Much has been said in recent weeks from people across the region about the ill-fated proposal to rename Mitchell Stadium in honor of the late Coach Merrill Gainer.
While the Bluefield Board of Directors did ultimately reject the proposal to rename the stadium in honor of Gainer after hearing from citizens both for and against the proposal, the city did appoint a committee that will explore other ways to honor coaches and other sports figures in the region.
A number of ideas have been proposed in recent weeks, including a wall of fame at the stadium or at the nearby recreation center, as well as suggestions to change the name of Stadium Driver to Gainer Road. The latter idea could be difficult as it would apparently require changes in addressing and 911 mapping, city officials say.
The new committee will most likely take into consideration all of the ideas that have been proposed in recent weeks, while also looking at other ways to honor coaches in our region, including Gainer. Gainer, who came to Bluefield High School from the former Big Creek High School in 1959, produced a football program that recorded 87 wins and only six losses for a winning percentage of 93 percent and four AAA West Virginia High School State Championships. His accomplishments in Bluefield are certainly worthy of recognition.
While the stadium is owned by the city, efforts to honor coaches should be a grassroots community initiative, according to City Manager Andy Merriman. Merriman adds the function of the city isn’t to honor people, but instead provide service to its citizens.
That’s why the committee will be charged with coming up with ideas on how to honor the coaches.
However, the problem is the city now needs volunteers to actually serve on the committee. Merriman’s office had not heard from any citizens interested in serving on the committee as of Thursday morning.
“It’s going to have to be a group of citizens who are really interested in the project and seeing it become a reality,” Mayor Linda Whalen said last week.
The board is asking any and all citizens interested in serving on this proposed committee to contact City Manager Andy Merriman, or any member of the city board.
As has been seen by the volume of letters that have been written in recent weeks on the Mitchell Stadium issue, there is obvious public interest on this topic. Now, the city needs a few of those interested citizens to step forward, and to volunteer to serve.
We are hopeful that a few good citizens will be willing to step forward and answer the city’s call for help.
Columns
September 4, 2010
Community service — Stadium committee needs members
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