RPM were Ryan Means’ initials. They are also a significant part of the name of the race his family has created to honor him, memorialize those affected by 9/11, and raise money for veterans with head trauma.

 

Ryan Means was born in 1973 and grew up on East Brookhaven Drive. As a boy, he knew he wanted to join the Army. At age seven, he answered an Army recruiting ad in Boys’ Life magazine and recruiting officers showed up at the Means’ front door. “He put down that he was 17 years old,” says Alfie Means, Ryan’s brother who currently lives on West Brookhaven Drive and oversees the RPM 911 5K race.

 

Although Ryan passed away from cholangiocarcinoma in 2009, he realized his dream of joining the Army when he enlisted at age 31 after being inspired by the 9/11 tragedy.

 

Ryan was living and working in New York City in 2001. He lost his best friend, Adam White, when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Adam worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, which was on one of the top floors. Ryan and Adam were best friends growing up in Atlanta. They played Buckhead Baseball together and both attended the University of Colorado.

 

Ryan was greatly impacted and knew he had to do something. “He went into a recruiting office in Manhattan and enlisted,” says Alfie.

 

After basic and then special forces training, Ryan was deployed to Jordan and Iraq. He was an explosives expert. While on assignment in Najaf, Iraq, he became jaundiced and eventually sought medical treatment at an Army hospital in Baghdad in May 2009.

 

“They scanned him and found a tumor the size of a walnut on his liver,” says Alfie. Ryan came back to the United States for treatment and ended up at Sloane Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. While at the cancer center undergoing treatment, he was able to be wheeled across the street when his wife Heather delivered their second child Sophie at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He passed away shortly after that on July 7 at age 35.

 

At the time, Alfie was living in the Chastain Park area and involved with the Chastain Park Conservancy, which has relationships with surrounding organizations including the American Legion Post 140. The Legion allowed the Means family to place a bronze plaque in Ryan’s honor at the post.

 

Ryan’s mom, Mary Jo Means, had the idea to host a race in honor of her son and as a memorial for all those affected by 9/11. The American Legion Post was the beneficiary the first two years. Then in 2012, race proceeds went to support the Shepherd Center’s military SHARE program for veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Last year, the race had about 400 participants and raised over $200,000 for SHARE.

 

This year’s race, which takes place on Saturday, September 7, will be the 14th event. (There was no race in 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic.) Along with Alfie, his wife Liz, brother Michael and wife Angela, parents, and Ryan’s widow Heather and their two daughters Sophie and Elizabeth are also involved.

 

The 5K race begins and ends at the American Legion Post on Powers Ferry Road and runs through parts of Chastain Park. Each year, there’s a ceremony before the race. Last year, elite Delta Force soldiers and members of Seal Team 6 spoke. Says Alfie of the speakers, “a lot joined the army because of 9/11.”

 

SIDE BAR TO NON-PROFIT PIECE

HEAD = RPM 9-11 5K

Non-profit: RPM 9-11 5K

 

Mission: To serve as a remembrance of Ryan P. Means, a member of the Army’s special forces who grew up in Historic Brookhaven and died in 2009, and memorial for all those impacted by 9/11. The charity donates proceeds to the Shepherd Center’s SHARE program to treat veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

 

Contact: For questions about the race, contact Alfie Means at ameans@walkerdunlop.com or visit https://rpm911race.org/. To volunteer, email liz.b.means@gmail.com

How You Can Help: Register for the September 7 race at https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Atlanta/RPM9115K; donate, volunteer, or become a sponsor. Visit https://rpm911race.org/.

Involved neighbors: Alfie and Liz Means, Tyler Arnold, Rob and Liz Shults, Barry McCabe, Lee Rivas, Laurie Gipson