Wally Mole boosted sports
Longtime sports wall of fame chairman fondly remembered for preserving history
Wally Mole devoted much of his working life helping people put roofs over their heads, and his retirement putting plaques on walls.
Wally Mole, who died Sunday at age 91, sold real estate in his native Welland, eventually opening his own company.
He also is remembered by many as the longtime chairman of the Welland Sports Wall of Fame committee, an organization dedicated to preserving the community’s sports history. Welland Sports Promotion Committee chairman Wayne Jaroslawski said Mole took the volunteer position seriously.
“As chairman, he worked very hard every year to ensure that quality nominees were inducted,” Jaroslawski said.
As benefitting an all-around athlete who is on the wall for his achievements in badminton, baseball, cricket and tennis, Mole wanted the sports shrine inside Seaway Mall to reflect that Welland was more than a hotbed for hockey.
“He especially liked to see inductees from a diversity of sports,” Jaroslawski said.
Mole was the Welland Sports Wall of Fame’s top promoter, and he was always worried that the tribute to the community’s sports history would itself become history due to a dearth in nominations.
This reporter, Tribune sports editor during Mole’s 12 years as chairman, knew to expect a call right after Boxing Day requesting an appeal for nominations. Mole would make another call if the deadline for submissions needed to be extended.
“Wally’s main goal was to make sure people who had contributed to sports in Welland were honoured with induction onto the wall,” Jaroslawski said.
Mole’s selfless and tireless efforts on behalf of the wall did not go unnoticed. In 2013 he received the H.L. Cudney Memorial Award as sportsman of the year.
Mole’s contributions to the community extended beyond sports. As well as serving as president of the badminton and tennis clubs, he was a president of the Kiwanis Club, Rose Festival, Welland Club and Welland and District Real Estate Board.
Mole is survived by Shirley, his wife of 67 years, daughter Wendy Hammond of Fonthill and son Randy Mole of Port Coquitlam, B.C.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 until 8 p.m. at H.L. Cudney Funeral Home, 241 West Main St., Welland.