When David Meador lost his eyesight in a horrific car accident at 18, the setback could have marked the end of a promising life. Instead, through faith and fortitude, Mr. Meador turned that devastating circumstance into the beginning of a remarkable journey of overcoming odds and inspiring others along the way.
Mr. Meador—a four-time National Blind Golf champion, successful businessman, husband, father, grandfather, author, two-time cancer survivor, and sought-after speaker—will keynote the “Inspirational Breakfast” session of the 2014 Tennessee Association of Realtors (TAR) convention at 8 a.m. on Friday, at Chattanooga’s Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.
A master in concentration and focus, Mr. Meador is committed to helping people become champions in their own lives and businesses by “finding new ways of seeing and thinking.”
“Tennessee Realtors today face many difficult challenges of our time,” Mr. Meador says of his opportunity to address the TAR event. “Distractions are everywhere. Vision alone is not enough. The barrage of flat screens, flickering lights, pixels, and noise demands focus. How can a blind golfer and a former sales rep be in any way helpful? It begins with the truth that there’s more to the game than meets the eye.”
TAR leaders look forward to Mr. Meador’s role in its convention. “David is a remarkable human being with a life story that has inspired so many of us over the years,” said Neal Clayton, 2014 TAR president. “We are thrilled to welcome him to share his hard-won wisdom and insights with realtors from throughout Tennessee.”
Having overcome the loss of his eyesight just after he finished high school, Mr. Meador is today a retired Northwestern Mutual financial representative in Nashville. Bringing both humor and insight, he offers the unique perspective of life lessons taught by the total blindness of his unexpected, 47-year journey.
Mr. Meador also is the author of the autobiography Broken Eyes, Unbroken Spirit, and is the 2013 recipient of the Ben Hogan Award—which is presented at the Master’s each year by the Golf Writers of America to an amateur or professional golfer who best illustrates contributions to the game despite illness or injury. Past Hogan Award winners include Dwight Eisenhower, Ken Venturi, Fuzzy Zoeller, Judy Rankin and Lee Trevino.