HUMAN

Name: JOHN HOOLEY
Age: 68
Residence: ELKHART, INDIANA
Occupation: SCHOOL TEACHER/RETIRED/STILL SUBSTITUTE TEACHING, THOUGH
Years involved with Iditarod: 9
Iditarod Role: I WORK PRIMARILY IN LOGISTICS – HELPING TO DISTRIBUTE SUPPLIES, GET THEM TOGETHER IN ANCHORAGE BEFORE THE RACE AND THEN GET THEM OUT ALONG THE TRAIL DURING THE RACE. AND THEN I’M STATIONED USUALLY IN MCGRATH WHERE I HELP THE PILOTS ROUND UP STUFF TO TAKE OUT TO CHECKPOINTS AND HELP THEM MOVE PEOPLE. THINGS LIKE THAT.
Current Location: WILLOW ALASKA
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 16, 2019
Temperature: 8F / OUTDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:  

WELL, I’VE BEEN INTERESTED IN IDITAROD EVER SINCE MY BROTHER STARTED WORKING WITH THE IDITAROD 25 OR SO YEARS AGO. AND HE ALWAYS SAID I SHOULD COME UP AND VOLUNTEER, AND I COULDN’T REALLY DO THAT UNTIL I RETIRED. AND WHEN I RETIRED IN 2010, HE SAID I DIDN’T HAVE AN EXCUSE NO MORE. SO I STARTED VOLUNTEERING AND I KEEP COMING BACK. I REALLY ENJOY IT. IT’S SOMETHING FUN TO DO IN THE WINTERTIME. I’VE MADE LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS AND BEEN IN SOME INTERESTING PLACES.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I’VE HAD A LOT OF THEM AND IT’S HARD TO REALLY PINPOINT ONE, BUT ONE THAT’S KIND OF INTERESTING…. I ACTUALLY RAN INTO ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NOME ONE NIGHT. LATE ONE NIGHT, WE WERE TALKING TO SOME YOUNG PEOPLE AND I HADN’T SEEN HIM SINCE HE WAS A 9TH GRADER IN HIGH SCHOOL, OR SINCE HE GRADUATED. I HAD HIM AS A 9TH GRADER. AND HERE HE HAD GOTTEN A TEACHING JOB IN ONE OF THE NATIVE VILLAGES OUT ALONG THE COAST. AND I THINK MARTIN BUSER’S WIFE WAS HIS MENTORING TEACHER. AND SO HE NORMALLY CAME INTO NOME WHEN THEY WERE IN TOWN. AND I HAPPENED TO RUN INTO HIM OF ALL PLACES IN NOME. ALASKA FROM INDIANA!

What do you know for sure?

WELL, I BELIEVE IN GOD AND I DO BELIEVE HE IS IN CONTROL. AND HE’S BLESSED ME WITH A GOOD FAMILY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO LOTS OF FUN THINGS.