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Benjamin Yack*
 
Benjamin “Benny” F. Yack was recognized for his athletic prowess in high school, college and semi-professional career in the early 1920’s and early 1930’s. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University in 1932, graduating in the midst of the Great Depression. He worked at a variety of jobs: substitute teacher, factory worker, and assistant coach, 1932-1936. In 1936, he became the first Superintendent of Recreation for Wyandotte, Michigan and remained in that position for 37 years retiring in 1973.

Ben was a very active member in MRA. He served on numerous committees as chairperson or committee member. These committees made significant contributions helping define our profession and providing direction and purpose for the future. Ben played an important role in this decision making process. His commitment to the state organization included, different sports committees, legislative committees and gerontology. In addition, he was elected as first Vice President (1956) and President of MRA (1957), and Board of Directors of RAM (1961, 1962) .

Status quo was not in Ben’s vocabulary. This was demonstrated through several highlights of his professional and volunteer accomplishments. Those accomplishments included the introduction of slow-pitch softball in a league format to the City of Wyandotte and the State of Michigan (1937), established on the first lighted softball diamonds at Pulaski Park in Wyandotte (1939); developed the game of T-ball in Wyandotte (1952) and presented the activity at the National Recreation Convention in the same year. This game became an immediate success and presently occurs throughout Michigan and the U.S. In addition, Ben supervised the creation of the Memorial Park and Pool Complex in Wyandotte (1954), adding a baseball diamond suitable for major league baseball (1959). He was President of the Amateur Baseball Association for several years. While serving as President, he conceived and implanted the idea of the first charity game between the Detroit Tigers/St. Louis Cardinals for the purpose of saving the floundering sandlot baseball programs (1964), and was chairman of the event (1964-1966).
Ben received numerous awards for his professional and volunteer services MRA and RAM presented him with two prestigious and fitting awards: the Fellowship Award (1957) and the Certificate of Merit (1965). He also was inducted into the Wyandotte Sports Hall of Fame (posthumously, 1987). An award that few if any of us have received having a facility named in our honor, the Benjamin F. Yack Ice Arena was so named in 1969.

Benjamin F. Yack is recognized for his excellence in providing sports programs for youth and in his administration of Wyandotte’s Recreation program bringing area, state, and national recognition.
 
"Creating Community through People, Parks and Programs!"




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