Park Cities Y’s Top Dad Lives Outside Park Cities
The YMCA of Metropolitan of Dallas honored the Father of the Year winners for each of its branches on Tuesday night. When I was told that the Park Cities Y’s winner was Mike Ragan, I went to the website of the Dallas Central Appraisal District to figure out whether he lives in University Park or Highland Park. The answer was neither; although the URL of his business is parkcitiesortho.com, he lives in Preston Hollow.
I found this odd, because Preston Hollow has a branch of its own, the Town North Y. So we asked Subie Hazelton, the membership service specialist at that Y, who its Father of the Year was; maybe he lives in the Park Cities, in a swap of sorts? Wrong again — Darrell Burdge lives in Garland.
Meanwhile, last night I took my 4-year-old to his first practice for the Orioles, his team in the Coppell YMCA tee-ball league. I spoke to four other players’ parents, and I was the only one in those conversations who is a Coppell resident. I guess anybody can belong to any YMCA branch they want.
Here’s the press release about Ragan’s honor:
The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas established the “Father of the Year” award to recognize the significant impact fathers make in the lives of their children. Each year, the Dallas YMCAs accept nominations from family members in each local community who wish to honor a father with this special award. Each local YMCA chose a “Father of the Year” from their community.
The Park Cities YMCA is pleased to announce Mike Ragan as the 2013 Father of the Year. Ragan was nominated by his wife Cindy. Ragan was described by his wife Cindy as being a great example to his daughters of what a father and husband can and should be. “A friend nominated Mike to coach our 4 year old daughter’s Pre-K soccer team and he has never looked back. He is always the coach who will take extra girls off the waiting list so no one gets left off a team,” wrote Cindy, in her nomination essay for this award.
In addition to coaching Y sports, and serving on the girls sports committee, Mike is also an Orthodontist in the Park Cities community.
“Mike’s father was always a dedicated and devoted coach so there was no question that Mike would follow in his footsteps. He is a man who values his career, his volunteer work and his friends. I truly am proud of the example of service he is setting for our children” Cindy wrote.
Mike’s two daughters are students at ESD. Abby Ragan will be entering the 6th grade in the fall; Caroline Ragan, will be entering the third grade. They are very proud of their dad. Abby wrote, “If I could have any dad in the world it would be him. He’s kind and understanding and hilariously funny. He always helps me with sports and homework and I love him so much. He’s the best dad ever!”
Caroline wrote, “My dad is so great because he always helps me out when I can’t do something. I think that my dad is the best daddy in the world because he is very nice and loving and awesome!”
Dads from all the Dallas YMCAs were honored at a family celebration at Adventure Landing.
Congrats to Mr. Ragan. The Y has many different types of memberships one of which allows you to go to any Y in the Dallas system. I go to the Park Cities Y, as well as, the Town North Y. I would think that if you lived south of Walnut Hill and east of the tollway that the Park Cities YMCA would be closer than the Town North YMCA
Glad he picked the PC Y, need more coaches like him.
Sure, he can attend that YMCA that he wants to! I am glad he won, he has a lovely family.
He’s a wonderful orthodontist, too!