Bath Beach Boxing Coach Willie Vargas Honored

Councilman Vincent Gentile honored Bath Beach boxing coach Willie Vargas last week, presenting him with a Presidential Volunteer Service Award and a Gold Lifetime Achievement Award signed by President Barack Obama.

Since 1979, Vargas has been teaching at-risk youth how to box – keeping them off the streets and teaching them discipline. Five of his trainees have become world champions.

Gentile issued the following statement:

“I was happy to recognize Willie Vargas today. Mr. Vargas is a world class boxing trainer who has been teaching young, at-risk children how to box since 1979.

In their training, these young men learn not only how to be a champion in the ring but in the game of life. In fact, five of these young boxers trained by Mr. Vargas have grown – not only into fine young men – but into world champion boxers! All of the young men trained by Mr. Vargas lead by example and help keep at-risk youth off the streets and working towards something positive.

For all of his efforts, Mr. Vargas was awarded a Presidential Volunteer Service Award along with the Gold Lifetime Achievement Award signed by President Barack Obama. Mr. Vargas is a resident of Bath Beach and we should all be proud to call him one of our own!”