Pictured: (Top) From left, Joseph Madej, Deborah Babcock, Dr. Lester Weiss, and Robert Scavone at the Henry Ford Hospital Olympiad, c.1978. (Below) The Henry Ford Hospital Ski Club chariot, 1980. From the Conrad R. Lam Archives, Henry Ford Health System.
Henry Ford Hospital Olympiad
The first Henry Ford Hospital Olympiad celebration was held on July 29, 1977. The event was the brilliant invention of a small committee consisting of Joe Madej, Debbie Babcock, Bob Scavone, Chuck Ruzicska and Tom Ross, who wanted to create a fun event that would unify the hospital staff. The initial proposal was for stretcher races on the hospital parking lot ramps, but due to possible hazardous conditions, the famed Olympiad chariot races were created and heats were held in the hospital's student housing parking lot. An offshoot event of the Henry Ford Hospital Recreation Association, which was established in the late 1960’s, the Olympiad crew also included officers Carolyn Ray, Nydia Greck and Naida Lucchi. The goal was to raise funds for the Department of Pediatrics for toys and medical equipment.
The mastermind of the Olympiad, Joe Madej and his committee did not know what to expect at the first event since there were no established rules. The hospital medical artist, Jay Knipstein, designed the mascot, ‘Ollie Olympiad’, and the hospital's newsletter, The Monitor, generated a level of excitement by describing the much anticipated chariot races as “the greatest race since Ben Hur.” With the opening of the ceremonial lighting of the Henry Ford Hospital torch, a ‘bedpan’ designed by the facilities staff, the games were off with chariot wheels flying and toga clad employees running to the finish line. The jubilant teams named and decorated their chariots to reflect their departments, which were also judged for overall creativity in the ‘parade of chariots.’ The ‘Blood Bank’ crew displayed shirts with blood types complete with a Dracula at the helm, the menacing ‘Bone Crushers’ were otherwise known professionally as the orthopedic staff and the colorful ‘Bug Busters’ were the normally the quiet scientific microbiology staff. Later, tricycle races, gurney races, foot races and other games were included, which were all accompanied by the Franklin Village Band under the baton of Dr. Conrad R. Lam.
By Olympiad III in 1979, the televised event had over 3,000 spectators and with each Olympiad button and souvenir sold, special hospital projects were being funded. The $5 entrance ticket provided an ‘all you can eat’ atmosphere of picnic food and flowing libations. In 1985, the menu included 2,000 knockwurst, 4,000 hot dogs, 6,000 buns, 200 cases of punch and 80 kegs of beer, the later supported by the nearby establishment ‘The Ramp Room.’ When the event was opened to other hospital affiliates, new pre-race activities were introduced, which included tournaments in volleyball, softball, basketball, a bake-off, and the famous toga party held at a local pizzeria, Dino’s. The Olympiad lasted until 1991 and formed many lasting friendships despite the fierce annual competition for the coveted titles.