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Home My WebLink AboutR-2013-019 Designation of a Kiwanis Park Ball Field In Memory Of Gene ShieldsRESOLUTION NO. R- 2013 -019 A RESOLUTION Naming a ball field at Kiwanis Park in Memory of Gene Shields, and authorizing City Manager to accomplish such designation. WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has received a request to name one of the new ball fields at Kiwanis Park in Memory of Gene Shields, and WHEREAS, the City Council, pursuant to Resolution No. 2005 -51, has adopted policies and procedures governing the naming and renaming of public parks and parks and recreation facilities, and has authorized naming of such facilities for an individual who has contributed outstanding civic service to the City primarily in the area of parks and recreation and who has been deceased for a period of at least one year; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the policies adopted in Resolution No 2005 -51, the City of Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission has considered the requested change of name, and has made a recommendation supporting such change of name; and WHEREAS, the City Council has received such recommendation and concurs that the name of the field shall be "Gene Shields Field" and that such action is an honor befitting the memory of Gene Shields and her service to the City of Yakima; therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: That the name of the field will be " Gene Shields Field;" and 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to implement such change of name and to appropriately designate the name of such public park facility in the records of the City of Yakima and on signage for such park. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 5th day of February, 2013. ' NOS+ OV4 kN nya Jaar Tee, City Cle �} n °'�)� G4, Micah Cawle , Mayor i BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. For Meeting of: February 5, 2013 l0 ITEM TITLE: Resolution naming a ball field at Kiwanis Park in memory of an honored Kiwanis Club Member Gene Shields SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works Ken Wilkinson, Parks and Recreation Manager Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney CONTACT Ken Wilkinson, Parks and Recreation Manager, 509-576 - PERSON /TELEPHONE: 6416 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: ® The Kiwanis Clubs in Yakima donated funds for the construction of the park improvements at Kiwanis Park and have requested that one of the three new ball fields at Kiwanis Park be named in memory of Gene Shields. Gene was a long time Kiwanis Club member and contributed his time and efforts for the betterment of the community. Resolution X Ordinance Other (specify) Contract: Mail to: Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date: Insurance Required? No Funding Source: Phone: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: r� City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff respectfully requests the City Council adopt the Resolution to name a field at Kiwanis Park in memory of Gene Shields. BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the naming of a ball field at Kiwanis Park after Gene Shields at the December 12, 2012 regular meeting and unanimously endorsed the request. ATTACHMENTS: Click to download ❑ Resolution ❑ bio ❑ bio Shields • EUGENE LEONARD SHIELDS Eugene (Gene) Leonard Shields was born September 7, 1919 in Walla Walla to Frank and Bessie (Jones) Shields. Gene had three brothers, Walt, Fred and Ray. The family moved to Yakima on Gene's 13th birthday in 1932. Gene attended Franklin Junior High and graduated from Yakima High School. After high school, Gene attended YVCC and the University of Washington, leaving college in his junior year to become an Army Air Cadet. Gene moved to Santa Maria, CA where he taught flying and later during World War II he flew C46 airplanes, transporting gasoline from India to China over the hump in the Himalayas to support the effort. After the war Gene returned to Yakima and worked with his brother Walt at the family business, Rainier Printing, which went on to publish the Appleland News and The Goodfruit Grower. It was on the advice of his father that Gene decided to enter the plastic bag business to help the fruit shipping industry. Walt left soon after to join the Traffic Association leaving Gene to run Rainier Printing. Through hard work and dedicated employees Rainer Printing became Shields Bag and Printing, coincidentally Shields still supplies its very first customer Gilbert Orchards with bags. Gene married Gwen Barbara Clarke on April 9 1943; together they had one adventure after another. Gene's son William Robert (Bill) was born on January 11, 1947. The family spent these early years at their cabin near Bumping Lake, in the mountains and boating on the Desert Eagle in the San Juan Islands. Gene's family grew when Bill and Gloria (Huff) Hutchinson gave birth to Lisa and Pat. Gwen passed away in 1982. Gene married his second wife Ileen Simonson Shields in 1983. This marriage allowed Gene an extended family with the addition of Ileen's children Jimmy, Ingrid and Kristy. More grandchildren joined the family with Kristin, Philip, and Erika. Ileen passed away suddenly in 2000. Towards the end of Gene's life he found a companion Felicia Holtzinger. They shared more adventures, friendships and memories until his passing. Gene was President of Yakima Kiwanis in 1954 and Vice -chair of the Kiwanis Trust up until his passing. He was instrumental in the creation of Kiwanis Park in the mid- 1950's and also coordinated Shield's employees installing the sprinkling system at Fred Westburg Park in the Greenway in the late 1980's. He received his GEORGE HIXSON Fellowship award from Kiwanis International in 1997 Gene was very involved in the community at the Yakima Arboretum, Greenway, Perry Tech, Kiwanis, Elks, Yakima Planning Commission, Yakima Chamber of Commerce, New Vision, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Yakima Valley Museum, KYVE, YMCA, YWCA, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and many others throughout the years. Gene was a founding member of the Memorial Foundation and helped Chair the initial Children's Village Capital Campaign. Gene also served on Boards throughout the Northwest including Pacific Power /PacifiCorp. Gene was the recipient in 1990 of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from YVCC, 1994 Silver Beaver Award from Boy Scouts, 1996 Lifetime Achievement Award from KYVE Television, 1999 Ted Robertson Community Service Award and most recently participated in the dedication of a building at Perry Tech in his honor. EUGENE (GENE) L. SHIELDS Eugene (Gene) Leonard Shields was born September 7, 1919 in Walla Walla, Washington to Frank and Bessie (Jones) Shields and had three brothers, Walt, Fred and Ray The family moved to Yakima in 1932 upon his 13th birthday where he attended Franklin Junior High School and graduated from Yakima High School Gene went to Yakima Valley Community College and University of Washington, prior to leaving during his junior year to become an Army Air Cadet. Relocating to Santa Maria, CA he next taught flying and later during World War II he flew C -46 transport planes, hauling gasoline and supplies from India to China over the hump across the Himalayas to support the war effort. In 1943 he had married Gwen Clarke of Yakima and remained so until her untimely death on the eve of their 40th anniversary After the war Gene and Gwen returned to Yakima where they worked with his brother Walt at the family business, Rainier Printing, which later published the Appleland News and The Goodfruit Grower Following the advice of his father Gene entered the plastic bag business to help the fruit shipping industry, while Walt left soon after to join the Traffic Association leaving Gene to run Rainier Printing Through hard work and dedicated employees, Rainier Printing eventually became the Shields Bag and Printing Co which remains today Gene joined the Yakima Kiwanis in 1948 and became an active member having served as President in 1954 He was instrumental in creating Kiwanis Park in the mid -1950 and later with Shields employees installed the sprinkler system at Sherman Park on the Greenway sponsored by Yakima Kiwanis He became a Trustee of the Yakima Kiwanis Charitable Trust soon after it formed in 1967, serving as Board Vice Chairman until his death In 1997 he received the George Hixson Fellowship Award from Kiwanis International and remained a member of the Yakima Kiwanis Club until his death Gene was involved in the community thru the Yakima Arboretum, Greenway, Perry Tech, Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce, New Vision, Elks, Yakima Planning Commission, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Yakima Valley Museum, KYVE, YMCA, YWCA and other organizations throughout the years. A founding member of the Yakima Valley Memorial Foundation, he Co- Chaired the Children Village Capital Campaign Among Genes many achievements was the 1990 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Yakima Valley Community College, a 1994 Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the 1996 Lifetime Achievement Award from KYVE Television, the1999 Ted Robertson Community Service Award from the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and the 2006 Humanitarian Award from the Yakima Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross Things he did for his company, family and community was what he basically felt a person should do for others. Gene passed away on June 15, 2011 as a quiet man who shied away from the limelight and lived to make others happy, as high accolades made him feel undeserving The Yakima Herald Republic acknowledged him in the following way upon his passing, Gene Shields, former president of Shields Bag and Printing Co in Yakima is remembered as a man of integrity and deep convictions who quietly built his company into a major employer while serving as a community leader