You’d think that with all the shiny (and in one case, historic) facilities that have the YMCA logo on them that retiring CEO Gary Lash would have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to his proudest accomplishments.

Bricks and mortar are nice, but that’s not what Lash is all about.

“It’s what the Y means to the community,” he says. “What would the community be like if it wasn’t for the Y?”

It would be different, that’s for sure.

There is the venerable downtown Y, which is a throwback in time. Lots and lots of time, since it was built in 1925.

There is BHP Billiton YMCA at the corner of Knight and Preston Streets, built in 2017. That was followed in 2024 by the Lash Family YMCA on Ellerbe Road, built on the land that was once used as the YMCA’s Camp Forbing.

The latest jewel is the Caddo Parish Premier Park baseball facility, located just off the Clyde Fant Parkway, that hosted its first event last weekend.

Those are nice, but not what Lash considers his biggest success stories. It’s people, not buildings.

“Staying true to the mission of the Y and building facilities, by the intervention of God, for the community,” he says of the legacy he’s been a part of for more than two decades.

“Forming the staff that we have that’s committed to the mission. To bring families together and try to re-create strong family ties and family bonds, but also relationships, family to family, with other families and people.  I think sports brings people together. All people.”

If you want to be official about it, Gary Lash has actually already “retired” from being the CEO. He did that in December, when he tossed the keys to Raymond Lee, who has been with the organization for 21 years in a variety of capacities. But those who know Lash weren’t the least bit surprised to find out that after he retired, he kept working – by continuing as the Project Director for the new baseball complex.

There were still parking lots to stripe, sidewalks to install, scoreboard to connect … hey, somebody had to do it.

Earlier this week, with the facility now open, he was back across the street in front of the BHP YMCA with a shovel in his hand helping his wife plant flower bulbs.

Somebody has to do it.  


Which basically describes how Lash began his career with the YMCA in 2003. He had worked a variety of jobs, mostly in sales, when he got the tap on the shoulder one day and informed that his services were no longer required.

At age 51, that’s no time to re-start a career. But he knew where he needed to be.

He was named as CEO for the YMCA in 2003 but before you think that was a cushy job that allowed him plenty of time to put his feet on his desk, think again.

“I was cleaning toilets, changing lightbulbs, blowing grass … just doing what needed to be done,” Lash says.  “Because that’s what was required at the time. (The Y) was not in good shape. financially or facility wise or anything. But that’s where I felt God called me to be. So 2003 was a jump start. I think by people seeing that commitment we made, not only with staff, but I think community bought into it. And it’s paid off, as far as building these facilities and having people feeling like theirs.”

There is simply no comparison from where the YMCA was to where it is now.

The community may look at buildings to measure success, but it’s “building” that Lash uses to measure that.

“We have built an organization where people all over the community and all ages can come together and have some common bond and become friends,” he says. “There’s a lot of people that have met each other and built friendships in our facilities. And now with the baseball (facility) it is going to magnify that.”


Lash says he has been thinking about stepping away for a couple of years. Now 74 years old, he felt like the timing was right.

“It’s been a difficult situation, a difficult job, but it’s brought many blessings.” Lash says. “My family has been a Y family for forever. My wife has worked here for 40 years. The boys worked at summer camps. They played sports. We’ve given a lot to the Y, and God has blessed us. We couldn’t have done these kinds of things without that intervention of God.

“It’s time to go do something else,” he says. “I guess I’ll go home and maybe figure that out.” 

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com