Weeden has been a Y member for 84 years

“Buck” started at the Y when he was just 7

The year was 1939 and World War II was just starting.  That same year, Russell “Buck” Weeden started coming to the Marshalltown YMCA as a member at the ripe age of 7.  And he hasn’t stopped since.

Weeden is the longest continuing member of the Marshalltown Y, having been enrolled for the last 84 years. The 91-year-old said he started coming to the Y when it was downtown near the courthouse.

“I played a lot of basketball and stuff like that,” Weeden said. “I spent a lot of hours there.”

He went on to play baseball as a student at Iowa State University before a long career with Fisher (Emerson) in Marshalltown in the purchasing department.

Weeden likes to ride a few different stationary bikes at the Y these days. 
“I try to stay in good condition for my age,” he said.

Tara Weatherly, who is the Member Services Assistant at the Y, loves to see every time Buck visits. 
“He’s very complimentary and genuinely very nice,” Weatherly said. 

Weeden said the Y has been a good way to stay active through the years, whether it was playing sports like volleyball or basketball or using the selection of exercise equipment.

“I’ve really enjoyed the many years that I’ve utilized the Y,” Weeden said. “It gave me something to stay out of trouble with.”