Wartburg College will rename the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center in honor of former president Jack Ohle and his wife, Kris.

The Board of Regents approved the change this spring, and a rededication of the Ohle Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center (The W) will be Thursday, Oct. 17, during Wartburg’s Homecoming & Family Weekend celebration.

Ohle served Wartburg College from 1998 to 2008. In 2004, he envisioned a partnership with city officials that eventually led to the opening of The W in 2008. The $31 million, 200,000-square-foot building is used by college and community members and includes an indoor pool, track and fieldhouse, and fitness center.

During his tenure, Ohle transformed the look of the Wartburg campus, building new student housing — Knights Village and Löhe Hall — a new campus entrance, Walston-Hoover Stadium and the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center. The Science Center, Saemann Student Center and Vogel Library also were renovated during his decade on campus.

“President Ohle’s leadership and strategic visioning were critical in imagining and realizing the ambitious objectives laid out in the partnership between the college and the city in 2004, and for that we are grateful,” said Rebecca Ehretsman, Wartburg College president. “The W continues to be a place that connects our campus and community and enhances the quality of life for everyone in the region.”

The renaming also kicks off a $5 million fundraising initiative to enhance and maintain the college’s recreational and wellness environment. Gary and Donna Hoover, of Scottsdale, Ariz., formerly of Ames, and Fred and Sue Hagemann, of Naples, Fla., and Waverly, provided leadership gifts for the appeal. Fred Hagemann served as chair of the Wartburg Board of Regents for the entirety of Ohle’s presidency.

“Serving on the Wartburg Board of Regents under the leadership of Jack Ohle was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had because we accomplished so much as a part of Commission Wartburg,” said Hoover. “The wellness and athletics facility was one of the final projects of his administration, so it is fitting that Jack and Kris Ohle’s name be placed there because of the tremendous impact they had on Wartburg.”

Commission Wartburg, a constituent-focused strategic planning initiative, was a significant milestone in the life of the college and led to Campaign Wartburg, the college’s largest-ever fundraising endeavor that also celebrated Wartburg’s sesquicentennial.

“The dream and vision of The W brought together many constituents, and today we can see the importance and value of the facility in the lives of students and the community,” said Ohle. “We deeply appreciate both the current Board of Regents and President Ehretsman for granting us this honor, as well as the Regents and leaders that conceived of The W and worked to make it a reality. Our hearts are grateful to all who believed in the vision of The W and supported, contributed, and worked to complete the facility.”

In addition to his impact on the college’s capital investments, Ohle also oversaw an 18 percent growth in enrollment, a 74 percent growth in endowment, and hired 21 additional faculty members, decreasing the student-faculty ratio.

“We were blessed during our 10 years of service to Wartburg,” Ohle added. “We have witnessed the benefits of The W to Wartburg, Waverly, and beyond, and it is an honor to have The W named for us.”