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David R. Ewalt
David “Dave” R. Ewalt
was recognized by his colleagues as an innovative manager and a
visionary in the Recreation and Park profession for more than 32 years.
He was born in Hanna City, Illinois. He graduated from Peoria Manual
High School and attended Western Michigan University, where he played
football and baseball, graduating in 1939 with a B.S. degree in Physical
Education and later received his Masters degree in Recreation and Park
Administration from Central Michigan University. He served in the Army
during World War II. After his discharge from the Army, he moved to
Pontiac, Mi and was hired as a Physical Education teacher at the Bagley
Elementary School (1945). This preceded the advent of bussing; he was a
young European teacher in an African-American school.
Dave began his career
in our Recreation and Park profession when he persuaded the Pontiac
Optimist Club to finance an after school activity program at Bagley.
When school recessed for the summer he approached the city manager about
a summer position to implement these recreation activities and
programs. Rather than securing a summer position he made an unexpected
career change becoming the Assistant Director of Recreation for Pontiac,
(1946).
Dave was a most active
member and supporter of our professional organization, as a member of
MRA, RAM, and MRPA. He further developed the concept of unifying
recreation and parks together when he along with colleagues (Art Wilcox,
MSU and Nick Kipp from Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation) worked to expand
the purview of MRA to include parks related professionals and agencies
changing MRA and RAM to MRPA. He attended the NRPA conferences for 30
years often making presentations about various relevant topics.
His involvement in our
professional organizations, state and national was broadly based. He
recognized the importance of investing time and effort in these
organizations, realizing the benefits that would be accrued for the
profession as a whole. This was demonstrated by his service to MRPA
including President, Board of Directors, Chair and member of numerous
committees; such as legislative, professional standards, conference and
institute planning, municipal league, constitution and by-laws; and
Michigan Amateur Baseball Association. He encouraged professional
involvement of his staff by giving them the opportunity to attend both
the MRPA and NRPA conferences.
Dave had an exemplary
career. Under his leadership, the department was expanded to include
the city’s parks and recreation to be developed together. As Director,
Pontiac Department of Parks and Recreation (1948-1970) and
Superintendent, Pontiac Department of Parks and Recreation (1971-1977),
he recognized the importance of adding a forestry specialist so that the
parks would be developed in an effective manner. His responsibilities
were expanded to include community programs and he assumed management
responsibilities for the library, city cemeteries and building
maintenance. In addition, Dave was the host of a radio show about the
recreation services provided to the public in Pontiac and wrote a weekly
column in the local newspaper about recreation programs in Pontiac. He
also was President of the Optimist Club and served as both Cub Scout and
Boy Scout Masters.
Prior to his retiring,
his leadership ability was further acknowledged when he was selected to
serve as Pontiac acting City manager while a search for a full-time
manager was conducted. Dave had the ability to manage the city as well
as the strong personality to establish cooperative relationships with
all the factions of city government during this interim period.
Dave received numerous
awards for his exemplary service to our profession. He was particularly
proud of three of them: the prestigious MRPA Fellowship Award, a
lifetime golf pass to the Pontiac Municipal Golf Course and the City of
Pontiac named a community center in his honor.
The results of his
administrative decisions positively impacted the recreation and park
services for all persons living in Pontiac. He was instrumental in
quieting the 1967 riots measured to insure integration of sports, hired
the first minority professional in Oakland County and converted the
waterworks building to a community center with a newly constructed
swimming pool in the African American community, first center designated
to community recreation in Pontiac, followed by his movement in Pontiac
to begin constructing community centers- no community the size of
Pontiac has resources to match this; building a branch library located
within Aaron Perry Park fostering a partnership with the Pontiac
Schools; constructing the first accessible playground in Michigan
located in Hawthorne Park; in collaboration with the Pontiac Jaycees
encouraged Pontiac youth to be home at a certain time on “Devil’s Night”
(night before Halloween, recreation staff and Jaycees would gather in
the recreation department making phone calls to students from watch
Pontiac school. If the child was home at the designated time they could
win bikes, watches or gift certificates donated by the Jaycees; and,
created a community Theatre Program that still exists today.
Dave built a foundation
for the Pontiac Parks and Recreation Department which services needs of
all groups living in Pontiac with 22 parks, five highlighted ball
diamonds, four multi-purpose community centers, two senior centers, an
outdoor pool, three fishing peers and two satellite programs (one has
been in existence for 45 years).
DAVID “DAVE” R. EWALT’S
LEGACY IS THE PERSON WHO WORKED WITH HIM, A HIRED YOUNG, ENERGETIC
TALENT. AS A RESULT MANY HE HIRED DEVELOPED INTO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
WITH OTHER CITIES’ RECREATION AND PARK DEPARTMETNS AND OTHER RECREATION
ORGANIZATIONS.
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