Tony Overman/The Olympian
Steve Massey of Belfair, the final torchbearer in Thurston County, lights the cauldron in front of hundreds of spectators at Lacey City Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

Olympic torch brings moment of glory to Belfair man

View Points

Elliot Smith

Originally published Thursday, January 24, 2002

Over the course of one-fifth of a mile, Steve Massey became an instant celebrity.

Chalk it up to the power of the Olympic torch, which Massey had the honor of carrying during the final leg of its run in South Sound on Wednesday.

Along with partner Michale Robinson, Massey crossed the finish line at Lacey City Hall and was besieged as if he were Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki showing up at your local Safeway.

He posed for so many pictures -- "Here, Steve!" "This way, Steve!" "Turn left, Steve!" -- you might have thought you stumbled onto the red carpet at the Oscars.

Grown women handed him their babies. Grown men handed him their women. Children ran up to hug him. Police officers kept a close eye.

All for an unassuming man from Belfair who spent Wednesday doing what he's done nearly all his life: run.

For each day of the past 161/2 years, Massey has run -- through each of the 50 states -- competitively and recreationally.

But Wednesday was different.

"I was so excited," Massey said. "I can't really tell you how I felt. I don't think my feet touched the ground the whole time."

In the aftermath of his Olympic moment, Massey found himself nearly overwhelmed. Tears glistened in his eyes as children surrounded him and people chanted his name.

But he quickly regrouped and spent the next 30 minutes posing and smiling patiently while people clamored for their moment with the hero of the day.

Off to the side, Steve's wife, Andra, and his friend Doug Pearson watched with bemused expressions.

"I don't think he's ever been in so many pictures before," said Pearson, who nominated his friend to be a torchbearer for the work Massey has done with youths and running.

"It's just wonderful," Andra Massey said with a smile. "It's the greatest thrill."

Steve Massey spent 26 years in the Navy, including several as a support team member for the famed Blue Angels flight team, so he knows a little about being a role model for young and old alike.

"I've done this kind of thing before," he said.

Still, it was exciting to see the flashbulbs popping and the adulation rising.

"It was fun," he said. "I enjoyed it."

All the while, Massey held on to the torch that brought him his newfound fame, having purchased it for the relatively low price of $335, considering how important this day was for him and his family.

An overeager youngster tried to grab the torch before a picture, but Massey calmly told the boy, "You can't hold it, but I can let you touch it."

And even though his celebrity likely began to wane as soon as he got in the car to make the return trip to Belfair, Massey knows that his moment in the sun (or rain, as it were) will live on forever, captured on film for the 100 pictures he took and engraved in his mind's eye.

"This has got to be the highlight of my life," he said. "Especially to run the last leg. When I was out there, I felt like I was the only one in the world. My adrenaline and my heart were at the max.

"This is without a doubt, the best run I ever had. I will never, never forget this day."

Neither will a whole lot of other people.

Elliott Smith covers sports for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5473 or esmith@ olympia.gannett.com.

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