Community Sports Hall of Fame: Gary Arthur

Gary Arthur never was one to play favorites.

Working in recreation and parks, an occupation he devoted more than 40 years of his life to, was always about inclusion. It didn't matter how much money you had, what your interests were or if you were able-bodied or not, Arthur was going to do whatever he could to make sure there was an opportunity out there for you.

"His goal was for everyone to have some sort of activity, even those that were maybe a little less fortunate or not able to do it as well," said Kevin Smith, the general manager at the county-owned Timbers at Troy golf course, in Elkridge. "Seeing everyone with a smile on their face was what made him happy."

And thanks in part to the efforts of Arthur, there have been plenty of smiles around Howard County over the years.

A year after graduating from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Arthur got his start in recreation and parks in 1970 with the Baltimore County program.

He later served seven years in the Ocean City Recreation Department before beginning as the Howard County department's Recreation Bureau Chief in 1979. Once he got here, he never left.

During his 31 years in Howard County, Arthur worked his way up to Director of Recreation and Parks, a position he held until his death in May 2010. Along the way he helped build the department into one of the best in the country.

"He was quite the motivator and a really fun guy to be around," said Laura Wetherald, who worked for Arthur for more than 23 years and currently serves as Howard County Recreation and Administrative Services Bureau Chief.

"The way he managed, how he got along with people and how he got the job done was very inspiring. People wanted to do things for him."

The list of things that got done under Arthur's watch is a diverse and lengthy one, spread out throughout the county.

He was instrumental in building and developing strong community relationships with volunteer sports organizations in order to facilitate sports programming. He also introduced the use of artificial turf on public park fields, making Howard County the first in the state to do so.

Arthur was one of the main driving forces behind getting the Timbers at Troy golf course in place. The course opened in 1996. As a county-owned public facility, residents were, and still are, a priority.

"Gary wanted something that was accessible and available to county residents … a good golf course at a reasonable rate," Smith said.

Timbers also serves as the home for the Special Olympics of Howard County golf division, which was a relationship that Arthur helped put together. Also for a short period of time, Project GAIN (Golf Accessible Inclusion Network) took place at the course as well.

For Arthur, providing for those with disabilities was always important.

"Gary was always very balanced, but he had a soft heart for individuals with disabilities," said Phil Bryan, who currently serves as Howard County's Recreation Services Superintendent and met Arthur all the way back in Baltimore County in 1970. "He really made a point of making sure that every program that we have is set up in a way that anyone can be included."

Wetherald says Howard County was ahead of the curve on that as well.

"We had the most up-to-date programs for individuals with disabilities way before ADA put in all the requirements," she said. "We not only had the programs, but Gary made them a priority."

Under Arthur's leadership, the Meadowbrook Athletic Complex and the Glenwood Community Center, which is now named in his honor, both opened.

It is because of its well-rounded overall program that Howard County earned accreditation from the National Recreation and Parks Association, a recognition that is currently held by fewer than 100 programs in the nation.

Two other recent major projects, the North Laurel Community Center and the Robinson Nature Center, were planned and got under construction with Arthur's support.

Unfortunately Arthur, who lost his battle with cancer last spring, wasn't able to see either project to fruition. But as the Community Center opened in June and the Nature Center opened in late September, those in attendance certainly didn't forget his contributions.

"A part of him is there in those buildings," Bryan said. "His greatest legacy is that we are able to carry on and keep going. He set things up where we haven't missed a beat and that's exactly the way he would want it."