History of The Name Gov’s Training Academy

Walt Gawkowski was born in Muskegon May 4th 1921. He attended Muskegon public schools and graduated from Muskegon High School in 1941. After graduation he worked at Central Market, a grocery store in Muskegon, before joining the United States Army. Walt served as a company clerk while in the military and travelled to France for the bulk of his active duty.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army in 1946 he returned home to Muskegon where he continued his interest in the grocery business by returning to his job at Central Market. Later that year he and childhood friend Orie Panici together purchased Campus Market, across from Muskegon High School. After a few years Walt decided to venture out on his own and he purchased a small neighborhood store on Henry St. in Muskegon which he named “Walt’s Henry St. Market”.

He built a solid business at the little store until 1962 when an opportunity presented itself to purchase a larger store in a growing area of Muskegon, Roosevelt Park. The store known as McClary’s Market was renamed Gov’s Market at the urging of Walt’s wife Rose. Gov was Walt’s nickname given to him by friends and family as they claimed he resembled a former Michigan governor. Gov’s Market was a huge step forward for Walt as he built the business into a major player in Muskegon. His store specialized in fresh meats and was a popular place for local families to buy meats and groceries.

Walt operated the store until he retired in the mid-80’s and sold the business to his eldest son Pete. The store name remained Gov’s Market until 1987 when Walt and his sons purchased 2 Subway Sandwich franchises and named the new corporation Gov N Sons Subway Inc.

Now run by Walt’s grandchildren, naming the baseball softball facility Gov’s Training Center was a tribute to their Grandfather Walt, aka Papa Gov, and his legacy.