Wayne Memorial pool dedicated as James J. McPartland Natatorium

The Wayne-Westland Community Schools Board of Education voted Feb. 24 to dedicate the Wayne Memorial High School pool as the James J. McPartland Natatorium, honoring a coach and physical-education teacher who served the district for decades.

The board read a resolution describing McPartland’s more than 35 years with the district, 18 years as head coach of the Wayne Memorial swimming program and his work founding and leading the Wayne Dolphin swim team. The resolution said McPartland received 15 combined league championships and had been inducted into the Wayne Memorial High School Hall of Fame in 1994.

The naming was approved by vote during the meeting. The board then called McPartland’s family forward for a plaque presentation. A family member addressed the board, thanking trustees “for this great honor of my husband,” and alumni and district coaches described McPartland as a mentor and longtime community leader.

Mike Gruber, who said he has coached boys’ and girls’ swimming for Wayne since 1991 and knew McPartland for five decades, told the board, “He was my coach. He was my mentor. He was my colleague. And most of all, he was my friend.” Gruber said alumni are privately funding signage to be installed inside and outside the pool and that a formal dedication ceremony will be scheduled after the signage is ordered.

Board members recorded their support during roll call; the motion carried. The board did not place any restrictions or future conditions on the naming in its resolution.

The district’s communications or facilities offices did not provide a timeline for the dedication ceremony during the meeting. Gruber said the alumni group had already contacted the district’s signage vendor and anticipated ordering plaques and signs in the coming week.

The board will receive further details about the dedication event and sign installation once orders and scheduling are complete.