Talk:Yack Arena

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Benjamin F. Yack created the notion of a "Parks and Recreation" Department in Wyandotte, Michigan and was its recreation director for 37 years before his retirement in 1973.

Under Mr. Yack's leadership he developed sport and social resources for his community, such as senior citizen support groups and facilites, expanding Wyandotte's Memorial Park to include a pool complex, bringing in "slow pitch" softball, a sport that quickly spread to other communities, and starting various sports leagues to include summer part-time emploment for local youth. In fact, every community leader in Wyandotte at one time or another worked for "Ben." There wasn't a night, during the "leagues," that he wasn't out visiting the playfields.

Mr. Yack was a graduate of Western Michigan University (holding one of their track records for many years). He was a past-President of the Michigan Recreation Association, a past-Chairman of the Michigan Amateur Baseball Association, and Chairman of the Detroit Tigers-St. Louis Cardinals Charity Game from 1946-48, another of his creations.

Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. (Gertrude) Yack's two sons, Robert and Thomas, typified his belief in community service. Robert, a Navy veteran, was a Wyandotte Firefighter, and Thomas was the Supervisor of the Charter Township of Canton, Michigan.

Mr. Yack served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

In 1969, the City of Wyandotte expressed their appreciation of Mr. Yack's determination to develop and make available and accessible a "parks and recreation" program for all to enjoy by naming their new million dollar recreation center after their favorite son.