Attis' 90th birthday celebration set for Saturday

The legendary Russ Attis will enjoy his 90th birthday milestone Saturday in the building he served for 34 distinguished years.

Attis will celebrate his birthday back at his old Arlington High School that opened in 1922, closed in 1984 and now serves Christian Liberty Academy.

The informal reception is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon in the former home economics room in the hallway that borders the south wall of Grace Gymnasium. There will be a cake-cutting and brief ceremony at 11 a.m. There is no charge for the event, and there also will be a chance to take a few minutes to tour the school and stroll down memory lane.

Parking will be in the east lot across the street from Christian Liberty at the intersection of Walnut and Euclid. Greeters will be at the southern-most doorway on Walnut to escort people to the reception room.

Attis arrived at the 28-year-old Arlington High School building in 1950. He was a temporary replacement for an ailing track coach and then stayed until the school's emotional closing ceremony on June 8, 1984.

Attis, a man of boundless energy whose dedication to physical fitness is legendary, impacted many young people in positive ways as he launched the cross country program, built the track and field team into a state powerhouse, molded popular Arlington Heights Park District summer athletic programs and guided a successful Arlington athletic department as athletic director that won the first four Paddock Cups for varsity boys sports excellence in the Mid-Suburban League.

— Bob Frisk