Posted by
Aubrey Streit
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Mon, May 19, 2008
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Bethany
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Following a Friday groundbreaking celebration, renovation work begins today, May 19, at Anderson Stadium at Bethany College.
Lindsborg and Bethany community members gathered May 16 on the field to kick off both stadium renovations and a forthcoming addition to Bethany's Stroble-Gibson Gymnasium.
Student-athletes from Smoky Valley High School and Bethany College, as well as Bethany College President Edward F. Leonard III; Smoky Valley Superintendent of Schools Glen Suppes; Bethany Athletic Director Jon Daniels; and former Bethany Coach Ted Kessinger waited for the celebratory shot of a starting pistol before breaking ground.
Approximately $1.2 million of renovation plans include a multi-purpose turf field and a new, widened track to accommodate a soccer field. Work on the visitors' bleachers, stadium restrooms, press box and scoreboard also are planned.
"This is a great day for the community and for the college, because these improvements will benefit everyone," Suppes said at the event. "But we have to remember that we're not quite there yet."
Bethany College and USD 400 decided in April to move forward with the plans, although approximately $150,000 still needs to be raised.
"In my first year at the college, I've learned to be careful what I dream about out loud. At the first football game I attended, I wondered why we didn't have a turf field. Now, we're making that dream – and the dream of many people here – a reality," said Leonard.
The dream of a project benefiting everyone in the community has been shared by many supporters so far, including the donors of two $350,000 estate gifts that have been pledged to the renovation projects.
At Friday's event, Leonard was proud to share the names of these donors for the first time. "The vision and generosity of these men will continue to shine through their gift to this community, and we could not be more thankful," he said.
A $700,000 total gift to the project comes from the estates of Clyde H. Lindstrom and Glenn R. Lindstrom: farmers, ranchers and brothers who resided on their family's farm just southwest of Falun, Kan. Except for their years of service during World War II, they were lifetime residents of the area.
The Lindstroms were both bachelors. They had two brothers and one sister, all of whom preceded them in death, and none of whom had children.
Glenn Lindstrom died on October 23, 2007 at the age of 87. Clyde Lindstrom died on December 29, 2007 at the age of 91. In accordance with their wills, Lindsborg attorney Bill Gusenius was named executor of Glenn Lindstrom's estate, and Falun resident David Dauer was named executor of Clyde Lindstrom's estate.
The wills specified that the estates should be distributed to charitable causes. Previous distributions have been made to Falun Lutheran Church and to The Associated Churches of Lindsborg (TACOL). Future distributions should benefit others in the Falun, Lindsborg and Smoky Valley areas.
"They were kindhearted and gentle people who saw the opportunity to assist others through their estate planning," said Bill Gusenius. "It is the hope of both David and myself that this gift to Bethany College will be of substantial benefit to Bethany and the many people in the Lindsborg and USD 400 area who use the facilities and track at Anderson Stadium."
Renovations at Anderson Stadium are scheduled to be completed in time for the fall sports season, during which the field hosts up to four football games a week. With the new field, Bethany College soccer teams also will be able to compete in the stadium. Student-athletes from Bethany College, Smoky Valley High School and Lindsborg Middle School, as well as local community members, use the track and field year-round.
To learn more about how to contribute to renovations at Anderson Stadium, please contact Ted Kessinger at
tkessinger@cox.net or 785-227-2107. Or, call the Bethany College Athletic Department at 785-227-3380, ext. 8184.
The addition of a weight room and locker rooms to Stroble-Gibson Physical Education Center comes as part of the college's recent bonding project. More space also will be provided for athletic coaches' offices, student-athlete locker rooms and the college's growing athletic training program. An added main entrance to the facility on the east will provide easy access to the college's remodeled Hahn Gymnasium parking lot.
