Gary Heavin

Gary Heavin (born c1958) is a Texas businessman. He is the founder and CEO of the fitness chain Curves International.

Career

Heavin originally took over a fitness center in Houston, Texas. This business venture was unsuccessful, and he filed for bankruptcy.[1]

After his first marriage, Heavin was sentenced to jail for failure to pay child support. While in jail he rededicated his life to Christian values, and he has been outspoken about his support for pro-life causes.[2][3]

In 2004 Heavin was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. According to Guinness World Records, Heavin's company Curves is the fastest growing franchise ever. He is also the author of several books, including Curves: Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting and Curves On the Go.

Heavin and his second wife Diane opened their first Curves center in 1992[4] in Harlingen, Texas. Diane Heavin is an exercise enthusiast and advertising executive, and diane Magazine, affiliated with Curves, bears her name. Curves is now based in Waco, Texas; it has over 10,000 locations and is the largest fitness chain in the world.[4]

They currently reside in a small community called Mound in central Texas. On April 3, 2011 Gary and his wife Diane were featured on ABC's show Secret Millionaire where they gave away $410,000.

References

  1. ↑ "Curves reshapes the style of women's fitness clubs". Seattle Times. November 25, 2004. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Curve Ball". Salon.com. May 19, 2004. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ Rosen, Ruth (April 29, 2004). "What's wrong with Curves?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "What I read". USA Today. May 3, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2010.