Posted: July 30, 2010

FOR HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY, Maurice Slaughter's wife gave him a special present: a trip to Harvard to attend a one-week seminar on how to eat better and be healthier.

"The first thing the instructor says is, 'The worst thing you can eat is a fried seafood platter,' " said Slaughter, president of MS Family Enterprises, owner of four Harley-Davidson dealerships.

"I told her, 'Take me out and shoot me right now because I'm from Louisiana. There's no hope.' "

We are happy to report that Slaughter, now 51, is alive and slimmer, thanks to renewing his love of exercise and discovering that "broiled fish is pretty good, too."

At 6 o'clock three mornings a week, Slaughter is in his home gym sweating through an hour workout while listening to CNN and Fox News ("I have to have something on").

He also tries to get in a walk or a jog on the job at one of his four sites (Bayside Harley in Portsmouth and three Harley dealerships in North Carolina), where he has workout outfits stashed. And if there's an opportunity to grab a ride on one of his Harleys... vvrooom... he's gone.

"I try to do something every day," said Slaughter, who is 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds. "The food part is still tough, but I am doing better. My main reason for exercising is to relieve stress and feel better. Being firm and toned is important, but feeling better is the most important thing."

A native of Baton Rouge, Slaughter was a three-letter man in high school as a wide receiver in football, point guard in basketball and a sprinter in track.

"I was a little leaner then," he said with his trademark deep laugh.

But college and attending grad school to earn his master's in business administration put a few pounds on his frame. And then came positions as a Burger King franchisee in Kansas City, Mo., and a Toyota dealer in Pensacola, Fla.

"The jobs didn't help, especially at Burger King. I was having too many burgers 'my way,' which was with extra everything."

He topped out at 255.

Things began to turn around for Slaughter when he came to Hampton Roads in 1998 to take over the Portsmouth Harley-Davidson dealership. Until then, he had never ridden a motorcycle.

"I had to attend the Harley school to learn how to ride, but this was my niche. I love what I do. I wasn't meant to be behind a desk. That was the start of being more active. When you have a 46,000-square-foot facility in Portsmouth alone, you do a lot of walking. I started to embark on a total program of more fitness and less food."

Maurice and Cynthia Slaughter, college sweethearts, live in Chesapeake and have been married more than 30 years. They have two children, Will and Tiara.

In addition to running his Harley-Davidson dealerships, Slaughter is on the boards of many local businesses and organizations, including Elizabeth City State College School of Business, Old Dominion University Member Foundation, BB&T Bank and NCP Credit Union.

He recently shared his views on exercise, his goals and his ongoing love affair with Louisiana.

Other than fried-seafood-can-kill-you, what did you learn at that Harvard seminar?

I learned how much I didn't know. Like, hamburger isn't just hamburger. There can be a big difference in the fat content. I really didn't know what went into a lot of the foods I was eating. And I realized I had to make lasting changes in my eating habits.

What finally caused you to get serious about exercising and start a regular regimen?

I went to the doctor for one of those head-to-toe physicals you get at 50 and he said, "You've got to get rid of stress." I told him that I didn't have stress. He had to actually convince me that I had stress and working out could really lessen it. Once I started exercising I realized how much stress I was carrying around.

What would you say are the biggest benefits you get?

I sleep better. I have way more energy and my decision-making process is better.

What do you have in that home gym of yours?

I've got a treadmill, a recumbent bike and a Universal Gym that has a lot of stations. I hit them all during a workout. After 30 minutes on the treadmill where I try to get my heart rate up as high as I can, I do the weights and ride the bike. The bike is my favorite thing.

You also like to ride those Harleys outside. Really, is there much exercise involved in that?

Quite a bit. You'd be surprised. It's a big bike to control and you are often dealing with strong winds and other elements that require a lot of strength.

Have you ever passed me and given me the finger?

(Laughs). Who me? I ride like I am in a parade. I'm the guy with a big smile on his face who's smelling the flowers. There is nothing like the freedom you feel when you are riding. It's pure pleasure.

You still have a special bond with Louisiana and have a business there.

It's FNO Real Estate. It's a company that manages and restores historic homes in New Orleans. I get a lot of satisfaction from it. If you're from Louisiana, it's always a part of your life.

You try to exercise every day. So, what happens when you are on the road?

My wife books all my travel and she'll find me a hotel that has a workout facility. That's a priority. If not, I'll walk the parking lot.

You have taken some big steps forward. Are you satisfied to hold your ground or is there more you want to accomplish?

When I was younger and in grad school, I'd see these guys playing in a 65-and-older softball league. When you are young, you don't make much of it or realize how great that is. But I've been thinking about those guys a lot as I have gotten older and how special it is to have your health. My goal is to be one of them.