Pam Karlos. Photo courtesy of Pam Karlos.
Pam Karlos has served on the White Rock YMCA (the Y) board for over 40 years before retiring at the end of 2024. But her time at the Y started long before she served on the board and her story in our neighborhood is not over yet. Learn more about her YMCA journey.
What was your first interaction a YMCA?
When I was 10 years old, with a single mom, I spent many summer days riding my bike from Lemon and Inwood to the Y on Preston Road — long before it was the Park Cities Y or Moody Y.
[In] the 1970s, our family got involved with the East Dallas Y, on Worth Street. It was a classic old beautiful home with good bones but small facilities. Our son and other kids took swimming lessons in pools volunteered by neighbors. As our family grew, my husband and I did some amateur coaching in soccer, baseball and basketball. Tragically, my husband died in 1983. The Y was there for us in so many ways.
When did you officially join the board?
In 1985, I was asked to join the Y board.
How did you watch the White Rock YMCA transform into what it is today?
We had outgrown the house Y [during] my term, and we worked hard to raise funds and find a new location. We settled on the ‘Warehouse Y,’ as I called it. Now the property houses Ale House and Ace Hardware. With creative ideas we took the large empty space and developed an exercise space, dance classes, a basketball court, a wheelchair basketball league and Bishop Lynch held their wrestling practices there. Richard Vitale — board president at the time — recruited East Dallas lawyers, bankers and architects to join the board.
We built a pool and got the City to build a bridge connection to White Rock Lake. Lincoln Property decided to sell the property and literally moved us across Gaston to the upper-level shopping center. We were now the Window Y, as I call it. Lincoln Property paid our rent. Not ideal but an energetic workout area and a couple of classrooms.
With more diligent work and prayer, we were able to buy the vacating Lutheran Church, down the street, and build our current White Rock Y. None of this would have happened if this community had not opened their hearts and pocketbooks.
Pam Karlos at the annual White Rock YMCA Sailing Party in 2022.
What kept you serving the YMCA for all those years?
It should be obvious why I stayed 40 years. I take with me great memories. A huge thank you to the Y staff — which I ‘ve seen turn over many times over the years. Always, I saw bright energetic people [moving] on to further their careers, taking with them the qualities of the Y to share with others. I look forward to doing the same. The Y can still count on me for some volunteering and support.
What’s next for you?
We’ve put five children through Woodrow. I have moved on to another board, the Woodrow Wilson Community Foundation. It’s a whole different kind of commitment. Part of my job is taking teachers’ wish lists and figuring out what needs we can meet for them in a scholarship form.
Pam Karlos’ White Rock YMCA retirement party (2024).
