Terry Dedmon
Terry Dedmon, an 80-year-old member of Bradley Wellness Center can deadlift 300 pounds.
“I’ve always believed that if you don’t exercise, if you don’t move, if you just sit down and don’t exercise, then your body won’t work anymore,” said Mr. Dedmon, a Dalton resident who retired from the floorcovering industry as a former carpet mill owner.
Mr. Dedmon is a living testament to the claim that strength and stamina don’t automatically disappear with age. Instead, they require movement and support across a lifespan. He exercises five days a week and spends around three hours a day, including breaks, at BWC. He also works with a certified trainer who helps him achieve his goals while avoiding injury.
Open seven days a week, BWC (part of Hamilton and Vitruvian Health) is home to more than 3,500 members. BWC is a comprehensive fitness facility on the Hamilton campus in Dalton, that features a 25-meter indoor pool, indoor and outdoor tracks, weight and cardiovascular machines, group fitness studios and more than 75 classes a week — the mix Mr. Dedmon uses to train for both strength and distance.
Mr. Dedmon first began working out at age 14. When work grew busy, he transitioned to walking. A four-mile stretch on Walnut Avenue, Tibbs Road and College Drive that locals call “the loop” became a daily favorite. When he retired at age 63, he decided to get back in the gym.
“I heard a couple of people talking about Bradley Wellness Center, so I decided to try it out,” he said. “I’ve been here for 17 years now.”
He said the wide age range of members makes him feel he fits in, and that the welcoming staff and shared routines have helped turn workouts into friendships.
A competitive runner, Dedmon participates in the Bill Gregory Classic in May as well as a race in Chickamauga. He enjoys the friendly atmosphere and getting to share similar interests with people.
He works out his upper body three days a week and his lower body two days a week. Three days a week, he runs one to three miles on the upstairs track. Two days a week, he works out in the group spin class.
“I’ve been doing the spin class for three years now,” he said. “I don’t ever miss. In fact, of the 17 years that I’ve worked out at Bradley Wellness Center, I missed two weeks when I moved, and then I missed two weeks with COVID. Other than that, I never miss.”
When Mr. Dedmon set a goal of deadlifting 300 pounds, he worked with the same trainer who helped him prepare for his road races. Session after session, the trainer held him back until he felt he was ready. His achievement was captured on video and was one of Dedmon’s proudest fitness moments.
“They’re not going to let you hurt yourself,” he said. “But they’ll ask you to do a little bit more than you normally would. If you go in and do the same thing every week, it’s hard to improve. With a personal trainer, you come in and do different things, and they push you to put a little more weight on the machines or whatever you’re doing.”
Mr. Dedmon said he appreciates that the equipment is varied, modern, in good condition and always clean. He also appreciates that BWC hasn’t pushed him toward adding services he has no interest in. The personal trainer, he said, was his decision, not something that was pushed on him.
In 2026, Mr. Dedmon’s goals are to deadlift 325 pounds and add at least one more road race to his calendar. As for his health, he has good numbers at all his physical checkups. He said he has always been self-motivated. That’s helped him be successful. Instead of making excuses, he makes plans.
“My doctor loves me,” he added. “I don’t come to him complaining about this or that hurting. The only conversations we have are what I lifted or what I ran.”
For Mr. Dedmon, staying active isn’t about defying age so much as having the right place, support and consistency to build the life he wants.
For more information about BWC, call 706-278-9355
Terry Dedmon
