Berry College recently dedicated Clark Track and Dickey Field as part of the Valhalla stadium complex. These new facilities have made possible the restoration of full competition in track and field to Berry’s intercollegiate athletics program.
The dedication took place April 9 during Berry Field Day, an invitational meet featuring more than 700 competitors representing 26 different colleges and universities.
In his remarks, Berry President Steve Briggs offered his gratitude to the many alumni and friends whose generosity as members of “Team Valhalla” helped make the new facilities possible. Other speakers included Bert Clark, who teamed with fellow alumnus and trustee Roger Lusby to spearhead fundraising for Clark Track; and Ouida Dickey, who with daughters and fellow alumnae Jennifer and Angela led efforts to fund the Dickey Field throws area. Also on hand were two other alumni who played a major role in funding the new stadium – trustee Steve Cage and Bob Williams.
“This place is a monument to what happens when we dream and dare to be aspirational about Berry and its future,” said Clark, adding that the complex affords opportunities for students to “make your dreams come true, just like Martha Berry did when she created this entire school in the first place.”
Ouida Dickey expressed her appreciation for all the hard work from the donors, faculty and other members of the Berry community who generously responded to the challenge of building the new track and field facilities. Dickey Field is named for her late husband, Garland M. Dickey, who served as the college’s first full-time athletic director and helped lead the post-World War II rebirth of intercollegiate athletics at Berry.
Speaking for the students, Kyle Harris, team captain for track and field and a senior biochemistry major, thanked the donors and voiced his excitement for the new facility.
The dedication ceremony concluded with a “ribbon walk-through” on Clark Track.
###
Written by Student Public Relations Assistant Nicholas Fischer
