman of the board respectfully for many years. Bob and I would email back and forth nearly every day. We even started working on a book about my training. Bob abruptly passed before we could finish.

As I have written about, Bob was always worried about what would happen to his dog, Toogee. Should something happen to him. I made a promise that should the day come; she would live with us. After Bob passed, simply head down on his desk likely chatting with one of us guys, one of his lifters from the Underground, TJ and his family brought her to us. In that time, I got to meet another member, John Louallen whom Bob had spoke of many times. It was John that told us how Toogee got her name. John came to TN and lifted at a meet we were at and it was fitting to have my son, Wes, hand off and handle him. I am forever indebted to Bobby.

My Dad was a treat. He was quite the character. He was a simple man in so many ways but, wise from the world for sure. He came up super hard and it was part of his life daily. That said, I remember when I was just a little guy being so mesmerized by his size and strength. He was my hero. When I was little, I wanted so much to be like him. I had a pair of work boots, jeans and t-shirt just like him. I had a pair of dress pants, shirt and shoes, just like him. I saw him when I was right at a teenager, we were clearing off a lot to build a house. I saw him pick up a tree stump and carry it and throw it in a burn pile. Now, that may not seem a big feat of strength unless you are familiar with a tree stump whose roots are full of dirt.

My Dad was a scotch drinker. He did not, apparently, like good scotch because his drink of choice was J&B booze. Now, I don’t mean to offend anyone that digs it but, I will tell, that stuff is harsh. When I was little, the house we lived in when I was roughly 7 or 8, my Dad had a bar in there. He’d entertain occasionally and always had a stock behind the bar. Now, I’m about to date myself here I went to the kitchen, grabbed an Alligator bag and poured a shot into the bag and ran outside. We lived next to an avocado grove and I knew that area like the back of my hand. I ran out there and dropped down where I couldn’t be seen and immediately pour the liquid down my through and it immediately was sprayed everywhere and that was my introduction to scotch. If you ever got to meet my Dad, it surely explains many things about me.

The older I get, the more his voice echoes in mine and the more things that I didn’t understand at a particular time, well, they certainly ring true and wise now. My Father said two things to me that I repeat a lot now and made a big impact on me. He said, “never look down your nose at anyone. That could be you.” Be the most that you can be, be the best Wade Johnson no matter what”. I also remember talking to my parents in the kitchen of our house on the farm I grew up on. I told Mom I was headed to town to hang out for a bit She said something to the effect are you looking to get in trouble jokingly and I said something to the effect that there was no trouble to get into in Manchester, TN. He casually leaned across the counter and gently said looking at me, “enough to last you a lifetime”. Truer words have never been spoken and I knew what he meant and why.

I so wish my Dad could see this place He got to visit many years ago, roughly 15-16 years ago. He thought it was cool that I was building a gym. I know he would have loved to have been part of the 2 additions that have been done. I hope he’s happy that I chose bourbon, his father’s drink of choice, Four Roses to be exact and it is why I choose to have a pour in his honor and my Grandfather’s.

I am going to post this with a picture of the pour and share a few things with you about that. It is Four Roses Elliot’s Reserve. I got this as a gift from Jon and Jodey Reisz. The significance for them, is the youngest son in their family is named Elliot. It is a very prized bourbon and a very nice gift. It is poured in a glass that has engraved in it, #wadepour. This was also a gift from my first 2 online clients who are now family. Thad and Matty send something every year and it never disappoints at Christmas. I cherish these glasses and the story behind it. Both are Fathers themselves. When I have this pour, I take pause for the men on Father’s day that had such a huge impact on my life but, I also take a moment to see the great effect those that are with me have had and continue to have on my life.

I want to share about a couple more Dad’s before I close. These two are still with us and what they mean to me and the effect on my life they’ve had is a debt that I’ll never be able to repay. David Waynick and I met because of a break up. Little did we both know where that would take us. T0 make a long story short and because so much has transpired is private, let me just say, without him and his family, I would not be where I’m at currently. The amount of belief that he and his family have had and the support is beyond something I can put in words. I got to coach both his children through their sports lives and his son GL is my across the street neighbor I get to coach his wife weekly. There are now grandchildren and I so hope I get to stick around in this world long enough that they get to come here and train.

Last, and old pal of mine, Eric Swartz. Eric and I have known each other now for likely 25+ years. We were both younger men and didn’t have gray hair. He and I and Johnny have worked together at 3 places. He doesn’t really recall the first one but suffice to say, we worked on shows on the riverfront many times. Then after that at TPAC and then currently, at the Symphony. It is because of Eric I have had a job for all these years. Even when he didn’t like me much he kept me around. I learned how to manage people and keep lists and prioritize to be efficient. The biggest thing is the list thing. I keep a list and carry a notebook to this day. It has daily notes of things I need to try to accomplish whether it be at work, at home or for the gym and online coaching. Johnny and Eric built me ref lights for meets in the early days. Eric has been here and helped me wire the then new addition and wire lights. We fixed wiring in the original part of the house. I can’t tell you how many projects he and I have done over the years at various jobs. When we met, he didn’t have children. Now, he has 2 basically grown. Again, his family has become mine and truly, the honor is mine.

So, today is a tribute to those guys that are Dad’s that are no longer with us and then to those that are and have had such a dramatic impact on my life. It’s truly amazing the pathway that God put us all on and that we ended up on each other’s path. I am forever grateful for them and the time we’ve had.

So to close, Happy Father’s guys I salute you and cheers. God bless you and love to you and your families.

Wes Johnson, being cheered on by his father Wade Johnson at the 2019 USA Powerlifting Swolemates Challenge.