MORE PHOTOS AND
A VIDEO ARE BELOW -

Burt Lancaster starred in the movie “The Swimmer” in 1968, the year Saundra Neely began teaching Red Cross swim lessons in Ada. After 50 years, the movie may lay dusty on a shelf in a film museum somewhere, but Saundra Neely hasn’t put down her swim instruction manual quite yet.

On July 16, Mrs. Neely will begin teaching water safety once again, but this year will be her last as volunteer water safety instructor at the Ada Municipal Swimming Pool. Again this year, for two weeks in July, she will teach children, youth and adults in four different skill levels.

The Ada community gave Mrs. Neely, its major player in teaching Ada youth to swim, an honor one-half century in the making on Friday.

Perhaps Ada’s best kept secret of the summer was a total surprise to Mrs. Neely, but not to the assembled audience of nearly 40 friends and residents awaiting her arrival at the pool.

Her family members brought her to the pool using an excuse that wasn’t completely explained to the audience, but was appreciated and, best of all, it worked.

Neely, who for 50 swimming seasons led American Red Cross swim lessons to Ada youth, was recognized for that effort.

A community surprise recognition developed from several residents and spearheaded by Bryan Marshall took place appropriately at the swimming pool, coincidently in the rain – appropriate since water was the theme of Neely’s 50 years of swim instruction.

She received recognition from Ohio Governor John Kasich’s office. Comments were giving by Todd James of the North Central Ohio Red Cross Chapter, Findlay. Ada mayor, David Retterer, read a proclamation in her honor concluding it by naming Friday, June 22, 2018 as Sandy Neely Day in Ada.

That’s not all. Taken inside the newly renovated Ada pool building, Marshall unveiled a large plaque reading:

Saundra L. Neely
the “Swimming Lady”
has taught Red Cross swimming and water safety for 50 years. Here meritorious efforts helping youngsters, here at the Ada Pool, overcome their fear of water has likely saved lives. The residents of Ada are thankful for her caring attitude and appreciative of the impact them has made upon the community.
- June 22, 2018

Mrs. Neely followed the presentation by thanking countless volunteers and family members she claimed made all this possible. A video of her remarks is at the bottom of this story.