In the extreme early stages of Washington Parish Recreation District #1, the Board of Directors had identified a piece of property that would be ideal for a new recreation complex. We had already received a $220,000 matching funds grant from the Department of the Interior, but were having trouble raising the matching funds.
We had put several articles in The Era-Leader to let people know of our plans for a new recreation complex. In a couple of these articles, it mentioned bumps in the road that we had to find a way to overcome in order to have a successful project.
Little did we know, but Mr. Leeke Magee had been reading the articles about the Recreation District the entire time and followed our attempts to build better recreational opportunities for the local citizens.
In the spring of 2011, the Recreation District was contacted and advised that Mr. Leeke wanted to assist in making the recreation complex successful. He announced a pledge agreement and partnership with the Washington Parish Recreation District #1 to match every dollar we could raise by the end of the year up to $150,000. This was Heaven-sent to a board that had been trying to figure out a way to raise money to purchase land for the recreation complex.
On the pledge he presented to us, it stated that he "recognized the need for a facility in this area to provide healthy alternatives for the residents and especially the children".
Mr. Magee also "encouraged others to get involved and support this worthwhile endeavor".
He challenged others to get involved and knew that in order to be successful people would have to show a commitment to this project like he had done. He set the example and he simply wanted others to take part in some type of way.
After Mr. Magee ‘s pledge, there was an outpouring of support when over 200 businesses, individuals, sports teams, elected officials and others stepped up to do what they could to see that the pledge was met.
In December of 2011, Mr. Magee and his wife joined the Recreation District’s Board of Directors at Magee Financial and presented a check for $150,000. The money that he had pledged along with the money from generous community support allowed the Recreation District to purchase 115 acres of land in January of 2012. In November of 2013, the recreation district is scheduled to begin construction on Phase 1 of the new recreation complex.
Mr. Magee was an extremely generous and thoughtful man. Certainly he made many donations to help those in need that no one ever knew about. That’s the type of person he was. He took from his own possessions and gave to others to meet a need or simply make things better for an individual or a group.
When Atoka Recreation Complex is complete, everyone can look back to the time when Mr. Magee stepped up and believed in the people of our community and made a difference that will always be remembered. It was the start that the Recreation District needed and allowed for the beginning of something that will touch the lives of many children and adults in a similar manner that Mr. Magee always did.
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| Mr. Leeke Magee |
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