A&M associate director Mike ‘Wally’ Waldron finishes illustrious career

Waldron’s calling was training intramural basketball and football officials, which he did for almost a decade after arriving from the University of Miami in 1983. Waldron transitioned into facility operations just as A&M was prepared to move into the $36.4 million Student Recreation Center. He was the venue’s first facility manager, guiding it through a need for more services as A&M’s student body mushroomed. Waldron in 1998 was promoted to associate director, allowing him to provide input for both intramurals and sport clubs programs, something he did until retiring this month. He even delved into the business side of the department after getting his MBA, but whatever Waldron did he was hands-on, doing it with a smile and a zest for life which went back to his days as a student at the University of Massachusetts when he trained football and basketball officials.

He has put his good work to use and is retiring from his position in July.

“He was the best trainer of intramural officials in the country,” said Tom Reber, A&M associate vice president for student affairs. “He knew the rules better than anyone. He knew how to get the most out of his students. He was absolutely the best.”

Drew McMillen, A&M senior associate director for student affairs, was a wide-eyed freshman in 1985 when he arrived from Nebraska. He knew only two people, but one of them was Waldron’s assistant who convinced McMillen to attend an introductory meeting for flag football officials in Room 164 of the now defunct Read Building.

“Mike said whatever career you get into you’re going to learn some things as an intramural official that are going to make you better whatever it is – communication, working in a difficult environment, teamwork [and] conflict resolution,” McMillen said. “This was before we talked about transferable skills and learning outcomes, and all those things that we talk about now in student affairs. So he was ahead of the curve.”

McMillen was among many Waldron disciples.

“And I said, ‘Man I’m going to get all that and $3.35 an hour?” he said. “Say no more. He did not mention what I and my mother would be called over the several few years as an intramural official.”

Waldron wasn’t getting rich. He signed a 10-month contract in 1983 for $13,200 after working two years at the University of Miami.

“I was happy to have a job,” said Waldron, who paid his way through college by working at Fenway Park. “My love was training intramural officials [and those with] the sports officials association, which we started and was an integral part of the social life of our students.”

Waldron, along with Rick Hall, former director of Rec Sports, developed a student wage scale for Rec Sports before the Rec Center opened. It’s still used today as Rec Sports has the largest workforce on campus. It’s something Waldron takes pride in.

“There’ a lot of things special about A&M, but the students are the best part bar none,” Waldron said. “Three simple things: train ’em, power ’em and trust ’em. A lot of people train, everyone trains. A lot of people talk about empowerment, but spend their time looking over their shoulders. To empower them, you really need to trust them. Our students do amazing things. And the students within this department have been challenged and I know as they go forward, they leave here with skills much better than just what they what learned in the classroom, because we train ’em, we empower them and we trust ’em.”

Surrounded by greatness

Waldron joked at his retirement function that many of the people he interacted with in his early years at A&M have things named after them.

Dr. John Koldus III, who has a building named after him, was vice president of the student services.

“He was one of the nicest guys I ever knew and talked about serving students,” Waldron said.

Waldron also dealt with Carolyn Adair, who served as A&M Director of Student Activities, for more than two decades.

“She was making small talk with me and just said, ‘I hear you’re from the north,’” Waldron said. “She said, ‘Oklahoma?’”

Waldron at that point thought he might have made a mistake coming to A&M.

“I said, ‘I’m just a little farther north than that Dr. Adair.’’

The associate vice president for student affairs was Lt. Gen. Ormond Simpson who the Simpson Drill Field is named for.

“I didn’t know Gen. Simpson really well,” said Waldron, but they ended up in the same corner during a social function.

Waldron was trying to be respectful and out of nowhere the general turned and said, “Mike you need to do me a favor.”

He quickly responded with a ‘Yes sir,’ considering his company.

“I spent too much of my life traveling and not spending time with people who were important to me,” Simpson told Waldrop. “Don’t you ever forget to stop and smell the roses.”

Waldron didn’t interact very much with the general thereafter, but got emotional recalling the moment four decades later, giving Simpson props for sound advice.

Waldron was hired by Dennis Corrington, the patriarch of Rec Sports, who retired in 2018 after 45 years. Corrington was replaced by Hall, who in turn, retired last year after 43 years in Rec Sports. They were great mentors and friends.

“Thank you [Dennis] for taking a chance on me,” Waldron said. “I was a wild guy from Boston back then.”

A national perspective

Waldron’s impact went beyond Aggieland. He’s been an active member in NIRSA, which dubs itself the leader in collegiate recreation. It was founded as the National Intramural Association in 1950, eventually becoming the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association, holding the moniker until 2012, when it simply became NIRSA: Leaders in College Recreation.

“He has presented more than 35 times at NIRSA conferences,” said Jeff Huskey, A&M’s executive director of the department of recreation sports. “He has served at multiple elected positions, including the NIRSA Region II rep, the Texas state director, the Region IV vice president and between 2009 and 2012, he was in the NIRSA president cycle where he was on the board of directors and specifically was the 2011 NIRSA president. He also has served on multiple committees.

“I just wanted you to know the impact that he’s had.”

Several A&M staff members nominated Waldrop for this year’s NIRSA Honor Award, the organization’s highest award.

A big personality, heart

Reber met Waldron in 1983 at a NIRSA convention in Nashville after attending the Grand Ole Opry. The 15-passenger van was short one person as an irritated Reber asked the group who was missing.

“They said we were waiting for, ‘Mike the mouth,’” Reber said. “And that was actually his nickname from back at the University of Miami and luckily, we changed it when he came to A&M.”

Waldron became not just a good friend, but a great friend.

“If you don’t know the difference a good friend is [its] someone you can call and they will bail you out of jail,” Reber said. “A great friend is sitting next to you in jail saying, ‘That was one hell of a night,’ Luckily, we never spent any time in jail, but that was due to the fact there were no cell phones and no social media [in those days].”

Waldron knew how to bend the rules both ways. He used a university truck to move his apartment furniture. He also invented flex time.

“Thanks to him, A&M decided to offer it to the rest of the community,” Reber said.

Waldron hollered “you’re welcome,” as Reber spoke.

“He is the most generous person I know,” said Reber, adding that he’d be the one to pick up the tab at Northgate, but he’d also give more than his money. “He’s always willing to tell you the truth. While it might sting a little bit, it makes you a better employee and a better person.”

When A&M opened the Rec Center in 1995, Mike spent the weeks leading up to it almost working around the clock, along with fellow workers, Jennifer and Jason Boyle.

“He will tell you he had three days to get the combinations to the lockers so they could get the lockers ready to work,” Reber said. “Each night, he bought dinner out of his own pocket for his staff.”

What’s next

Waldron is retiring from the office, but he’ll continue to work at A&M sporting events.

He’s helped with statistics at men’s and women’s basketball games since 1989. He’s done football stats since 1993 and recently added the pitch clock at baseball games. He’ll also be a marshal at the A&M golf course.

He’ll be the one with the Boston twang.

“Believe it or not, I can still say pahhk my cahh in Hahvahd Yhhd,” said Waldron, while not accenting any of the r’s.

He’s a fan of all Boston sports teams and proud of his heritage.

“I was blessed with my parents in Boston who taught me as a good Irish catholic boy to work hard and respect others,” Waldrop said. “I also have six older siblings, who gave me examples of what to do and often times what not to do to avoid staying out of trouble. There’s also my 10 nieces and nephews, and my 14 great nieces and nephews, who I have had the opportunity to spend quality time [with] in their life.”