Kingsport Spirit

I had an opportunity to catch-up with my fellow city retiree, Dave Taylor, the other day. Generations of residents would recognize Dave as one of the iconic ‘faces’ of Bays Mountain Park.

As we were talking, I asked what he’d been up to in retirement. He told me that he’s an avid swimmer these days and praised the Kingsport Aquatic Center (KAC). He explained that after college, his first job was lifeguard for the Moose Club. Longtime Kingsport residents will remember the blue & white metal sided natatorium with the roll-up garage doors (I smelled chlorine as I wrote that). It was the first indoor aquatic center, ironically next door to the present Aquatic Center. Today, ECU MeadowView stands on the site. Dave said he jumped in the pool, swam a lap, and hasn’t stopped swimming since.

He went on to tell me about someone he feels is an unsung hero. Karen Bland has quietly taken U.S. Masters Swimming by storm. A local resident, she has amassed 16 top ten finishes since 2020–3 of them first place. She’ll be 63 this year. Dave said he’d be on the ‘sidelines’ cheering her on this weekend, too, in a competition at KAC.

So, if you needed some inspiration, there you go. It’s never too late to learn new things.