Tollie’s incredible journey has been mapped
and guided thru the personal pages of his empowering past. The result… a
character which can only described as unbreakable!
The pothole entrenched first few chapters of Tollie’s life, are viewed by most
people as nothing short of inspiring. As featured in various National
publications, and heard during live on-air interviews. While capturing only a
small snapshot into this aspect of Tollie’s once personal darkness.
Tollie, who lived his life as “the fat kid” and dealt with his self inflicted
circumstances in a self destructive way, ballooned to over 500 pounds by the
age of 24. Throughout his childhood and into early adulthood, Tollie would
always dream of something better for himself. He developed a quick response
wit which he used as a clever defense
mechanism to dismantle the pain caused
by the verbal attacks of peers in school.
He created a world of laughter and make
believe, which developed into stand-up comedy routines. Tollie would
skillfully observe and mimic people of great talents and abilities. He found a
great love in acting, a world which allowed him to be anyone he could create
in his mind.
Using his ‘wound constructed’ legacy he was naturally gifted at moving an
audience, either by laughter, shock, or his oratory skills. “I always felt in
complete control and pure exhilaration when in front of an audience.” Tollie
used his natural talents as a way to control his environment.
All thru school and various camps Tollie would take the stage in any function
he could and would excel. He earned the nickname “Mr. Excitement,” for his
unpredictable, unscripted roles he could concoct on stage completely
impromptu. “On stage I was anyone I dreamed to be, I was not the fat kid, I
was in control and no one could hurt me.”
Tollie attended a newly developed school called the Center for International Studies in High School. He studied
Russian and International Geo-Politics. During his freshman year Tollie visited Russia on a school trip. On their
train ride to St. Petersburg Tollie told his teacher he wanted to actually live and study in Russia the next year.
His teacher told him it simply wasn’t feasible. Tollie took the rejection as a personal challenge and pushed forward
with his goal of studying a semester in Moscow. The following year, his sophomore year, Tollie overcame the
obstacles and headed back to Russia. Once in Moscow he lived with a Russian family, studied at the Lyceum 320
and was encapsulated in a new life style.
Tollie spent time with Vladimir Lysenko the Former head of the Republican Party and head of the State Duma.
Lived with Victor Okutin the former head of Business in Russia and would dine with top diplomats of the young
Democracy. He was engulfed in a world of luxury, culture, and power which allowed him to expand his love of the
arts—which included attending the Bolshie’s theater and meeting former President Yeltsin and Queen Elizabeth of
England.
Tollie quickly had to adapt to this new environment and learn how to maneuver and act so he could be accepted
in a culture entirely different from his own. At this time, Tollie also received his first taste in International
Business--helping negotiate and broker deals between U.S. investors and Russian entrepreneurs. “I’ve always felt
like a chameleon, blending into any environment.”
Tollie believes the single greatest lesson he learned from his multitude of experiences in Moscow is “Age is simply
irrelevant. “I was 16 and in the presence of historical figures, working business deals with people twice my age.”
These interesting opportunities and situations shaped his belief in his untapped talents in business and sales.
When Tollie returned to the U.S. he was quickly hit with the realization that in America teenagers were not ever
considered equals to their elder counterparts. Tollie never accepted the notion
of age ever being allowed to dictate one’s self-worth or ability.
Tollie attended the University of Oklahoma and became a member of Phi
Kappa Psi fraternity. However, at this point in his life, he allowed his self-
destructive behaviors to completely imprison him. He gained weight so fast that
he was unable to walk to class or even function. Tollie was forced to leave
school after his junior year. At this point Tollie seemed to completely give up on
life and his dreams.
He returned home and while there happened on an interesting program about
a surgical procedure called a Gastric By-Pass. Not being able to walk and
heavily medicated Tollie decided on-the-spot that this surgery was his only
answer.
When the time came, the Gastric By-Pass was done in 30 minutes however; the
recovery lasted over 4 months. Tollie developed severe side effects but still was
losing weight quickly. About the same time the side effects were subsiding, he
also started to ‘level out’ on his weight loss. After a year he was down to 300
pounds but was starting to gain weight again.
Strongly resolved that he now had a second lease on life and a renewed faith in
himself, Tollie’s fighting spirit kicked into high gear. He delved into the world of
nutrition and diet (both the facts and the myths), and studied for the next two years. He was determined to create
a new physique unlike any he’d ever known personally and set out to sculpt the body he always dreamed to
achieve. Tollie worked and became a certified Personal trainer and nutrition expert. Today Tollie is a healthy 185
pounds .
Tollie has taken all the experiences of his past and referenced them into empowering tools for his future. He has
an absolute unshakable belief in himself and allows no limits in his life. Thru his Faith and personal relationship
with Christ, Tollie forges new trails for others to follow. He is an avid student reading scores of books and studies
on many topics. He attends seminars and trainings in order to expand his knowledge and skill base. “Education
and my absolute thirst for knowledge are the top priority in my world, it is my fuel.” Tollie lives his life in the fast
lane always pushing his abilities and creating new opportunities to grow, learn and achieve.
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Tollie is quickly writing new chapters in his personal novel. Always expanding his knowledge and discovering new
thoughts and ideas. He surrounds himself with people who drive him to new standards and those who can teach
him from their life lessons.
He created his own world with his own University, (now open 24 hrs). Through his rich Legacy you can see where
his D.N.A. really comes from. “What do you expect, on one side you get the rodeo cowboy, while on the other the
entrepreneurial evangelist preacher?”
Tollie has quickly been noticed for his unique motivational speaking, acting, writing, and producing. His new book
projects are due out this next year, and a pilot television show is scheduled to start rolling. He’s also working on
his first film project—one both wrote and plans to star in. A new company with a new line of products is one of the
many projects he will be launching in the not to distant future.
Actor, Speaker, Visionary, Eccentric, there is no one word to describe Tollie. He is a man who feels incredibly
blessed, and given his second chance, will not tolerate ever being just status quo. He will always push the
envelope and does not allow limits to be placed on him. “Blood was spilled for me, through that alone no one on
this earth can possibly place any wall in front of me, I will knock it down!”
Tollie’s passion is being fully realized today with his new non-profit, Tollie’s Out of the Darkness Project which is to
be launched in the fall ’08. “It’s simple really; people are about to see and feel a world as it can be created when
you just allow yourself to believe. “I find it sad to realize how hard it has become for people to dream, and actually
believe in anything. The long-term effect has definitely hindered our kids.”
I’m taking a stand, and with me comes change!” Tollie has developed his various programs to help kids deal with
negative behaviors, such as obesity, eating disorders, depression, self-mutilation and the results will bring about
permanent change.
He believes the culture of complacency has attacked our kids and this definitely must change. “These kids are
going to start dreaming again, and find their true passion. I will ask a lot of
them, and when they choose to take a stand for themselves, then I’m going to
fight right along with them.”
“To me, they are not kids! They are equals with amazing talents and they’re
going to get an opportunity to utilize those talents through my programs.”
Tollie has been considered a visionary in his thinking and planning. He
continues to ink new pages in his personal novel, while making sure others do
the same thing for their own novel of life. His love for all people and his
unwavering conviction for all students drive him to new standards everyday.
“I was judged my entire life, and I will not judge people--everyone matters to
me. I want to make sure no one goes through what I did.”
Tollie speaks truth, his words can strike lightning, and his actions are his
thunder. Why is there so much buzz around Tollie with opportunities opening
everywhere he turns? Simply put, with Tollie you get 110% pure energy and
focus, complete love empowered with laughter. And, he’s only just begun!