Gale Landers

Class of 1971 Gale Landers was an outstanding athlete at OTHS, lettering in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was also the Senior Class President. He attended Western Illinois University where he was a member of the baseball team all four years, and inducted into the WIU Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1974 baseball team. He graduated from WIU with a bachelor’s of business degree in accounting and also from WIU, with a master’s degree in athletic administration. In 1984 he co-founded Fitness Formula, Ltd, and is now the sole owner of the company. The company has developed a Chicago area network under the trade name Fitness Formula clubs. Recognized as a national leader in the health and fitness industry he was elected into the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. He served as a member of the board of directors for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and served as the IHRSA Board President in 2000. The Fitness Formula Clubs employ more than 1,000 staff members. Gale has established partnerships and medical sub-tenant affiliate relationships with Chicago’s leading hospitals and physical therapy providers. He has spoken frequently at fitness conventions and has been featured on the covers of several trade magazines in the fitness industry. He founded the FFC Cares Foundation, is an active supporter of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, and serves as a board member of the 11-10-02 Foundation, a nonprofit providing scholarships and grants to students with financial need.