Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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August 30, 2010

Mitchell name staying; Committee will decide how to honor coaches

By GREG JORDAN Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — The city of Bluefield is seeking a way to honor coaches past, present and future and is forming a committee of volunteers with that goal in mind.

During the July 20 meeting of the Bluefield City Board, board members voted not to change the name of Mitchell Stadium and to create a committee that would examine other proposals for honoring the late Coach Merrill Gainer and other sports figures.

Mitchell Stadium was named after the late Emory Mitchell, a city manager who led the effort to build the sports facility. A citizens committee asked the city board to rename the stadium in honor of Coach Gainer, who is credited with establishing a winning tradition for Bluefield High School’s football program. During the July 20 meeting, the committee amended its proposal and suggested renaming the facility the Mitchell-Gainer Stadium.

After hearing statements for and against the proposal, board member Mary Frances Brammer made a motion not to rename the stadium and board member Mike Vinciguerra seconded it. Brammer and Vinciguerra voted to accept the motion. Board member Pete Sternloff voted no, and Mayor Linda Whalen said she did not vote because there was not a tie vote. Sternloff then made the motion to form the committee. Vinciguerra seconded that motion and it passed unanimously.

Now the city needs volunteers to actually serve on that committee.

“It’s going to have to be a group of citizens who really are interested in the project and seeing it become a reality,” Whalen said.

Citizens speaking at the July meeting suggested ideas ranging from changing the road that links Stadium Drive to Bluefield Middle School from it’s official name, Bluefield High School Road, to Gainer Road.

Another idea is to establish a wall of fame at the stadium or at the nearby Bluefield Recreational Center. A resident who voiced this idea, Cindy Romano of Bluefield, pointed out that Bluefield High School is not the only school that uses Mitchell Stadium. Graham High School in Bluefield, Va. , pee wee football teams, and teams from outside the Bluefield area play games there.

Besides finding a way to honor coaches and other sports figures, the committee would also seek funding for a memorial project, Whalen said.

People who are interested in serving on this committee should contact City Manager Andy Merriman or member of the board of directors, Brammer said.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

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