Wally Gay
Born: 1927
Died: March 3, 2012
Married: Donalda Maple
Children: Barbara Gay Fitchett, John W. Gay
Wallace Murray Gay was an athlete, a World War II Veteran, a patrolman, and a security officer. He lived at 2 Neil Street. He was named Archbishop of the 2005 Winter Carnival. In 1942, he was the first resident of Saranac Lake to have his number drawn in the draft lottery. 1
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 6, 2004
Archbishop: Wallace Gay
Wallace Gay was born in Saranac Lake in 1927. He attended local schools and participated in many school activities, such as assemblies and intramural sports, as well as being captain of the safety patrol and president of the Hi-Y Club. His favorite pastime was sports. He played baseball for three years and was the team captain his senior year. He played hockey and football but broke his foot during the first game. He was "first string" to all three sports. He graduated in 1944, when he was voted class athlete.
Wally enlisted in the Navy after graduation and served as a, radar man aboard the U.S.S Bauvnnak. This ship was a high cruiser and saw much action during World War II. Wally was honorably discharged in 1946 and was in naval reserve for seven years. He was notified at the outbreak of the Korean Conflict that he would be recalled to active duty. He is still waiting for that recall notice.
Wally worked at the Trudeau Laboratory on Church Street for nine years. He then worked as a patrolman for the Saranac Lake Village Police Department for 10 years and the New York Sate Department of Environmental Conservation for 13 years. He also worked as chief of security at Paul Smith's College for seven years, retiring in 1989. He has worked as a monitor at Saranac Lake High School since 1995.
He is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, where he has served as head usher for 20 years and on various committees. He is also a member of the church's Men's Ciub. He is a life member of American Legion Post 447, having served two terms as commander. He was also a member of the Legion bowling team for 20 years.
Wally was involved as both a player and manager of several baseball and softball teams for many years, including the Saranac Lake Chiefs, the Brighton Blues, the Mar-Mac softball team and the Saranac Lakers' entry into the Champlain Valley Baseball League.
He was also involved with Meals on Wheels. He married Donalda Maple in 1951. He is the father of Barbara Gay Fitchett, who graduated from SLHS in 1971 and now lives in Los Angeles; John W. Gay, who graduated from SLHS in 1992 and is now a member of the Saranac Lake Village Police Department and wears his father's old badge. He became, the father-in-law of Robin Merrill Gay on May 27, 2000 and is the proud grandfather of Katelyn Kathleen and Madelyn Maple Gay, who are 19 months old.
Wally enjoys being with the young people at school and was very surprised and thrilled that he was chosen as Archbishop
Comments
Footnotes
1. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 22, 1952
