RPTS Graduate Chuck Wilt Retiring as Director of Columbus Department of Parks & Recreation; Successor is RPTS Graduate Ben Wagner
Chuck Wilt, Retiring Director of Columbus Department of Parks & Recreation and RPTS Graduate
The Columbus Parks and Recreation Board announces that Chuck Wilt, will retire as Director of Parks and Recreation, after 33 years of service, effective May 31, 2010. Chuck will continue to be a voice of experience through the Columbus Park Foundation and additional community activities.
Under Chuck’s leadership the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department has become state and nationally known for excellence and quality management. The department has received the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award and Outstanding Board and Commission Award. It also was recognized along with the Columbus Area Visitors Center by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce for 2009 Community Project of the Year for its work in Sports Tourism. Chuck received two different Distinguished Alumni Awards from the Indiana University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He is also past President of the Indiana University HPER Alumni Association, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, Indiana Park and Recreation Association, Columbus Area Visitors Center and Grace Lutheran Church.
The Parks and Recreation Board will be promoting Ben Wagner, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation to the directorship, effective June 1, 2010. Ben, like Chuck, is a graduate of the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies at Indiana University. He was Director of the Columbus Youth Camp and Associate Director of the Foundation for Youth for ten years before coming to the Parks and Recreation Department in June of 2008 as part of the Parks and Recreation Board’s leadership succession planning process.
