PERRYSBURG — Surrounded
by the students who will benefit, Walt and Lois Churchill announced a sizeable donation to a new high
school track Friday morning.
The couple
will give $500,000 toward a $1.2 million project to install an eight-lane, 400-meter track. The district
confirmed the amount of the donation following a morning news conference at Walt Churchill’s Market on
Ohio 25.
The track will be named after Walt Churchill in recognition of the gift.
At the event, Superintendent Tom Hosler said that “in Northwest Ohio, there’s one name when it comes to
running, and that is Churchill.”
“If you know Walt, you know that running is a passion of his, and it’s been something that really has
made, I think, who he is today because of the tenacity, the dedication, the commitment he has taken to
his sport, he’s applied to all aspects of his life.”
Churchill qualified for and competed in the Boston Marathon for 22 consecutive years and helped organize
the Toledo Roadrunners and the Glass City Marathon, Hosler explained. In its 48th year, the Churchill’s
Half Marathon is the second-oldest race in Ohio and one of the oldest half-marathons in the
country.
“Without Walt and his involvement in running, I don’t think this area would have the kind of experiences
for these students and runners everywhere,” Hosler said.
“This is a wonderful thing that you’re doing, not just for the track, not just for the students, but for
the community,” said Jarman Davis, president of the school board. “It shows tremendous leadership that
folks that have been so generous in many areas are choosing Perrysburg Schools, and something you’re
passionate about with track, to continue a legacy.”
Walt Churchill said he’s shifted from running to walking, but he still tries to get out for a few miles
several times each week. He said they founded the current store in 1990 and have enjoyed being part of
Perrysburg.
“Track is a good sport to help young people develop,” Churchill said. “It teaches them sportsmanship,
hard work and dedication. There’s a lot of things that it can do, so we wanted to be a part of
it.”
The track team currently practices and competes at the junior high school by transporting students there
on buses. That and lacrosse make the junior high a “congested area,” Hosler said.
A new track was already planned at the high school using permanent improvement funds, but the scope of
the project grew when the Churchills’ contribution surfaced. The district hopes to eventually host
league and district meets at the high school.
“With Walt’s gift, we’re able to add quite a bit to really make it one of the best facilities in the
state,” Hosler said.
“It’s really a great blend of private dollars and public dollars to bring just a top-notch facility here
to Perrysburg.”
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