Pendleton Parks and Rec wants to honor the late Pete Wells

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton Parks and Recreation Department is asking the city to establish the Pete Wells Aquatic Scholarship. It would be used to provide swimming lessons to low-income families. Wells died Dec. 31, 2021, and Mayor John Turner said this would be a fitting tribute.

“Pete Wells was our municipal judge and before that he was our city attorney,” Turner said. “He was also a great volunteer. He was a first citizen of Pendleton and very active throughout the community, especially with children’s sports and swimming.”

In addition to working with the Pendleton Swim Association, Wells was involved in many other programs. Those include Start Making a Reader Today, Aspire, Domestic Violence Services, and the Buck Boosters.

“The community benefit could be considerable,” Parks and Rec Director Liam Hughes wrote. “Currently, the Pendleton Family Aquatic Center offers discounted season passes to low-income families, but does not have a financial assistance program for swimming lessons. This program will give more kids access to swimming lessons, which can literally save lives.”

Photo from the late Pete Wells’ Facebook page posted by Mary Sara Wells