Bluefield City Board members Mary Frances Brammer and Mike Vinciguerra did the right thing. They voted not so much against a movement to change the name of the heralded Mitchell Stadium, a landmark of significant importance to the community and to the area, but against a swift movement by a small group of people, several not even being residents of the city, to coerce the city board into making a hasty decision and in favor of the name change proposal. A decision in favor of removing Emory Mitchell’s name from the stadium would have proven to be unpopular with a large portion of the city’s residents for many reasons.
444
Coach Fred Simon’s observation that “Coach” Merrill Gainer started the school’s tradition of having pride for an outstanding football program and working to maintain it” and that the tradition may not be here if he had not been here to get it started is probably a fair summary of the contribution Gainer made to the community. Placing Simon in the middle of the controversy was not fair to Simon. However, Simon found a way to state a position without alienating sides, his team, or discouraging a single player, the hallmark of both a statesman and a coach.
444
Whether or not Mitchell Stadium should be renamed is now no longer the primary issue. The issue is, and should have been from the beginning, is building support to fund renovations and improvements for the stadium and its adjacent facilities.
444
The stadium is home turf to both the Bluefield Beavers and the Graham G-Men. The people of the town of Bluefield Va. were forced to find neutral ground. The movement could have alienated a number of residents who otherwise may have been willing to contribute to a program to make improvements or renovations to the stadium. Gaining that support and trust will now be an uphill struggle.
444
Jim Justice, a member of the stadium committee, said “I think we have put together a significant project. It has now evolved into a political war and has watered down the original intent.” The original intent to make improvements was not clearly stated at the onset and is subject to suspect. As far as those “3,000 people who are “rabid Gainer fans” who would contribute financially to support a stadium bearing the coach’s name. Those fans should been rabid “Beaver” fans or “G-Men” fans that should have supported the teams, both present and past, and the entire community in the first place. I would like to see the list, especially in light of the lopsided vote against the proposal in the recent opinion poll. Someone will eventually propose an acceptable way to honor Gainer without dishonoring someone else.
444
It looks like Senator Goodwin is going to have a big pair of shoes to fill as well as two small ones.
444
U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., announced that the Gary Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $20,575 to purchase new self contained breathing apparatus air packs to replace existing air packs that no longer meet current safety standards. The city of Gary and the Gary Volunteer Fire Department contributed nearly $9,000 towards these new air packs. The remaining $20,575 is being provided in federal dollars. The equipment will help keep the firefighters safe and enable them to serve the community more effectively and save lives. The Economic Impact Initiative grant for the Gary Fire Department equipment was made available through the USDA Rural Development programs.
444
There you have it, a few comments on items of interest to the area. I hope there is blue sky in your day.
Wilson Butt, a resident of Bluefield, is a retired Department of Highways official.
Columns
July 25, 2010
The debate over Mitchell or Gainer continues in Bluefield
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