I just found out a couple minutes ago that Glenn Seals, Kalamazoo BMX kingpin, passed away two days ago from a heart attack. This is absolutely devastating news. Glenn was an infectous personality. He came on strong with genuine excitement and was ready to be your friend. This dude was all about BMX. The upcoming Kzoo jam was mostly Glenn's idea. I spoke to him Thanksgiving weekend about it, after he had called me. I told him we were in Kalamazoo but I had gone street riding instead of coming to the park because I knew it would be crowded. He told me he had his little cousin or nephew with him that he was getting into BMX. He was always telling me he was getting someone into BMX. Glenn has two little girls that he loved with all of his heart. Before our son was born, we were at Subdivision in New York, and Livin' Proof Kustom's booth was right next to ours. I talked to Glenn the most I ever have those two days. Glenn told me this about having a kid, and I think of his word's often: "You don't even know what love is until you have that baby in your arms. You can't believe you even have that much love inside of you".
Glenn was so pumped about the Kzoo jam. I told him we were looking at houses in Kalamazoo and he was excited about having another person in the scene to ride with. He always told me about riding his bike from the east side of Kalamazoo to my dad's shop in Plainwell, no joke it's at least fifteen miles, to put this Redline on layaway, and how it took him forever to pay for it, but my Dad kept it for him and how cool my Dad is and...
Glenn was the best. Rest in Peace, my brother. I took this from the Livin' Proof Myspace page. Ted Van Orman wrote it and I know for a fact that Ted thought the world of Glenn...
Glenn Seals
The sound of this name has always sent me positive energy for the simple reason that every time I encountered Glenn he always had a smile for me. Happy to be alive, pedaling around Kalamazoo, boasting about how much he loved his two little girls and how becoming a father really had straightened out his life. He carried a lot of pride with him because of his family. He loved them more than anything!
Life introduced me to Glenn Seals through a similar hobby of BMX bikes. I spent a lot of time with Glenn going on trips, riding campus and more importantly having good conversations. He always loved to talk, he gave me a lot of advice on life and growing up and for that I thank him. He was a true friend. A friend I could count on if I were in trouble; regardless of the circumstance he would be there. He had so much love to give and his time here on earth was cut way to short. His passing breaks my heart, along with everyone else’s that knew him. Kalamazoo has lost one of its finest!
I will never forget you Glenn, thank you for all the good times!
“Livin Proof”
Theodore Barrett Van Orman