What does it mean to be a fighter? To take that never give up spirit of grit and grind and apply it to every aspect of your day so your entire philosophy and way of life encompass this.
Portage resident Dale Pugh is a fighter and one who enters the ring daily determined to make each day a victory. Currently battling cancer, Pugh is not letting it keep him back from enjoying the rest of his days and using the time he has to spread a positive message to the Portage community.
Born in Gary, Indiana, Pugh moved to Portage when he was young and attended Portage High School. Afterward, he settled down in the Portage community, eventually finding his way to jobs at grocery and hardware stores.
"I eventually began working at Town and County Market in Portage," says Pugh. "I worked there for 13 years as a stocker. I worked the midnight shift and remembered always being busy until you clocked out."
Pugh did this simply because of the great interaction he had with others. Pugh enjoyed being with people, getting to know them, speaking with them and becoming friends. It was through these friendly interactions with nearly everyone he came into contact with that made Pugh familiar with members of the Portage community.
"I loved meeting people and speaking with them," says Pugh. "Every time I would go to the store and every time I would work back in the day I would find someone to speak with, and eventually, people would begin approaching me to strike up a conversation. It would be over anything and everything."
Pugh is also an active member of his church, enjoying the opportunity to talk to and be a source of strength for other people as well as having a huge interest in classic country music. Pugh is the owner of hundreds of classic vinyl, cassette, CD and 8-tracks containing past classic hits from country music stars. Pugh's collection gained so much fame that he even contributed some music to local country music station Indiana 105 as well as hosting his own mock radio station called WDLP where he would spin records and put on shows for friends until the early hours of the morning.
This friendly attitude and cheerful demeanor have been a welcome addition to the Portage community, who came to know Pugh as a local legend who is always there to brighten the day (although Pugh will always deny his celebrity status). This was all the more apparent when Pugh was diagnosed with cancer and the massive amount of support he received from the Portage community.
In 2012, Pugh was given a benefit in his honor due to his fight with cancer. Members of the Portage community, Town and Country Market (including upper management) and even Indiana 105 came out to honor his legacy and pay respects to the man who had brightened so many people's days. Despite the sickness he suffered from the cancer treatments, Pugh spent the entire day talking and interacting with friends, co-workers and neighbors
After going through several on again, off again battles with cancer, Pugh is undergoing treatments for his cancer. Pugh despite having to have his vocal cords removed and given a diagnosis of six months to live, has vowed to never give up and keep on fighting to make the lives of those around him as positive and as hopeful as possible.
"I've suffered sickness from the treatments. I've gotten blisters from radiation and my taste buds have been gone for years, but I'm still here fighting and not giving up anytime soon," says Pugh. "It takes energy to keep going like this but I hope what I do runs off on other people in the community. I hope it shows them that they can keep on fighting and keep on going no matter what the hardships."
In the corner of Pugh's bedroom on a tiny wall, hangs an old picture of two older wrestlers, Dick the Bruiser and Crusher. These two wrestlers were a large influence on Pugh's days of being a wrestling fan and also symbolic of Pugh's journey through life. These two wrestlers were symbols of an age of fighting through grit and pain. Of never knowing when to quit and working tirelessly to make sure those around you looked up to you and believed in you.
Pugh is Dick the Bruiser and Crusher. His fight yesterday will be just as hard as his fight today and despite the odds against him, he refuses to give up for those around him.
"When you have a bad day, you keep on going, you keep on fighting," says Pugh. "No matter how bad things got, everything has been my way through God, family, and friends. "I ain't throwing in the towel. I've been through too much to give up. I'll never give up."