Lan O’Loughlin Aquatic Center Naming Application

Lan was a wonderful school classmate who went forward to give his best to the world doing what he loved.

Lan was an outstanding coach. He was very inclusive encouraging all swimmers to do their personal best. It was always about the student and not about him. That is indeed rare.

Lan was a great coach during a tough time when I was on the team. We had to practice in pools without heat and pools not designed for competitive swimming when the old complex pool was out of order, but he made it work. I believe many swimmers went on to get scholarships and were State champions. Lan was inclusive in recruitment, generous with his time, and encouraged and pushed improvement at all skill levels in the sport. He would be proud and honored to know how his community remebers him.

It would be an honor to recommend naming the aquatic center in memory of Lan O'Loughlin.

I did not have the privilege of knowing Lan O’Loughlin personally, but I do have the honor to work closely with his son Eric, who is a business colleague of mine at Morgan Stanley. In my opinion, there is no stronger evidence of the character Lan possessed than seeing that character in the fine and upstanding son he raised in Eric. Eric possesses and exhibits the best qualities that a parent would strive for in their children. Eric is gracious, generous with his time, puts others before self, places a high value on integrity, and approaches everything he takes on with excitement and with the kind of passion that makes people want to be part of Eric’s world. If Lan was here today, I would thank him for how he has instilled such strong and positive values in his son and share with him how proud he must be as a father. I can only imagine the positive impact Lan had on the community and the naming of the Aquatic Center in his memory would be a great honor for him, his family, and the community. Your consideration in naming the facility, the Lan O’Loughlin Aquatic Center is greatly appreciated!

Lan O'Loughlin was a wonderful coach! I swam on the Watauaga County team for 2 yrs and the Watauga High School team for 4 years under Lans leadership. He loved swimming and was an inspiring and encouraging coach and person. He is greatly missed and I would love yo see his legacy live on in Watauga County!

Lan was my coach, my mentor, my colleague, and my friend. I had the honor of serving as his assistant coach for ten years. In all the time I swam or worked for him, I always knew he had the best interest of the student-athlete in his heart. No one was ever turned away from joining the team and everyone had a place. It is more than fitting that we should recognize Lan by naming the aquatics facility in his honor.

Lan was someone we all should strive to be like. One of a kind!

This would be such a wonderful thing for this community. I’m personally enjoying the new pool I love the aqua size classes this was one of the main reasons I joined.

I knew Alan for over 40 years. Moved to Boone to work with him coaching. I was the Aquatic Director for Watuga County from 1985-88 current Ashe county resident. No one I know had done more for swinging in this area than Alan I feel the pool should be named for him if anyone.

Born x Raised in Boone. WHS grad. :)

Lan’s commitment has been second to Watauga County and the swim program is second to none. He deserves this!

Renaming the new aquatic centre in Lan O’Loughlin’s honor would be especially Important to the community given Lan’s strong support and commitment to the Community and the facility.

I strongly support naming the aquatic centre to recognise Lan O’Loughlin and his commitment to this recreational facility. It is well-deserved recognition for his many efforts!

I went to high school with Lan and was fortunate to have him as m friend. Great guy. Lan deserves the naming!

Uncle Lan was a positive influence for countless people. This is a great way to honor everything he has done for the community.

I was privileged to have four children coached by Lan, on both the county and high school swim teams. He was, without a doubt, the epitome of the ideal coach-someone who is an expert at their chosen sport and who also models integrity, encouragement, and compassion in encounters with team members. He impacted our children in ways that affected their lives and not just their performance at the time. I always knew they were not only coached well, but protected emotionally by his concern for them as individuals. They knew he cared about them, and this motivated them to do their best. I can’t think of any better name to attach to the new pool.

Lan had a huge impact on his community in Boone in many different ways. My family has known Lan since 1972. The hours he spent teaching in the classroom and coaching on the pool deck were enormous. Lan was a leader and lead by example during his life. His memory and family are deserving of this honor!

Here's hoping the new center will be named for Lan from one of his Nova High School 1972 classmates.

Lan embodied the spirit of the High Country – a talented, yet humble man who invested in the lives of young people, including mine. During my high school years, I observed the skill and expertise that enabled Lan to lead countless teams to victory, from local to state level championships. Although he enjoyed every win, Lan cared far more about sportsmanship, work ethic and character. Swimming was merely the channel he used to teach lessons which rippled far beyond the water. Lan served his community with humility, not for personal gain or accolades, but for the good of others. His swimmers are now scattered across the country, separated by decades of time and miles of distance. Today, we unite together in our hope that you, as the leaders of the community we once called home, will join us in honoring the life and legacy of a man who never thought his name would be on a building – which is the very reason it should be.