Stan Connelly, raised by a single mother in rural poverty, became a major general in the U.S. Army Reserves and participated in negotiations in Moscow that ended the Cold War in 1988. He co-founded The Free Press Marathon in Detroit and ran 22 marathons in his lifetime. He was known for turning back during these marathons to find stragglers who needed some encouragement to keep going. He often crossed the finish lines holding hands with them.
He worked on social justice issues including job training and employment opportunities in both Cleveland and Detroit. Always a warrior for the underdog, he believed lack of money was "the root of all evil". He worked hard to provide more opportunity to the "have-nots" who were victims of racism and classism.
He dreamed about a world at peace with itself, where everyone had an opportunity to compete and were treated equally regardless of the color of their skin.
