PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 24, 2021
2021,
Continued from page A7
Wing calls it a career after 32 years at
Gubser
Wally Wing has spent the majority of
his life in the gym.
Whether it has been coaching or
teaching physical education, Wing has
been dedicated to imparting wisdom to
youngsters for nearly four decades.
But after 32 years as a physical educa-
tion teacher at Gubser Elementary, Wing
decided that it was time to enter the next
phase of his life: retirement.
“You know it’s time to retire when your
old offi ce gets bricked in. Or when your
ID number for (SKSD) is three digits
when everyone else’s is seven or eight,”
Wing said with a smile.
Some people may get weary of work-
ing in the same place for more than 30
years. But Wing couldn’t ever see himself
at a diff erent spot.
“Even though it’s the same school, it’s
new kids every year, with new challenges.
I always felt that the kids were the most
important. It just seemed like when I
went to look at other positions, high
school or middle school, I could never
fi nd what I thought was a better thing for
me to do,” Wing said.
Along with teaching, Wing also
served as the primary assistant coach
for the Willamette University men’s bas-
ketball team, which was one of the most
successful small-college programs in the
Northwest during his tenure.
Wing was a part of the Willamette
coaching staff from 1987 to 2009 and
helped coach the Bearcats to the NAIA
National Championship in 1993 when
Willamette achieved a 29-4 record.
“(Wally) displayed a special talent in
being able to connect with players of all
ages. He was an excellent teacher of the
game who stressed correct skill execu-
tion. He taught the fundamentals of the
game, but most importantly he taught
the fundamentals of life,” said former
Willamette head coach Gordie James.
Chick-fi l-A gets council greenlight
Construction of a Chick-fi l-A near
Keizer Station moved one step closer to
reality at a meeting of the Keizer City
Council Monday, Feb. 1.
Councilors approved changes to a
master plan that removes a proposed
auto lube business to accommodate
additional parking for the fast food
restaurant.
“We’re super-excited to be part of
the community and see this project get
going,” said Steve Schwartz, develop-
ment manager for the Atlanta-based
chain.
Asked by Mayor Cathy Clark what
prompted the restaurant to choose Keizer,
Schwartz said it was partly based on the
success of locations in the Portland area.
“Keizer had great commuting pat-
terns and was very business friendly as
well,” Schwartz said. He commended
Shane Witham, Keizer’s interim commu-
nity development director, in particular.
The 128-seat location could create
as many as 80-100 jobs for the area,
Schwartz said.
If things go according to plan, the
Chick-fi l-A will be located in a space
between Chemawa Road Northeast and
Ulali Drive Northeast. The space is south
of Keizer Station and will become the
fi rst development in an area identifi ed as
Chemawa Station.
oopsy
When It Does, Call Us
503.884.9681
happens
Chuck Lee passes at 72
Charles E. (Chuck) Lee, a fi xture
in Salem-Keizer education, passed away
on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the age of 72.
Lee, born May 18, 1949 in Seattle,
served on the Salem-Keizer School Board
and represented Keizer from 2007 to
2019. He was the founding president of
Blanchet Catholic School in Salem from
1997 to 2013.
Before relocating to Oregon he was an
educator in Washington state where he
was the youngest Catholic School princi-
pal when he was hired at the age of 25.
Lee served on the Keizer City Council
from 2001 to 2007; he ran unsuccessfully
for mayor in 2006.
In 2014 he helped found the Career
Technical Education Center in Salem,
a public-private project to prepare high
school students for high-skill jobs. Lee
served as president.
Charles Lee is survived by his wife,
Krina Lee.
brainfood
crossword
answers pg A20