OUR YMCA HISTORY
 
Railroad Industry is a Loyal Partner…
By Ben Childers
   The history of the Waycross YMCA is quite unique. Historically, it is one of the oldest YMCA’s in Georgia and is greatly respected for its programs and services to the community. The Waycross YMCA was founded and chartered in 1896. The inaugural years the Y-membership operated their business in a hotel on Haines Ave., before the first YMCA building opened its doors. The original YMCA building was constructed on Pendleton Street in 1908 (shown top left). The Pendleton YMCA remained open until 1916, when it sold to the City of Waycross and was converted to City Hall. The ACL Railroad funded the construction of a YMCA building in 1911. The new Railroad YMCA included 50 boarding rooms that housed the working railroad men. From 1911 to 1916, the YMCA operated two separate YMCA’s. Each building had different programming. After the sale of the Pendleton Y in 1916, the YMCA operations continued from the Screven Ave building (shown second on left). The increasing popularity with the YMCA services to the community, led to a demand on space. A Family YMCA campus was constructed on Plant Avenue in 1968. By 1971 all the YMCA’s Family programming moved to the new family center and the Railroad YMCA moved to the Ware Hotel Building. The YMCA completed a transformation of the Screven Ave YMCA facility to an alcohol and drug treatment center. By moving to Railroad YMCA to the Ware facility it allowed the railroad to house more men, (75 per day), plus 25-30 senior adults lived there. Civic clubs, such as the Rotary, Kiwanis, B&PW, Exchange, PILOT, and Lions all met at the Ware YMCA. Food service was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The YMCA operated the facility until 1987 (shown third on left). Today the Waycross YMCA serves the community from the Waycross Family YMCA, on Plant Ave., (shown forth left). The long-standing success of the YMCA movement in Waycross can best be contributed to the dedication of many community members and business leaders.

  Pedleton Street 1908 – 1916                                    Screven Street 1911 – 1971

  Waew YMCA 1971 – 1987                                        Plant Avve., 1987 - current day

   The Childers Family YMCA progresses into the future with over 100 years under it’s belt.  The YMCA’s history is quite unique. Founded and chartered in 1896 the YMCA has been housed in several historical buildings in Waycross from a hotel on Haines Avenue, to the original YMCA constructed on Pendleton Street-which is now City Hall. The YMCA has partnered with our Railroad community and each has supported the other over the years. Today we are proud to announce that we are open 24 hours a day 7 days a week to continue to accommodate the needs of our Railroad community as well as other members of our community that work on 24 hour rotating shifts.
 

Clarence Gooden was a YMCA Leader First
Gooden remembers his roots
   Mr. Clarence Gooden is originally from Waycross, Georgia. As a teenager Clarence Gooden was a regular at the YMCA. He was selected into leadership roles in the popular Hi-Y clubs in each year of his high school days. Gooden was also highly active in the Waycross High Band, earning a position as the drum major, and he is still remembered for the enthusiasm he brought to the crowd with his high back bend tactics

   Clarence Gooden started his career, with the railroad here in Waycross cleaning railcars. His work ethic and skills were quickly recognized and he rapidly worked his way through the company, holding down a variety of jobs, from yard master to dispatcher to president of the company’s intermodal business. Mr. Clarence Gooden is now the company’s chief commercial officer and is responsible for generating customer revenue, forecasting business trends and developing CSX’s model for future revenue growth. CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, FL., is one of the leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company’s transportation network spans 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports.

   Never forgetting his YMCA roots, CSXT Executive VP Clarence Gooden and his wife, Corkie, have been supporters of the Waycross Y.

   Together they donated the renovation of the men’s lounge in the name of a family member, Ellie Royal. The room is now officially called, “The Royal Room” and boasts a 50 inch HD television with surround sound.

   Gooden accepted a position on the Waycross YMCA All American Board in 2008. He joins NFL Standout Leodis McKelvin and Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Schultz as the only members to this prestigious honorary board.

College President Believes in the YMCA
The YMCA renovation included a high-tech classroom space that was developed in partnership with Waycross College.

The Y feels it provides the non-intimidating atmosphere required for some community members to feel comfortable. The YMCA promotes the true benefits of higher education including the financial assistance programs and scholarships. The education classroom space is designed to host credit and non credit class. Waycross College President Dr David Palmer believes in the YMCA, stating, “We have a strong YMCA in our town, which does an excellent job of serving the educational, physical, and spiritual needs of the community – from pre-school to senior citizens. The ‘Y’ is the ‘place to be’, and Waycross College is proud and privileged to partner with the ‘Y’ in serving the broad educational needs of the community.”

   Community businesses are also welcome to use the education classroom. The room has wireless internet and seat approximately 20-15 people. The YMCA and Waycross College are working together on future collaborations such as: Service learning opportunities for students at the Y, collaborative grants, and credit and non-credit offerings.

Mediastream, formerly Waycross Cable, provided the technology for this renovation.

Olympic Champion Supports the Waycross YMCA
Mark Schultz, is one of the world’s most accomplished athletes. He participated in two-Olympics, winning a Gold medal (1984) and World Championships in 1985 and 1987. Olympian Magazine named Mark Schultz the “Sportsman of the Year” and he was nominated for the Sullivan Award, as the USA’s best Olympic Wrestler. As a High School Sophomore, Mark Schultz won a California Gymnastics Championship. He started wrestling at age 16 to overcome a lack of confidence and improved at a world record setting pace winning the State, 3 NCAA Titles, and the Olympics in 7 years. In 1982 Mark was named NCAA’s Outstanding Wrestler for winning what many consider the greatest NCAA match in history. Mark and Dave Schultz are the first American brothers to strike gold in the same Olympics and are still the only American Brothers in U.S. history to win World and Olympic Gold. Mark Schultz quit wrestling in 1988 while Dave trained for the 1996 games. A few months before Dave went for a 2nd Olympic Gold, he was tragically murdered by John E. DuPont, Founder of Team Foxcatcher. Four-months after Dave’s murder and eight years after retirement, Mark Schultz entered the athletic arena one last-time in the UFC Championships. Mark ended his glorious sports career by winning UFC IX. “I want to help the kids. I can’t think of a better organization to donate my time than the Waycross, YMCA. Mark Schultz, Olympic Champion A Hollywood movie, entitled FOXCATCHER, is based on the Schultz brother’s lives and the tragic and bizarre murder of Dave. Like a champion, Mark Schultz lives his life by sharing his experiences in hopes of mentoring others on the importance of doing the right thing and surrounding yourself with good people. Mark Schultz will tell his story to the children selected to participate in the YMCA’s Camp Reveille. Mark will serve as a guest counselor and will be staying with the campers at Laura Walker State Park. The Olympic Champion will travel to Summer Waves for a day of fun with the kids.Mark Schultz has volunteered to help the Waycross YMCA and the kids of Camp Reveille. Schultz stated, “I want to help the kids. I can’t think of a better origination to donate my time than the Waycross, YMCA. Having a safe and healthy place, like the YMCA, for the children is important.