Governor, Czech ambassador on hand for opening of rebuilt Sokol West Gymnasium - West, TX - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

In a ceremony held in the new facility on North Davis Street in West, a group of more than 200 people listened as Ambassador of the Czech Republic Petr Gandalovic, among others, praised West residents for their resilience after the West Fertilizer Co. explosion on April 17, 2013, that killed 15 people and leveled portions of the town, including the old Sokol West Gymnasium.

“Something intangible has emerged between the Czech Republic and West, Texas,” Gandalovic said. “Something that’s been between us, a bond that we might not have been thinking of as strong, has re-emerged . . . This is the result of the tragedy that struck West that night.”

Sokol West, the local branch of a national organization that focuses on physical and moral education for the community, was forced to demolish the former gym and Lone Star Hall after the blast, Sokol West secretary Mary Beth Dulock said.

The new building is 12,500 square feet, 4,000 square feet larger than the building it is replacing, and has offices and a new upstairs viewing area for parents.

The building took about a year to build and cost about $1.2 million, paid for with insurance money and donations. The gym is scheduled to open in January after the new equipment arrives.

Parents with children enrolled in Sokol’s gymnastics program said they love the new building and thought the ceremony did the facility justice.

West resident Kathy Sembera said she’s a lifetime resident of West and participated in the local Sokol’s programs when she was a girl. Her son now takes gymnastics through Sokol, and she’s pleased with the new building, she said.

“It’s nice. It’s wonderful,” Sembera said.

West resident Jennifer Ashley has both of her daughters enrolled in Sokol’s gymnastics.

“At the old one, they used to have dances and weddings,” Ashley said. “So hopefully they’ll do it here, too.”