“Editor’s note: This is part three in a three-part series. Gary Arnold has been running the Good Shepherd Athletic Club for so long that he calls the club my house. When you walk through the door, you see a sign that says Welcome home. He treats boxers who frequent the club like they are his own family and he even talks about them has if he were their father.”
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Editor’s note: This is part three in a three-part series.

Gary Arnold has been running the Good Shepherd Athletic Club for so long that he calls the club my house.

When you walk through the door, you see a sign that says Welcome home.

He treats boxers who frequent the club like they are his own family and he even talks about them has if he were their father.

Arnold spends the majority of his time helping at-risk teens who come into the club looking for guidance. He makes sure they are doing well in school, and if they aren’t, doesn’t allow them to join his club.

Kids must maintain a C average, Arnold said. I check all report cards. If you’re out of school, you’re not coming to the Good Shepherd Athletic Club.

Arnold said this rule motivates members to stay in school.

Most of my kids stay in school all year long because they like boxing. You have to set a standard, he said. You can’t have a kid that’s not in school coming to box every night. That’s sending the wrong message.

While Arnold does these things with his athletic club, he is unsure how much longer he will be able to continue running it.

Earlier this year, I was at the point where my health was failing and I was in the process of letting this thing go, Arnold said. Malcolm Costa of Akron Summit County Community Action came and talked to me one night, and it rejuvenated me.

We started getting new equipment for the kids.

Arnold is continuously balancing his roles between club and home parent.

Even though he spends a lot of time at the club training with the young boxers, he never forgets his family. Arnold spends his days visiting his son every evening before going to help others.

Through all this madness, I don’t want to forget about my son, Bahati, Arnold said.

Bahati was mugged and left in the middle of the street for dead. Now, he is brain dead and lives at Bridgeport Hospital.

It’s hard to come from the hospital and see how he is laying in bed, then go to the gym and show these kids love and see how blessed they really are, Arnold said. A lot of kids don’t know how blessed they are to wipe the snot off the side of their nose or turn on the TV set until they see someone that can’t do it.

Bahati has taught me so much – I can take what he has taught me and take it to the gym.

Spending more time with Bahati is one of many reasons why Arnold is considering handing over the reigns of the athletic club.

Arnold belives Moses Jacobs, a member of Arnold’s board of trustees and son of Good Shepard Athletic Club founder George Jacobs, could run the club once he retires.

If I don’t see a great turn of event in the next six months, I am at the age where I am not going to worry about it, Arnold said. I am going to turn it over to Moses or someone. They know what they have to do.

The seed is planted, now let the seed manifest and you’ll come up with a beautiful flower.

Arnold feels there is little left for him to do for the club and has started to hand over some of the power.

I’ve done everything I can in 18 years, and now I’m sitting back and letting someone else step up to the plate.

Whoever takes over for Arnold will have big shoes to fill. He has helped change the lives of many through the powerful medium of boxing.

Arnold could have been the top boxing coach in Akron, Ohio, but he decided his time could be better spent changing the lives of those who needed it.

Arnold preaches the vision he lives by to his gym members daily.

My vision came from my mother, Arnold said. She always put children first. There will be no one left behind at the Good Shepherd Athletic Club.

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” #1.1361483:3046899786.jpg:20071120_shepherd_kg.jpg:Outside the Good Shepherd Athletic Club, located just off S. Main Street, windows are filled with news stories about Arnold.:Kim Graham”