The Salina Family YMCA recently welcomed lifelong member Pat Bolen and former CEO Phil Guries for a special visit and building tour, marking Pat’s first time inside the facility in more than six years.
Bolen, now 89, has a long history with the YMCA. He remembers the organization’s move from its original downtown location to its current site and served on the YMCA Board three separate times. He was also an active handball player and remained closely tied to the Y community throughout his life.
Guries, who became CEO of the Salina Family YMCA in 1989 after serving in Denver and Fort Worth, said his connection with Bolen dates back to his earliest days in Salina. He noted that one thing has always set the local YMCA apart: its community atmosphere.
“The Salina Y has always had something special,” Guries said. “From working with local businesses to the friendly, familiar faces you see every day, the community here has always been the heart of this YMCA.”
YMCA staff said the visit offered a meaningful moment to reflect on the organization’s history and the people who helped shape it. Bolen and Guries spent the afternoon walking through the facility, discussing past projects and the updates completed since Bolen’s last visit.
Their stories, staff said, underscored the role the YMCA has played for generations as a place centered on connection, service, and belonging.