RICHMOND, Va.—University of Richmond Chancellor E. Bruce Heilman celebrated his 86th birthday on July 16 by arriving home—in one piece and in high spirits—from a 9,000-mile motorcycle trip around the United States.
Bruce Heilman at a stop in San Antonio, Texas.
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Heilman, a Marine who served in World War II, says he made the trip to show that he could and also to serve as a spokesperson for the Greatest Generation Foundation. He left Richmond on May 18 and traveled primarily on interstate around the perimeter of the U.S.
Heilman says he parked his bike twice–in San Francisco and Milwaukee–and flew home to take care of business. His ride took him through 31 states and Washington. He stopped for gas 60 times and reports that he never had a close call.
Heilman is a trustee of the Religious Herald and when asked how he thinks he’ll celebrate his 87th birthday he talked of riding through the midsection of the country and also mentioned Alaska.
Barbara Francis (bfrancis@religiousherald.org) is a staff writer for the Herald.