Athletic Commission uplifts generations of youth

The Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission to this day remains as the most unique and committed supporter of local sports players and teams whether it’s high schoolers, college students or adults. Its history reaches back to the World War II era and ever since that time, the TAC has moved along with the times thanks to its dedicated leadership and loyal members, yet never straying from its devotion to amateur sports and civic betterment in Pierce County. An active membership drive is underway for TAC to make even more of an impact.

The TAC honors male and female athletes equally and inspires them to do great things on and off the field. When an athlete has been successful in his or her sport and they get an opportunity to come to a banquet or luncheon and be recognized, their families feel pride as well which encourages young athletes to be better people says past TAC president Willie Stewart.

“Citizenship is part of it – to have a desire to be a better citizen and impact other people. It’s a motivator for them to keep their grades up which can lead to these student athletes getting opportunities for higher education through scholarships and other supports,” he said.

“TAC’s only narrow focus is that it’s for sports but beyond that, it’s inclusive and it builds community pride and the economics of the community too.”

AN ILLUSTRIOUS PAST

In 1941, local community recreation programs were encouraged to promote a healthy lifestyle and wholesome activities to ensure servicemen being able to perform their military duties. Lincoln High School graduate and University of Washington student Clay Huntington approached Tacoma Mayor Harry Kane to arrange a football game in Stadium Bowl between teams of military troops. The decision to create the Tacoma War Athletic Commission was made and it officially formed on Dec. 30, 1942. Local businessmen, coaches, sports reporters and broadcasters were encouraged to join, and the membership grew quickly.

Many sports events were inaugurated or sponsored by the Tacoma War Athletic Commission during the war years. Some were designed to fund athletic equipment for the military and others were geared toward efforts to assist local schools. 

After the war ended, the name was shortened to the Tacoma Athletic Commission and a new headquarters was secured with the purchase of the Top of the Ocean, a restaurant shaped like a cruise ship and “docked” in the harbor along Ruston Way. Over the ensuing years, the TAC hosted or sponsored a wealth of events across a wide range of sports – from baseball and softball, golf and badminton, to hockey, football and bowling. 

A most notable sport that the TAC has supported for 76 of its years is boxing with the annual Tacoma Golden Gloves still drawing big crowds. Olympic gold medalists “Sugar” Ray Seales, Leo Randolph, Davey Armstrong, and Johnny Bumpus are among Tacoma boxers who went on to claim National Golden Gloves championships after winning a title in Tacoma.

To this day, perhaps the most significant evidence of the TAC’s impact is the Tacoma Dome. The TAC led a campaign to convince Tacoma voters to support a $28 million bond measure and the “A Dome of Our Own” campaign was successful. The fundraising campaign left a surplus in the Athletic Commission’s funds and were put in a trust for a sports museum. Funding was topped off by local businessman Fred Shanaman, Jr. The Shanaman Sports Museum opened its doors in the Tacoma Dome to the public in 1994. Changes at the Dome caused the museum to close, but all its artifacts are safely in storage for the future.

The giving of scholarships has long been a TAC tradition. The Clay Huntington Scholarship Award assists local high school and college students in their pursuit of broadcasting or journalism, and the Stan Naccarato Sports and Civic Betterment Award supports local students committed to sports and community service.

TAC gives awards as well including the Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year, the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award, the Frosty Westerling Excellence in Coaching Award, the First Family of Sports Award, and the Excellence in Officiating Award. Athlete of the Year awards recognize outstanding males and females alike. The TAC has been involved with the Sports Hall of Fame since its inception in 1942.

TAC President Gil Quante presents Steilacoom High School swimmer Ava Field with a 2024 Fall Athlete of the Year Award. Courtesy The Tacoma Weekly

A PROMISING FUTURE

In 2025, the TAC maintains a full board of executives and directors, some with decades of dedication to the organization. To better reflect the breadth of its work in this 21st century, “Pierce” was added to its name recently. Community pillar, educator, youth advocate and TAC board member Willie Stewart joined up with the TAC in 1970. He served as president 1989-1990 and is chair of TAC’s Athlete of the Year recognition.

“When I saw that it impacted the lives of children, that was immediately why I developed that interest. I saw it changing lives,” he said. “Everything the TAC does is for support and to help students have a good experience.”

According to Stewart, all it takes is to come to a membership meeting and witness the excitement for what the TAC is doing.  

“We don’t have to recruit them; they see the value of it,” he said. “Once they do, the program sells itself. You don’t have to convince anyone. All they have to do is just come and the rest is history.”

Jim Merritt has been on the TAC board for seven years and served as president from 2020-2023. He is eager for the TAC membership to increase so that more good things can happen to uplift young athletes especially. 

“The core of saving high-profile sports in Tacoma rests with the TAC. That’s why I’m a strong believer,” he said “We have to grow our membership. We need to reengage that so people can reflect, support our young athletes of today, and have a good time and fellowship. That’s really what it’s all about.”

After serving as board secretary, vice president and now TAC president, Gil Quante added the TAC to his list of volunteer activities about four years ago. 

“Since I’ve retired, it gives me such a blessing to be able to help others,” he said. 

A prime example is how the TAC Youth Sports Fund benefited the football team at Truman Middle School. None of the school’s helmets would fit one of the players so a new one was purchased for him, and every player’s helmet was fitted with a cap to help reduce the risk of concussion.  

“There were zero concussions for their football players last year,” Quante said.

When asked to speak of the benefits to becoming at TAC member, Quante replied that the best benefit is that memberships support Tacoma and Pierce County athletics and the youth in our community.

“There are a lot of good athletes that don’t have funding or need equipment to continue on to tournaments or go out of state,” he said.

A program is being developed so that when school or college athletic directors sign on as members, all the coaches are as well and for one price. More perks for TAC member cardholders include discounts at businesses like Ice Cream Social and Griot’s Garage, and reduced admission to college sports games. Membership also contributes to TAC’s robust scholarship program, adding funding to major supporters like the Names Family Foundation.  

Great opportunities to explore the TAC come with its public events. The 2025 Winter Athlete of the Year luncheon is on March 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the McGavick Conference Center on the Bates Technical College Campus, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood. The Spring Athlete of the Year dinner is on June 12. Again this year, the TAC will help sponsor the WIAA/Gesa Credit Union 3A and 4A Basketball State Championship tournament coming to the Tacoma Dome next month, March 5-8. TAC will be sponsoring and hosting the Gonzaga men’s team. More events bring the Tribute to Champions and Salute to Sports honoring outstanding athletes from across Pierce County and recognizing the winners of TAC scholarships. The year winds up with the Doug McArthur Golf Classic this summer. 

In looking at the big picture of what the TAC has done for 83 years, Quante said that one key aspect getting youth off the streets and into athletics for something positive, giving them an activity so they don’t get distracted into things that may not benefit them. 

“Athletes get good values in life and that produces leadership locally and even larger – leaders in family and community which means that we’ll have good business and community leaders, great fathers and daughters that want to benefit their children….” he said.

“If you help others, once you help one will help three or four more. It’s that ‘plant a seed, they’ll grow and produce a crop’ kind of theory. That’s what I enjoy about it.”

To learn more about the TAC, visit tacomaathletic.com.