CANTON – Harmon Velie was known as an recovery icon for his tireless work through Alcoholics Anonymous.
The 66-year-old Akron resident is being remembered after he died Sunday while taking part in a Hall of Fame Marathon race.
Velie was recently retired from the tire industry and served as chairman of executive committee at Akron s historic Dr. Bob s Home. The Akron home is where Dr. Bob Smith would take the journey through a 12-step program creating and founding Alcoholics Anonymous.
What happened to Harmon Velie?
Velie collapsed on the back half of the half marathon race course less than a half-mile from the finish line.
CANTON – A Hall of Fame Marathon runner collapsed and died on the back-half of the course Sunday, marathon Executive Director Jim Chaney said.
The Stark County Sheriff s Office received a 911 call about the medical emergency, and a chase car and ambulance arrived on scene in a Canton Township neighborhood about a half-mile from the finish line at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The individual, who was given CPR, was transported to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital where the participant died.
Hospital workers used the runner s bib information, which includes the participant s race number, to reach out to the runner s emergency contact.