WHEELING — Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi once said: “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

Those words were spoken more than four decades ago, but they still ring true today.

And for Robert “Scat” Scatterday, director of The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk, the words of the Hall of Fame grid boss echo his sentiments when talking about the race committee for the 32nd annual Wheeling road racing festival.

With a little less than a month remaining before the two-day event, Scatterday is pleased with how things are coming together. And while he has, in many ways, become the face of the event, Scatterday is quick to acknowledge the members of the committee who don’t get much publicity as the reason things seem to annually go off without a hitch.

“I literally put this race to bed with about two weeks remaining because this committee — individually and collectively — run with their responsibilities, and they literally put the race on themselves,” Scatterday said. “The assignments that are requested of them are taken care of, and I do very little to follow up because it’s not necessary.”

The nearly 30 members of the race committee met Friday night. And while it was one of the few times they will meet before the the big weekend, committee members are constantly in touch with each other, whether it be by phone call, text message or fax.

“What I’ve found is the continuity is extremely enhanced because these self-motivated committee members are always looking for ways to do what they do better,” Scatterday said. “And that comes with experience.”

Serving immediately under Scatterday on the race committee are Tim Birch, co-director of operations, and Heidi Clark, co-director of administration.

Birch, an employee of the city of Wheeling, is in charge of race operations, which include such things as signage and the route.

“The tents just don’t show up by themselves,” Scatterday said.

Clark, recently named advertising director for The Times Leader in Martins Ferry, oversees numerous administrative tasks.

“She is in charge of arrangements for such things as food, awards, brochures, shirts, purchasing — anything that has to do with arrangements being made,” Scatterday noted.

Others dedicated in the area of administration include: Sarah Clark, online registration/Web site; Greg Pohl, registration; Mark Courtney, timing results; Don Martin and Eric Anderson, awards luncheon; Rick Thorp, media; Pam Bennett, advertising; Dawn Kestner, graphics; and John Ford, sponsor liaison.

Serving in the operations realm are: Wheeling Police Lt. Tom Mitchell, course safety; Fritz Hemplelmann and David John, aid stations; Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms and former fire chief Steve Johnston, emergency services; Rusty Jebbia, city liaison; Matt Koval, radio communications; Steve Habursky and Dr. Lance Tarr, runner representatives; George Frazier, finish line; Ron Green, race chips; Melvin Kahle, race announcer; Joe Young and the Ohio Valley Runners’ and Walkers’ Club, Friday night events; Betsy Bethel-McFarland, Tiny Tot Trot; John DeBlasis, medical services; J.T. Thomas, massage therapy; Jim Frye, torch keeper; and K. “Penelope” Kress, race assistant.

Scatterday pointed out committee members perform their duties on a volunteer basis.

“None of them turn their cell phones off at 4:30 p.m.,” he noted. “(Committee members) are future-thinking people, and they are unselfish with their time. The bottom line is we have a higher quality of life in Wheeling than in most places in this country because we have people with the philosophy of the committee members.”