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Five inducted into YMCA Hall of Fame
[November 21, 2012]

Five inducted into YMCA Hall of Fame


Nov 21, 2012 (The Garden City Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Five longtime supporters of the Garden City Family YMCA made up the inaugural class of inductees into the YMCA Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Ed and Nelda Lewis, LeRoy Cabbage and the late Carlos and Margaret Spikes were selected by a vote of Heritage Club members and YMCA charter members and were recognized during a Nov. 13 ceremony.

Marcy VenJohn, YMCA marketing and operations manager, said ballots were sent to all charter and Heritage members. Each November, the YMCA plans to induct new members into its Hall of Fame, she said.

"This is something our CEO has always wanted to do to recognize those people who have been so instrumental in the development of the YMCA and where we are today," she said.

Ed and Nelda Lewis, 82 and 81 respectively, were a part of the founder's committee that began the YMCA in 1964 and are charter members. Both are active in the YMCA.

"Nelda goes to all of our aerobics classes, and Ed is always in the fitness center," VenJohn said. "Our fitness center is named after Ed Lewis. They've been instrumental in volunteering and very good advocates for the Y." Nelda Lewis said at the ceremony she was touched by the honor.



"We love coming to the YMCA, we love the staff and what we all do for the community. There are so many people who deserve this award, and we are grateful," she said.

Cabbage, 58, was a member of one of the early boards of directors and a member of the YMCA for 36 years. Cabbage comes to the Y every day to play racquetball, VenJohn said.


Chad Knight, YMCA chief executive officer, introduced Cabbage and talked about his involvement with the YMCA and the board of directors when Knight first became CEO.

"LeRoy has been instrumental in the development of the YMCA and has been dedicated along the way," Knight said. "LeRoy keeps track of all of his racquetball games -- wins, losses and scores. Isn't that awesome " The late Carlos and Margaret Spikes also were very involved in the YMCA. Margaret, 93, died this year. Carlos died in 1981 at the age of 62. Carlos, along with Cliff Mayo and Bryce Roderick, formed the committee that purchased land for the YMCA.

"There was a lot of discussion, and as they would say, they just decided to buy land, they were going to do it, and that was enough arguing," VenJohn said.

Mayo wrote a special note for the Spikes' induction, citing the persistence and dedication that both Carlos and Margaret had for the YMCA.

"Carlos and I, along with the rest of the founders committee, felt that the community needed a YMCA, so they put their heads together and bought land and pressed on," Mayo wrote.

The YMCA Hall of Fame will be housed in the YMCA.

___ (c)2012 The Garden City Telegram (Garden City, Kan.) Visit The Garden City Telegram (Garden City, Kan.) at www.gctelegram.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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