On Thursday, Mike Hermann, director of Athletics, welcomed everyone and introduced President and CEO Matt Thompson, Ph.D. Dr. Thompson pointed out that “this day has been much anticipated, and we are thrilled that you are here to celebrate it with us!”
He introduced former two-term Kansas Governor Bill Graves, KWU Class of 1976, who served as national chair of the Sports Complex fundraising committee. Also present was his sister, Martha Graves Reese, and her husband, who have also been tremendously supportive of this project.
Mr. Graves spoke of the commitment made by the Mabee Foundation a year ago by challenging Kansas Wesleyan to raise the first $6.75 million of the project cost by Oct. 8, 2014.
“Thanks to many of you here today,” Graves said, “alumni and Salina business leaders, Sacred Heart Junior and Senior High School parents and administrators, and many people who have no connection to Wesleyan but knew this was important to the community, we hit the $6.75 million to secure the Mabee grant.”
At that moment, he presented a check for $750,000, the final 10 percent of the project, to Dr. Thompson and the university on behalf of the Mabee Foundation. “This funding from the Mabee Foundation has put us past the $7.5M mark, and I’m pleased to announce that we have raised the money needed to complete the Sports Complex,” he said. He spoke of how proud their parents would be to know that their legacy had made it possible for Bill and Martha to join together in supporting this campaign in a significant way.
Legendary coach Gene Bissell, honorary co-chair of the campaign, spoke next. With great humor, he recalled when he and his wife arrived at KWU in 1950, and how the 100 degree weather had them thinking they would stay only a year. However, he was on staff for more than 25 years, winning KCAC championships along the way. His 1971 football team, on which Graves played, will be inducted into the KWU Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday morning. Concerning the funding to complete a new Sports Complex, Coach Bissell said he has been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Next, President Thompson revealed the rendering which shows the look of the new field. Along both sidelines, toward opposite end zones, are the words proclaiming “Gene Bissell Field.” One end zone will be gold with white-outlined purple letters spelling “Kansas Wesleyan,” and the other end zone will be purple with gold-outlined white letters spelling “Coyotes.”
Then, President Thompson shared one more special announcement. “We’ve been referring to this project as the Sports Complex for many years, and we have been thinking of a way to honor Governor Graves and the entire Graves family for all their support and encouragement through the years. And today, we can officially share with you the new name of our sports complex – The Graves Family Sports Complex!”
Bill Grevas, vice president for Institutional Advancement, stepped up to thank the original members of the fundraising committee, “and those who came before us who had the vision and got the ball rolling – people like Kent Lambert, Phil Coleman, and so many others who have had so much passion around this project.”
Grevas also expressed his deep appreciation to all donors of gifts, no matter the size, and thanked the anonymous donor who stepped up during the 100-Day dash with a matching grant of up to $400,000. When that opportunity was announced in the Salina Journal, the phones began ringing the very next day. “That really encouraged others to give to the campaign, including people in the community not affiliated with KWU but who saw this as a good thing to support for the benefit of Salina. It helped us greatly to meet the goal of the Mabee challenge grant,” he said. He closed by thanking his Institutional Advancement team for all their hard work, especially during the final 100 days of the campaign.
Randy St. Clair ’66, chair of the KWU Board of Trustees, spoke of how proud he is to be associated with the university, to serve with his fellow distinguished board members, and to be involved in this great effort. He is certain that having this new Sports Complex on the KWU campus will bring more students to Kansas Wesleyan and will be an asset for all of Salina for many years to come.
Mike Hermann closed out the gathering, pointing out this is truly an exciting day for the entire campus and a great way to kickoff Homecoming weekend activities. He pointed to the football team, standing to one side of the event tent, and expressed his hopes for a victory against longtime rival Bethany College for the Homecoming Weekend game on Saturday. “It’s a good time to ‘beat the Swedes,’” he said. “Go, Yotes!”
The Marching Coyotes Pep Band closed by singing the KWU Fight Song, then playing it. It was a fitting ending to a momentous occasion in the history KWU Coyotes Athletics and in the life and future of the university.