The Lee Beran Recreation Center was a bit fuller than normal Friday afternoon as several residents, friends, family and colleagues stopped in to bid farewell to retiring Rec Director Tom McEvoy.
McEvoy is set to retire at the end of the year after nearly 40 years of involvement in public recreation at the local level. During a retirement celebration in his honor Friday, McEvoy spoke with KVOE News and stated he will take many great memories with him into retirement many of which were made with several of the individuals in attendance for Friday’s celebration.
McEvoy stated to KVOE News the last month has been a time of reflection and realization of his fortune to have made so many long-lasting friendships and relationships over his career. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who has reached out and shown up to wish him well in the next journey of his life saying he has received a tremendous outpouring of love and appreciation.
McEvoy adds he has spent the last few days cleaning out his office which he says has been quite the trip down memory lane.
Among those expressing their gratitude Friday was Assistant Director of Rec Operations Amanda Gutierrez who has spent more than 20 years working under and alongside McEvoy, someone she says has been a tremendous mentor and guide throughout her career.
As for what is ahead for McEvoy post-retirement, he says he plans to take a few days off before beginning to explore other ventures including some potential business opportunities.
The Emporia Rec Commission is currently in a holding pattern as it pertains to the search for a new director as it was planning to pursue the search following a vote on March for a funding mechanism for a new public recreation facility at Champions Landing. Those plans were put on hold following the closure announcements of Holiday Resort and Tyson Foods last week.
How this will affect the search timeline for McEvoy’s successor has yet to be announced.
