Kalah and Hugh Hathcock are a force to be reckoned with. They have a passion for health and wellness. They travel the world. They spend time with loved ones at church and athletic events. And they have a passion and conviction for supporting a wide range of organizations and people in need from all around the globe.
Hugh, originally from Florida, and Kalah, a native Californian, met in Valdosta, Georgia. Life took them in different directions for years, but occasionally they would bump into each other at trade shows or other professional events. Eventually they reconnected through work and decided to exchange vows—becoming a powerhouse couple that spreads love throughout Destin and beyond.
While Hugh had owned businesses in Destin and surrounding areas for decades, the two moved here full-time in 2018 to start Velocity Automotive, a technology software company. When they sold the company five years later, they wanted to continue having a connection to the community’s business sector.
They have long been avid gym-goers—no matter what city they are in, they find a facility to work out. As members of Destin Health & Fitness, Kalah and Hugh decided to reach out to the gym’s owners to express their interest in ownership. The deal was made in 2023, and today the couple is proud to welcome locals to their newly renovated state-of-the-art facility.
Destin Health & Fitness is open seven days a week offering group fitness classes, a dry sauna, fully-stocked locker rooms including no-cost towel service, and a fun atmosphere for all ages. The gym’s experienced personal trainers create custom workout and nutrition plans that inspire change in their clients.
“Working out is a nonnegotiable for us. It positively impacts every part of our lives,” says Kalah. “We want more people to have that, and to have it here in Destin.”
Hugh agrees. “Our clients keep coming back to Destin Health & Fitness because they see results!”
Hugh grew up near Gainesville and attended University of Florida games with his father. He and his kids often traveled to see the Gators play home games, Bowl games and Final Four tournaments. Two of his five kids attended UF, intensifying Hugh’s commitment to the school, which he continued to support financially over the years. In 2022 he made history with the largest single donation to the UF Athletic Department. Gator Boosters and the UF board of trustees named two venues at the school campus in his honor.
Locally, Hugh and Kalah are members of the Emerald Coast Gator Club, a nonprofit that promotes the relationship between the university and its alumni, students and fans. The organization hosts golf tournaments and game-day watch parties, as well as exclusive opportunities to hear from coaches, players, sports writers and famous alumni. In August the Gator Club held a football season kickoff event featuring Coach Todd Golden at Legendary Marina, where the coach spoke about his recent national championship win with the Florida Gators men's basketball team.
Most importantly, the Emerald Coast Gator Club raises funds to award scholarships to high school seniors from Okaloosa County and Walton County who plan to attend UF. Over the past five years, 37 students have received a total of $82,000.
“All of our events are in support of donating as much as we can to local students headed to Gainesville,” says Emerald Coast Gator Club board president Jen Owczarski. “There’s nothing better than making those calls to let kids know some financial relief is coming their way for freshman year at UF.”
Supporting that mission, the Hathcocks sponsor a full scholarship every year and help with fundraising. “Some of these kids would not be able to attend if it weren’t for scholarships like these,” says Hugh. “Every dollar adds up, and we hope that our local graduates will be the ones to change the world for the better.”
Changing the world for the better is the overarching mission of the Hathcocks. “We believe that we are all called to use our God-given time, talent and treasure to help others,” Kalah shares.
They are passionate about the work of Aletha’s Legacy, which supports vulnerable children of Liberia—providing quality education, regular meals and basic medical care through their public school and orphanage in Africa. The Hathcocks plan to make a humanitarian trip to Liberia this winter with the organization’s founder, Zhalman Harris, and other Destin locals.
“Aletha’s Legacy does so much meaningful work with very limited funding, mostly donated by our local Destin community,” says Kalah, who joined the board of directors in 2022 and is director of fundraising and events. “Every dollar goes directly to the children, who are often sick and alone.”
For more info, visit alethaslegacy.org.
Get Involved!
The Hathcocks support many worthy organizations, believing that giving back should be a part of every family’s mission. They are enjoying semi-retirement, focusing on sharing their faith through philanthropy, spending time with family and maintaining strong, healthy bodies. Kalah and Hugh invite the Destin community to join them in pursuing wellness and helping others who are less fortunate. “Financial assistance is needed, but just donating money is not enough. We also need to get out of our comfort zones and put in the work to see real change happen—just like with our bodies in the gym.”