History of the
Wichita Falls Metropolitan YMCA

1949   Wichita Falls YMCA building on Ninth Street was the first such facility constructed after World War II.

1961 East Branch YMCA in Wichita Falls was dedicated.

1964 30 acre Day Camp site (Camp Fillers) near Lucy Park purchased.

1966 YMCA purchased two buses to provide transportation to and from the facility and Day Camp.

1968 Capital Funds Campaign for $122,000 conducted for teen center, three new buses, repair and replacement at both Branches and for improvement at Day Camp site.

1969 Programs and budgets stabilized and the Wichita Falls
Association began operating with balanced budgets.

1974 Federal Minimum Wage Law affected the Wichita Falls YMCA,
causing deficit for the first time in six years.

1974 Bob Hope and Shirley Cothran, Miss America 1975, appeared in person to celebrate the Wichita Falls YMCA's 25th Anniversary.

1975 YMCA Membership Enrollment achieved $100,000 for the first time in history.

1975 Capital Funds Drive to build three additional handball/racquetball courts and running track, and to reallocate space in the Fitness Center.

1976 For first time Wichita Falls Central Branch budget exceeded a
quarter million dollars.

1976 Track and three new handball/racquetball courts dedicated.

1977 Membership Enrollment produced $126,959.

1977 Wichita Falls YMCA ended the fiscal year with a deficit for the first time in three years. Although more income was produced than
ever before, escalating expenses caused the deficit.

1978 The Membership Enrollment produced $173,055.

1978 A Future Plans Committee was appointed to study possible
expansion to the southwest part of the community.

1979 Membership Enrollment produced over $200,000 for the first time.

1979 Future Plans Committee secured land on Southwest Parkway for branch building.

1979 Total membership income exceeded $238,000.

1980 Capital Funds Drive launched for $2,750,000 for Family Branch.

1980 Total membership income was $274,984.

1981 Capital Funds Drive reached goal with production of $2,756,929.

1981 Contract signed for construction of Family YMCA. Ground breaking April 10.

1982 Membership Enrollment produced $294,607.

1982 Staff and Board worked on realignment of staff for Family and
Central YMCAs.

1982 Staff, Committees and Board formulated policies for the Family and  Central YMCAs.

1982 Projected opening of Family YMCA late summer.

1982 Tom Elam elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.

1982 August 17. Official dedication of the Family YMCA with Board,
        Staff, Building Committee and special donors.

1982 August 19-22 Open House for the Community. When we said “y’all come” – they did.

1982 Family YMCA acceptance was greater than anyone had
anticipated and we soon found we were too small for the demand.

1983 Combined Membership Enrollment with Central and Family
Branches had a goal of $416,000 and achieved $619,000.

1983 Building Committee reorganized under the Chairmanship of Bud Frances with the charge to study possible expansion at the Family YMCA and determine what needed to be done there, along with what could be done at Central Branch.

1983 The Board of Directors determined that it would be the Board for both the Central and Family Y’s unitl September 1984.

1983 Tom Holmquist hired as Executive of the Family YMCA.

1983 After six years Janet Schlegel left to go to England and run Fitness Fantasia for England.

1984 The Membership Enrollment achieved 101% of a $697,000 goal for the Central and Family YMCAs. East Branch also met its $25,000 goal.

1984 The By Laws were revised and the Board of Directors will be the Board of Directors for the Association. East Branch and Family Y
will each have a Branch Advisory Committee and the Board will
also be such Committee for Central Branch.

1984 To align expenses that serve all three branches, a Headquarters was established which serves all three branches. Such positions as President, Bookkeeper, Membership Director and related expenses are charged to Headquarters.

1984 Bundy, Young and Sims was hired to give a Master Plan for the
Central Building. $25,000 was allocated for a Workout Room in the
old Youth Lobby to attract new members.

1984 Advanced and Big Gift solicitations were started for $750,000
toward a $1,500,000 goal for Capital Funds for expansion at the
Family Y and renovations at the Central Branch.

1984 YMCA opened pilot school age child care program at Kate Haynes Elementary School.

1985 Jim Staley headed the Membership Enrollment which achieved
        $807,000 or 104% of the goal.

1985 Because of many factors the 'teams phase' of the Capital Funds Drive was changed to an increase in membership fees, which will produce the necessary income for the projects over a three year
period.

1985 The decision was made to discontinue residence services as
        of June 1, 1985.

1985 Expansion project started at the Family YMCA.

1985 DeeAnn Martin became Chairman of the YMCA Board of Directors.

1986 Judy Scott headed the Membership Enrollment which produced $918,202.

1986 Renovation started on Central Branch Y in January.

1986 Expansion completed on Family Y in March.

1986 Membership fees were adjusted so that a member would be a
be a  member of both the Central and Family YMCAs while paying one membership fee.

1986 Bill Bartley retires after serving as President for 22 years.

1986 Ken Hoffman hired as President of the Wichita Falls YMCA.

1987 Central Branch renovations completed.

1987 Open House for new Central Branch facility held for the community.

1987 Barry Huggins leads the Membership Drive that achieves $863,000.

1987 Jim Heiman hired as Associate Executive Director of Central Branch.

1987 Randy Brown hired as President of the Wichita Falls YMCA.

1988 Carol Dean headed Membership Enrollment which raised $938,429 on a goal of $895,000.

1988 Bill Altman becomes Chairman of the YMCA Board of Directors.

1988 YMCA expanded Day Care Program to Washington and Fowler
Schools, completing goal of serving every elementary school.

1989 Bobby Albert headed Membership Enrollment which raised
$112,407 on a goal of $80,000.

1989 Len Trippe hired as President of the Wichita Falls YMCA.

1990 YMCA began preschool program at Family YMCA.

1990 Phil Haubert headed Sustaining Campaign which raised 118% of a $51,000 goal.

1990 YMCA opens Day Care site to accommodate the severely
physically and mentally handicapped.

1991 Barbara Burkhalter heads Sustaining Membership Enrollment
which raises 112% of a $56,000 goal.

1991 YMCA began Late Night Day Care Program.

1991 Bill Altman retires after three years as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Harold Bristol becomes new Board chairman.

1992 Lew Campbell heads Sustaining Campaign which raises 102% of a goal of $70,000

1992 Ronda Hare and Mark Lukert named Chairman and Co-Chairman of 1993 Sustaining Campaign.

1992 YMCA Late Night Program receives 1st Place in the Southwest
Region Association of Professional Directors PRIDE program.

1992 Harold Bristol reelected as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

1992 YMCA starts preschool program at Central YMCA.

1993 Sustaining membership Campaign headed by Ronda Hare raises $70,000.

1993 $85,000 grant received from the Meadows Foundation for purchase of portable classrooms for Child Care Program.

1993 Mark Lukert and Gail Natale named Co-Chairmen of the
Sustaining/Participating Membership Campaign.

1993 Lew Campbell elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.

1994 Sustaining Membership Campaign raised 102% of $70,000 goal.

1994 $37,000 grant received from Ronald McDonald Foundation for
purchase of new 53 passenger handicap-equipped bus.

1994 Mark Lukert elected Chairman of the YMCA Board of Directors.

1994 New Cardiovascular Fitness Center opened at Family YMCA.

1994 Original pool filter system replaced at Downtown Branch.

1995 "Partners With Youth" Campaign raised $70,000.

1995 Mark Lukert elected to second term as Board Chairman.

1995 $25,000 grant received from national Levi Strauss Foundation to purchase 15-passenger van and to help install playground at
Downtown Branch.

1995 $22,000 grant received from Priddy Foundation to pay for five staff members for low income sites.

1996 Downtown/Family Branch "Partners With Youth" Campaign raised $72,000 on a goal of $70,000

1996 East Branch Membership Campaign raised $31,000 on a goal of $30,000.

1996 Lindsay Walker hired as Branch Manager of the East Branch
YMCA.

1996 Mark Lukert elected to third term as Board Chairman.

1996 Infant/Toddler child care facility opened across from Downtown Branch as a result of purchase of credit union building with grant funds.

1997 Tom Holmquist becomes President of Wichita Falls Metropolitan YMCA.

1997 Jim Heiman hired as Executive Director of Family YMCA.

1997 Carol Dean and John Laukhuf lead successful "Partners With
Youth" Campaign, raising $76,000 on a $72,500 goal.

1997 Grants in excess of $300,000 are received for East Branch
renovations.

1997 Dennis Cannedy elected as Board Chairman.

1998 Dennis Cannedy and Darrell Lohoefer lead successful "Partners With Youth" Campaign, raising 102% of an $80,000 goal.

1998 East Branch Membership Drive surpasses goal of $30,000.

1998 East Branch facility renovation completed with $500,000 of City Block Grant funding.

1999 The Wichita Falls YMCA celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

1999 "Partners With Youth" Campaign, led by Darrell Lohoefer, raises over $84,450 on an $82,500 goal.

1999 East Branch Membership Drive raises $35,934 for 102% of its goal.

1999 Airport Drive building leased from Central Baptist Church as site to provide child care and facilities for other YMCA programming.

1999 Lindsay Walker retires as East Branch Manager.

1999 Douglas Simmons hired as Branch Manager of the East Branch
YMCA.

2000 Darrell Lohoefer leads second consecutive "Partners With Youth" Campaign and $85,670 is raised on an $85,000 goal.

2000 East Branch YMCA Membership Campaign raises $35,600 of
$35,000 goal.

2000 Caven Crosnoe elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.

2000 Straight Street Branch of the Wichita Falls YMCA opens its
refurbished facility just behind the Downtown Branch YMCA.

2000 July 18. Family Branch YMCA rededicated as the Bill Bartley
Branch Family YMCA.

2000 Board of Directors votes to proceed with 2001 Capital Campaign to raise $3M-5M.

2001 "Partners With Youth" Campaign, headed by Jim Brennan,
exceeds $88,000 goal by raising $89,903.

2001 East Branch Membership Campaign exceeds goal by raising
$37,295.

2001 New Nautilus equipment arrives at the Downtown and Bill Bartley Branch YMCAs.

2001 Feasibility Study for Capital Campaign conducted by Egbert &
Associates.

2002 "Partners With Youth" Campaign, chaired by Darrell Lohoefer,
raises $90,035 in pledges.

2002 Capital Campaign kicks off with long range goal of $5,000,000 for renovations and construction at Bill Bartley Branch, Child Care Branch, Downtown Branch, East Branch, Straight Street and Camp Fillers.

2003 "Partners With Youth" Campaign, chaired by Donna Schwartz,
raises $90,270 in pledges.

2003 Darrell Lohoefer elected Chairman of Board of Directors.

2003 Capital renovations and construction begin at Straight Street, East Branch and Child Care Branch facilities.

2003 Tom Holmquist retires; Sandra Shawver hired as President of the Association.

2004 "Partners With Youth" Campaign, headed by Donna Schwartz,
raises $90,523, exceeding its $90,000 goal.

2004 Capital renovations begin at Bill Bartley Branch Family YMCA.

2005 Metro and East Branch conduct first ever combined 'Partners With Youth" Campaign, cochaired by Rhonda Poirot and Mona
Washington, with a goal of $125,000 and pledges raised of
$117,324.

2005 $30,000 grant, with a $20,000 challenge grant added, was received from the Priddy Foundation for baseball field renovations.

2005 Rance Gaede hired as Director of Bill Bartley Branch Family
YMCA.

2005 Brandon Brown hired as Child Care Branch Director.

2005 Capital renovations and construction begin at Downtown Branch facility.

2005 Ronnie Williams hired as East Branch Manager.

2006 All capital renovations completed.

2006 Mona Washington & Barry Plaxco co-chair Partners With Youth
Campaign and exceed goal of $125,000 by raising $129,000.

2006 Mona Washington elected as Chair of Board of Directors.

2006 YMCA partners with Streams & Valleys in Hotter-n-Hell Hundred to begin hosing Wee-chi-tah Trail races at YMCA Camp Fillers.

2006 Anna Adams retires and Human Resources Director & Association Admin Asst. after 25 years.

2007 Barry Plaxco Chairs Partners With Youth Campaign and exceeds goal of $125,000.

2007 Barry Plaxco elected as Chair of the Board of Directors.

2007 East Branch YMCA floods in June.

2008 Brandon Brown hired as President of the Wichita Falls YMCA.
        Association