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The student news site of Clayton High School.

The Globe

The student news site of Clayton High School.

The Globe

Community members seek to honor revered coach

For over 50 years, Wally Lundt, a CHS swimming and water polo coach, former CHS teacher, and manager of the Shaw Park Aquatic Center, has assisted Clayton as it transformed to a cosmopolitan center in St. Louis.  For his service, some community members are leading an effort to rename Shaw Park Aquatic Center to the Wally Lundt Pool.

Lundt is the current water-polo and boys’ swimming coach.  He taught at CHS from 1957-1990.  He has worked at the Shaw Park Aquatic Center since 1952. (Jonathan Shumway)
Lundt is the current water-polo and boys’ swimming coach. He taught at CHS from 1957-1990. He has worked at the Shaw Park Aquatic Center since 1952. (Jonathan Shumway)

Lundt began working at the Shaw Park Aquatic Center in 1952 and has continued to work there today.  For many of those years, he worked as manager of the Shaw Park Aquatic Center.  His position, currently, during the summer is deck manager.

Lundt began teaching at Clayton in 1957 and taught a variety of classes, such as physical education, health, swimming, climbing, rappelling, orienteering, scuba diving, and lifeguarding, until 1990.  Lundt also coached boys’ and girls’ swimming and water polo.  Lundt has impacted the lives of three generations of Clayton residents, continuing his friendships with many, even after decades.

Clayton resident Rick Beard is leading the push for the renaming of Aquatic Center.  Beard is a Clayton alumni from the class of 1978, whose son, Charlie Beard, has swum and played water polo for all his years at CHS.

“Wally has served the Clayton community for over 50 years,” Beard said.  “He has been as much a part of our pool complex as any person.  Wally has taught and coached at CHS, creating an atmosphere of competitiveness and teamwork.  At the swimming and water polo banquets, he gives a short speech about each athlete.  Wally really knows and cares about his swimmers.”

Clayton resident Rick Bliss swam and played water polo at CHS with Lundt as his coach. He graduated from CHS in 1975.

“Wally has a love for swimming and water-polo that he transmits and shares with others,” Bliss said.  “It is infectious.  “He has devoted so much of his life to teaching others to swim, the benefits of exercise, and the benefits of participating in sports.  He has taught the importance of team-work and preparation…  He has been showing up for many, many years–not a flash in the pan.”

Senior Brett Downey has played water polo with Lundt as the coach since he was a freshman.  Downey agrees with Bliss on how Lundt has been both a legendary and inspirational coach.

“He has dedication to both the kids and the game,” Downey said.  “He pushes everyone to their best, always willing to help people achieve their best game.  He definitely has a lot of experience.  He knows more about the game [water polo] than anyone else.  He is one of the main reasons I participate so heavily in the game.”

Beard first collected 50 signatures from Clayton residents for the renaming effort.  He then brought the signatures to the Clayton Parks and Recreation Commission on Jan. 4, 2010, communicating his case for the renaming of Shaw Park Aquatic Center.  He did not find overall support there.

“However, a few weeks later, I received a letter,” Beard said.  “Basically, the Parks Commission said in the letter that if we wanted to name a Clayton facility, we were going to have to write a big check.”

The letter is dated Jan. 12, 2010 and states: “In exploring other organizations that do have these policies the Commission has found that, in general, this honor is reserved for those who make significant financial contributions to the construction or renovation of the facility.  In addition, those facilities that generally have a traditional name are not even available for renaming.  In some cases, a portion of the facility may be named [such as Dawson Pike floor in Stuber Gym or Centene Stadium at Gay Field], but again this is usually tied to a financial contribution.”

Although the City of Clayton is grateful for Lundt’s service to the City of Clayton and the Clayton school, the City feels that Lundt has been honored already in other ways. The letter expanded on the appreciation that has already been shown to Lundt.  It stated that a party had been held in Lundt’s honor in 2006.  Also an award has been created that is presented annually to a lifeguard who shows the values that Lundt represented.  Additionally, the School district has created a Wally E. Lundt award and plaques have been placed in Lundt’s honor at both the Shaw Park Aquatic Center and Center of Clayton“

Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Clayton Patty DeForrest feels that renaming Shaw Park Aquatic Center would break the historical precedent of having the pool named after the Clayton mayor that helped establish Shaw Park in 1935.

“Renaming a facility is a huge undertaking,” DeForrest said.  “If we were to rename Shaw Park Aquatic Center to Wally Lundt, it would take away from Charles A. Shaw, the original person who it was named after, which would be much like renaming Shaw Park.”

On Sept. 28, 2010, the City of Clayton released ‘Donations, Sponsorships, and Facility Naming.’

In Section 6, in part B, it tells that for the renaming of a facility, the individual must have made a significant contribution to the City of Clayton, either through service, or monetary or land donation.  For the case of living individuals, there must be extraordinarily compelling reasons with a thorough background review.

Clayton has renamed several different facilities, such as the Stuber Gym, located at CHS in honor of distinct people who have given service to the community.

“In the past we have honored those who served the school district without having to find corporate sponsorship,” Beard said.  “That’s how we have facilities named after John Bracken, Ralph Captain, and George Stuber.”

The sun sets on the Shaw Park Aquatic Center, enveloped in snow.  Currently, community members are pushing for the renaming of the Shaw Park Aquatic Center to Wally Lundt Pool in tribute to his life-long service to the Clayton community.  Presently, this push has not found support with the Board of Education. (Jonathan Shumway)
The sun sets on the Shaw Park Aquatic Center, enveloped in snow. Currently, community members are pushing for the renaming of the Shaw Park Aquatic Center to Wally Lundt Pool in tribute to his life-long service to the Clayton community. Presently, this push has not found support with the Board of Education. (Jonathan Shumway)

While Bliss respects the efforts of some Clayton citizens to rename Shaw Park Aquatic Center, he is reluctant to rename the pool while Lundt is still working and serving the community.

“You have to be careful in the naming of facility or building after someone,” Bliss said.  “The naming of a facility is forever.  The name of Stuber Gymnasium will not be changed in five years.  In the naming process, it has to be representative of anyone’s full body of work that is complete, and stands the test of time.  After one’s work is done, we as a community can reflect back and better decide if the legacy of naming a facility after an individual should continue in the future.”

Downey disagrees with Bliss in the timing of when to rename the Shaw Park Outdoor Pool.  He believes that Lundt’s service should be commended and recognized by the community now.

“He has given his life to Clayton—he definitely deserves it,” Downey said.  “He has devoted his life to the pool, the community as a whole, and to the kids that he teaches.”

Although it is certain that Lundt has influenced many people in his tenure serving Clayton, the Clayton community will have to choose how and whether to honor the individuals that have helped transform Clayton to what it is today.

“Some have suggested that the honors Coach Lundt has received show enough gratitude to his service,” Beard said.  “The naming of a building or facility is different.  The recognition transcends generations.  When we sell naming rights to corporate entities, it cheapens the value of the honor.  Take Centene Stadium.  Although we appreciate Centene’s financial contribution to our community, the contribution from individuals like Coach Lundt has come over decades.”

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Community members seek to honor revered coach