Flora A. Coghlan Family Trust Brings VALCO Pool Campaign Closer To Their Goal

The VALCO Pool Campaign received a $200,000 donation from the Flora A. Coghlan Family Trust, in memory of Tom Coghlan, bringing the total raised to $2,797,920 as of July 31. The Flora A. Coghlan Family Trust donated $50,000 in 2021 and so this brings their total donated to $250,000. The VALCO Pool Campaign is grateful for their family's donation and commitment to the project all the way from Washington.

Flora and Tom's children, Annie and Jim, wrote some family history down of how their parents came to Glasgow, their time as a family here, and memories of going to the pool and swimming at the lake!

Our mom (Flora) and dad (Tom) moved to Glasgow in 1948 as newlyweds and raised four children here. They were graduates of the University Of Illinois. Mom had been employed as a radio engineer and helped run the university's radio station during the war. Dad started out as a salesman, but a back injury stopped that career. He was fortunate to get a job as a clerk at the First National Bank. My oldest brother, Mike, was born Dec. 10, 1949. It was one of the coldest winters ever, but they stayed in Glasgow. The family lived in a motel room for many months. There was a housing shortage in those days. They got lucky and were able to move into a 700 sq ft house across the street from the old high school. Mom had three boys in four years. By the time our sister came five years later, we had moved to 11th Ave N.

Both were active members of the community and their church, serving on several boards and volunteering with many organizations throughout their lives. Both were especially supportive of the schools and organizations that built opportunities for kids through education, the arts and sports. After dad's death and mom's move to be closer to Annie and Jim, they have continued to support several local organizations that benefit children and youth. The pool is special. It offers lessons and classes to all ages and supports a competitive swim team. It also provides a safe place where kids can socialize and recreate when school is not in session during the summer months.

Annie remembers using the pool quite a bit when she was in grade school. It is where she took swimming lessons for several summers and where she would meet up with friends. Once given permission to ride her bike to the pool, she was a regular customer, happily spending a dime for a couple hours break from the heat of the day.

Jim used the Glasgow pool very little when he was growing up. It was a long walk or a bike ride from the Coghlan family house to the South Side. Jim thought Glasgow was really big then. It was fun going to the pool. There were lots of kids. He wasn't a good swimmer, so he couldn't use the diving board. They really put the fear of foot fungus in you back in those days. Jim remembers having to step in antiseptic.

Jim learned to swim at the pool out at Fort Peck. He was never a good swimmer, so he was surprised when both his girls did swim team and lifeguarded at the neighborhood pool in Seattle. Great summer activities. You learn how to get up early in the morning, work hard to improve, and do your part for your team. Even if you aren't the best, you can note the incremental improvements in your time in your events. He enjoyed the stats as much as the meets.

Swimming lessons built confidence for being on the water which made for so many great memories for the Coghlan family on Fort Peck Lake. Swimming lessons also introduced some first aid training such as how to throw a life ring, how to swim someone to safely to shore, and how to care for someone who had a near drowning. Annie was never a fast swimmer, but she could and can still happily spend hours in and on the water.

This donation is an extension of gratitude to a supportive community that consistently valued opportunities for children and youth while we were growing up. The pool was one piece of this. Though the Coghlans don't live near and may not use the pool themselves, they are excited to imagine those that will for many years to come.

A new pool is important for Glasgow and Valley County. Jim spent a lot of time boating and water skiing when he was in high school. Swimming is so important for water safety. A swim team is a social club of its own; and the focus is on the kids. They need that.

Jim can recognize swimming strokes, but he doesn't know if he can execute them. His oldest daughter was very good in the back stroke. His youngest daughter qualified for districts at a 4A school in Washington in the freestyle. Neither was a year-round swimmer. In Glasgow, you don't do swimming year-round, so his hat's off to those kids that do summer swim league. It takes hard work and discipline.

As far as donating to the VALCO pool, our parents invested in this town, and the town was good to them. Our dad is buried in Glasgow. Our mom is 98 and ready to be with him. Flora lives out in Seattle to be close to family. She believes in kids, and opportunity for all. She realizes how much she has been blessed with and wants to give back. She spent many summer days on the beaches of Lake Michigan near Grand Haven. It was fun for her, and it will be fun for the kids that get to use the new pool in Valley County.

If you have questions about the VALCO Pool Campaign, they can contact a Board Member or look at the FAQs on the website, http://www.valcopool.com. If you want to know more about upcoming information, visit their social media pages @valcopool.