Special to The Flash Today
TarletonSports.com
STEPHENVILLE (September, 19, 2017) — Texan supporters are reaching deep to make game-changing renovations to Tarleton State University’s Memorial Stadium a reality. Their added donations will fund needed improvements and special features for the $26.4 million project.
A one-time quarterback for Tarleton—then the Plowboys—John Erickson has pledged $25,000 to the project. Tarleton alumnus Lance Zimmerman and former Texan Mark Childers and his wife, Katherine, have donated a total of $20,000. Dr. Dennis Jones and his wife, Dr. Ann Albrecht—both Tarleton faculty—have added $10,000.
Tarleton’s Office of Development is working with additional donors and partners. Naming opportunities exist for those who give $10,000 or more to become members of the Memorial Stadium Cornerstone Society, and other levels recognize gifts up to that amount.
Donors who contribute $2,500 or more will be invited to a special stadium event with Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. Additional celebrations will honor everyone who gives to the renovation and expansion, and the names of all donors will be included on permanent plaques at the plaza honoring university founder and namesake John Tarleton.
“We are extremely grateful to these Tarleton supporters for their generous contributions to enhance improvements at Memorial Stadium,” Dottavio said. “Their gifts will benefit our students and our fans.”
Erickson left Tarleton in 1960 to continue his education and football career at Texas A&M University, but not before earning recognition as an NJCAA All-American quarterback and a spot in the NJCAA All-America All-Star football game. A Texan Club member and successful entrepreneur, he went on to own and operate a company specializing in mass mailing. He was inducted into the Tarleton Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
Zimmerman earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Tarleton in 1968 and retired from Texas State Technical College six years ago as director of distance education. He was inducted into the Texas Distance Learning Association Hall of Fame in 2016. A member of the Texan Club and the President’s Circle, Zimmerman was active in Alpha Phi Omega during his time at Tarleton, serving as the fraternity’s president his senior year.
After retiring from the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Marshals Service, Childers joined Baylor University as associate vice president for campus safety and security. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Tarleton in 1987 and played on the ’84 Texan football team.
Jones is professor of computer information systems in Tarleton’s College of Business Administration, and Albrecht is professor of counseling in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. Both have been inducted into the All-Purple and the John Tarleton societies.
Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University, a master’s in administration and supervision from Marquette University, a master’s in business administration from Tarleton, and a doctorate in supervision, curriculum and instruction in higher education from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He joined the Tarleton faculty in 1992, and is a recipient of the O.A. Grant Excellence in Teaching Award and the Student Government Association Educator of the Year Award.
Albrecht earned her bachelor’s degree in Ibero-American studies/Spanish from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a doctorate in counseling from Marquette University. She joined the Tarleton faculty in 1992 and is a recipient of the Rhosine Fleming Outstanding Counselor Educator of the Year by the Texas School Counselor Association. Albrecht is a licensed professional counselor and board approved supervisor.
The recent gifts of these benefactors add to the $2.4 million donation that Tarleton alumnus and longtime Texas entrepreneur Mike A. Myers gave this spring.
The renovation and expansion project, the first major improvements to the stadium since 1989, will increase overall seating from 7,400 to more than 9,000 and convert the west side of the stadium, currently the visitors’ side into the home side..
“The renovation and expansion of Memorial Stadium will be a great benefit to our football and track-and-field programs as we continue to compete at high levels—in the Lone Star Conference and nationally,” athletic director Lonn Reisman said. “Stephenville and Erath County residents have dreamed of this for the past 30 years. Now it’s a reality.”
Renovations started this summer with a new state-of-the-art CoolPlay® football field surface. Upgrades to come include an improved press box, suites, entrances and ticket booths. Fans can expect premium seating with chair backs and enhanced concession facilities. New locker rooms will also be constructed and new lighting fixtures installed.
Built as a tribute to the 179 Tarleton faculty, staff and students who died in World War II, Memorial Stadium opened in 1951. A major reconstruction took place in 1977, when current features were added. Seating was expanded in 1989, the concession stand remodeled, the field house built and track-and-field facilities renovated.
The project should be substantially complete for the first kickoff in 2018. Construction is not expected to significantly affect games this season for either the Texans or Stephenville High School Yellow Jackets.
To support stadium improvements, contact Tarleton development officer Wayne Davenport at 254-968-1744 or by email at wdavenport@tarleton.edu.
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