Nan-Walt+Reiner

=**Walt Reiner** (1923 - 2006) "When you give up the need for power, reputation, and money, you have the whole world open to you."=



==="Community Resource Redistributor" **This is how Walt Reiner described himself. He is a hometown hero because he led the charge for the poor and disenfranchised in Valparaiso. Below are some chronological highlights about this priceless citizen of Valparaiso, Indiana.**===

- Walt served in the U.S. Navy during WWII where he participated in the first wave of attacks on Omaha and Normandy beaches, and subsequently served tours in North Africa and East Asia. - 1949, he accepted a [|football]coaching position at Valparaiso University. During his tenure as "Coach," Walter led the Crusaders to its only bowl game in VU's history. - Early 1960's, Youth Leadership Training Program, which sought to connect young people to programs serving the broader community and world. - 1965, Director of Prince of Peace Volunteers in Chicago, guiding 34 teams of volunteers in U.S. inner cities and overseas, whose work was captured in the documentary film, "I BELIEVE," aired on NBC in 1966. - 1960's, Walt supported Vietnam War Conscientious Objectors and became a civil rights activist in his own right. - 1967, his leadership activities and commitment to human rights sustained him through a heresy trial before the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. -Late 1960's, Walt was a founder of the Association of the Colleges of the Midwest's Urban Studies Program in Chicago, offering students at Valparaiso University, as well as a consortium of liberal arts colleges, the opportunity to truly experience the diversity of the city and to connect with those who were creatively addressing issues of racism, poverty, violence and other issues faced by thousands of people on a daily basis. -1969, Walt and Lois Reiner founded Valparaiso Builders Association, a predecessor organization to Project Neighbors, whose primary mission was, and continues to be, partnering with families in need to relocate to Valparaiso, offering a new sense of community in which all of its citizens learn from and respect diversity. -1991, Walt "retired" from his formal teaching duties as associate professor emeritus of Valparaiso University's Christ College. - 1991, was the co-winner of the University's Martin Luther King award, sharing the honor with his "brother," Karl E. Lutze. - 1992, awarded the "[|Sagamore of the Wabash]," the highest honor given to a resident of the State of Indiana for lifetime service. - 2006, Walt and his wife, Lois were named volunteers of the year by the Porter County Community Foundation. One of Walt's greatest thrills was to be a featured "performer" on the Planetary Blues Band CD several years ago.



His relentless demonstration of care for the most vulnerable and commitment to implementing creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems in the spirit of citizenship and motivated by his strong faith won the support of many Valpo residents who, in turn, have begun to relate to class and race in new ways. Read how Walt brought the [|first black] family to Valparaiso. Walt promoted the generosity of the larger community and demonstrated unfettered, energetic volunteerism, serving, with Lois, as the vital catalysts for relationship-building in their local community by "thinking globally and acting locally." His life's works are the subject material both of the non-fiction novel, "Bringing It Home," as well as of the documentary "Making Miracles Happen."

From Walt's obituary, published in the Gary (Indiana) Post-Tribune on 12/7/2006.