The Huntington YMCA has a rich and proud history.
TIMELINE
- First YMCA program began in 1913.
- The first Boy Scouts in Huntington County were organized by the YMCA in 1917.
- In 1927, sentiment for a new building was strong in the community. A campaign was conducted with over 3,000 people contributing a total of $229,500 for the new facility. The new YMCA was officially dedicated on May 18, 1930. Since that building opened, several hundred thousand kids and adults have experienced the positive impact of the YMCA.
- In 2007, a group of forward-thinking community leaders took on the task of raising money to build Huntington County a new Y. Nearly $8,000,000 was raised. The new Y was constructed and now sits on campus of Parkview Huntington Hospital.
THE HUMMER LEGACY
The Huntington YMCA was known throughout the country for the swim team coached by Glen Hummer, shown below with trophies.
Under Glen Hummer the aquatic program produced two-time Olympic champion Matt Vogel, who won two gold medals in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, by winning the 100m Butterfly race and the 4 x100m Individual Medley Relay. The aquatic program also produced 1964 Olympic silver medalist, Gary Dilley, who placed second in the 200m Backstroke at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The legendary George Haines swam for Glen Hummer at the Huntington YMCA. George Haines was the Head Coach for three Olympic swim teams and founded the Santa Clara Swim Club, which has produced 68 Olympic medal winners. The photograph below shows the 1940 YMCA National Championship team with Coach Hummer on the left. Coach Hummer coached here at the Huntington YMCA from 1933 until 1977. He was known for his dicipline, dedication, and enthusiam.
A wide variety of programs have a storied history at the YMCA. Programs such as the Swing-Inn, Kim League Basketball, Pre-School and Camp Dick Runyan have had a positive impact on countless youth over the years.
Please call us with any questions about our history and our plans for the future.