Beaumont Metropolitan YMCA

A Brief History

1901 The Beaumont YMCA was formed with Spindletop.
1903 The first Y building was completed at Main and Forsythe with George W. Carroll as the first President and Henry Behrman, the first General Director.

1924 The first YMCA branch was built for the Black community.
1928 A capital campaign raised $316,428 for a new building on Calder.
1930s‐1940s
Dr. J.W. Garth gave money for a building to be used by underprivileged youth.The Kiwanis Club gave a building to be used by the Y.
B.A. Steinhagen gave funds for handball courts.
Mr. Steinhagen also gave the Black community a three story building on Neches Street.
The Y gym was used as dormitories during the war for the military.
The Doak Procter family donated land to be used as a camp setting for youth.  

1960s The Beaumont YMCA had two downtown buildings, providing YMCA programs and services.
1969  The West End Branch was formed on 20 acres of land donated by the AMOCO Corp. The City of Beaumont donated 10 acres of land to build the L.L. Melton Branch. $1,029,000 was raised for the facilities.
1975  Strategic planning, with Werner Rogers as Board Chairman, showed the need for increased programming for teens, underprivileged youth, probationers, welfare clients, day care centers and the Vietnamese community. A 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign raised $835,000 to create a North End Y and refurbishment of the Downtown Y. The Y also acquired the Phelan property next to the Downtown Y.

1980s The Y struggled financially creating much turnover in staff and volunteer leadership. YMCA properties were sold and reorganization led to stability in 1986.
1988 Priorities included Board Orientation, Long Range Planning, Annual Support campaign, Membership Development and Retention, Staff Training, Quality Control and continued financial stability.
1989 Under the leadership of Tommy Peterson and Tony Gabriel, a task force was created to evaluate the deteriorating Downtown branch. Recommendations to cut expenses led to the resignation of CEO Ramsey Falconer and the appointment of Bob Pollard, the first African‐American CEO to lead the Beaumont YMCA.
1991 David W. Moore was elected to lead the Metro Board of Directors. Under his leadership, the Association budget grew from $1.2 to $1.4 million 1992. The Y applies to HUD to convert the Downtown Y to housing for low income senior citizens.  
1992 The Orange YMCA merges with the Beaumont YMCA.
1993 Under the leadership of General Mike Cokinos, HUD approves $2,267,200 for the renovation of the Downtown Y to become the "Y‐House".
1994 John Renee lead the efforts to complete the "Y‐House" project and seek additional matching funds from the Meadows Foundation. $235,000 was secured in funding. 
1996 Marlin Williford assumed the Board Chairmanship and completed the "Y‐House" project with a grant from the City of Beaumont‐ Community Development Block Grant for $145,876 to complete the 5 year project.
1997 E. Jay Sherlock became the Chief Volunteer Officer for the Association and conducted a Partners with Youth Campaign. The first in many years to be held.
1998 Hart Green became the CVO. The position of CVO evolved from a one year to a two year position.

2000 Beverly Hatcher became the CVO. During this time, the L.L. Melton branch introduced the annual Gala event to assist with branch operating expenses.
2001 This period was a very difficult time in Beaumont YMCAs history. Financial struggles led to high turnover in staff, failure to pay YMCA of the USA dues, lack of financial audits and proper reporting. Eric Meadows became the CVO.
2002 Faced with the resignation of both branch Executive Directors and the CEO, help from the YMCA of the USA was requested. It recommended to dissolve both branch Boards and Metro Board. In February 2002 the Metro Board dissolved the Boards and created a four person transition team consisting of Eric Meadows, William Lee, Ralph Muzzillo and David Mullenex to carry out the recommendations that consisted of:
* Complete 1999, 2000 and 2001 audits
*Reconstruct a new Metro Board of Directors
* Keep National Y‐USA dues current
* Maintain positive relations with the United Way
* Seek a new CEO
* Sell the Downtown property
* Resolve the present financial crisis
* Find a solution for using the Federal Grants for new construction
In May of 2002, Eric Meadows tendered his resignation for personal reasons.
In June, Y‐USA contracted with Brian Cormier to act as interim CEO and consultant to the Beaumont Y. As recommended by the consultant, a new Metro Board led by William Lee as CVO was appointed and branch boards were reinstated. A renovation project for the L.L. Melton Y was approved for $1.65 million, the West End facility was placed on the market for sale, and throughout the remainder of 2002, a search for a new CEO continued.
2003 Rodney Martin was hired as the new CEO. While financial difficulties continued as a result of declining membership, the Downtown property was sold for approximately $125,000. 
2004 The West End Y building and property were sold for approximately $2.5 million to close in 2005. Seventeen (17) acres of prime property was donated by the Broussard Family for development of a new West End facility in the heart of a fast growing commercial and residential west end area.
2005 The West End sale closes, the Y relocates a fitness center to the Parkdale Mall. The Beaumont YMCA was poised for a new era of service to the Beaumont community. A Building committee was appointed, CEO Rodney Martin is recruited as Executive Director for the Louisville, Kentucky Y, a search committee is created to hire a new CEO and Ralph Muzzillo is elected CVO.
2006 Jack Koch is hired as new CEO. Branch boards are merged into one Beaumont Metropolitan Association Board of Directors. The Building committee continues its work on plans for a new West End branch.
2007 The Board of Directors for the Beaumont Metropolitan YMCA votes to change the name of the West End Y to the Beaumont Branch YMCA. Plans move forward for a January 2008 ground breaking date for the new YMCA.
2008 The Beaumont Metropolitan YMCA breaks ground on it’s new facility, located on Dishman Road, on January 24, 2008.