GAYLORD -- W. Andy Peck, Paul Beachnau, Norm Summerfield and Sue Hagel Wisney were inducted into the Dick Weber Recognition Venue during a ceremony Dec. 19 at the Otsego County Sportsplex.

According to a press release provided by the Sportsplex, Peck was an early “dreamer” and drafted the first drawing of the Otsego County Sportsplex; he also assisted with filing for grant from the state for the building and started the program to teach children to skate.

Beachnau served on the initial steering committee, including interviewing architectural firms and on the millage campaign committee for the Sportsplex; served on the initial board of directors for the Sportsplex and later served as secretary, vice chairman and eventually chairman of the board; and was an original incorporator for the Sportsplex in 1994 and has served as liaison from the Otsego County Board of Commissioners, the release stated.

Summerfield was the first Sportsplex director in 1995 and its first official employee; assisted with creating the Energy Outlet; and has shown tireless dedication to the development of the Sportsplex, according to the release.

Wisney was the first Aquatics director; organized the Red Cross Learn to Swim program and fourth grade swim lessons; initiated the Gaylord Gators swim program; and organized the Gaylord High School girls swim team, the released said.

The Dick Weber Recognition Venue was created  in Weber’s honor as one of the original founders of the Sportsplex, recognizing him as a driving force behind the community’s acceptance of the need for such a facility.

The purpose of the recognition venue, according to the Sportsplex press release, is “to recognize the founders, board members, staff and others who have served the Otsego County Sportsplex in a special manner and who have contributed to the mission of service and recreation for the good of the entire community and our guests.”

Dick Weber was killed when an airplane he was piloting in extremely heavy fog crashed in a pine tree forest 5 miles west of the Gaylord Regional Airport  in October 2000.

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