For a small community West Wendover has some excellent recreational assets in large part due to the relentless work of one individual and his team, Shawn Gregory.   After 23 years with the West Wendover Recreation District (WWRD) as its Parks & Recreation Director, Shawn is retiring and has turned off those field lights and covered that swimming pool for his last time.

Shawn is a third generation native Wendoverite, growing up in the community he has called home for so many years.  Shawn graduated from Wendover High School in 1987 and then went on to complete a degree in Health Education from Utah State University, graduating in 1992.   He then returned, like many of his friends, to his community to work, develop and try and give back for those of a younger generation who would follow.

As he stated in an interview with the Ruralite Magazine in 2012, “I love what I do, working with the community and helping to provide recreational opportunities for kids in my hometown”. 

When Shawn was a boy, recreational programs in town were meager.  In just more than two decades with him at the helm, recreation programming has expanded to an annual budget of over $1 million, not including the Toana Vista Golf Club operations.  The WWRD has now more than 35 employees during its peak season providing abundant recreation opportunities for the community’s young and old alike.

With the help and dedication of his staff Shawn has worked hard to provide local children with youth activities that included baseball, softball, T-ball, Jr. Jazz and many other programs.  During these 23 years he has assisted in bringing to fruition the construction of the community swimming pool, new ball fields, a skate park, a revamping of the equestrian facilities and related horse corrals, which are rented out to an ever growing community of horse owners.  As well, he was an original member of the Christmas Festival Committee which has been running for two decades; each year you would find Shawn  at the festival selling tickets for the gift basket raffles.   

Shawn worked tirelessly to ensure that the fields, parks, and swimming pool where maintained and open for use for the benefit of the community and after the WWRD took over the annual Easter Egg Hunt, you could find Shawn on the fields starting each hunt with the children.

Through all of the work Shawn always said, “You are only as good as the people who surround you”.   This is true but, as we all know, it takes a Leader to know the way, go the way and show the way;    Shawn was definitely that Leader. 

The City of West Wendover would like to thank Shawn for a job well done and for leaving the recreational opportunities in the community in a much better place and with a brighter future then when he arrived on scene.  We wish him and his family the very best!

Shawn is planning to join his wife Melissa and son Logan who are now living in the Spring Creek, Nevada area.

 Photo:  Shawn along with his wife Melissa

Photo:  Shawn with his younger brother and sister Terrill and April