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New Stadium Groundbreaking
ENMU Breaks Ground on New Stadium
ENMU President Dr. Steven Gamble opened the ceremony on June 6 proclaiming, “We at Eastern are happy to break ground on our new multipurpose stadium. We all have waited a long time to see a stadium return ‘home’ to the main campus.”
The ceremony took place outside the Greyhound football field house just southwest of the Greyhound Field baseball complex with over 150 stakeholders in attendance on a beautiful June afternoon.
Stephen Doerr, Ashley Neslon, Johnnie Cain, Terry Othick, Dr. Steven Gamble, and Jeff Geiser shovel dirt at the new stadium site.
Eight advocates for the stadium were invited to speak along with Dr. Gamble about the importance of the project. The speakers included Jeff Geiser, ENMU athletics director; Stephen Doerr, president of the ENMU Foundation; Senator Stuart Ingle, New Mexico state legislator; Jeremy Buurma, quarterback for Greyhound football; Kris-Ann Walters with Greyhound track and field; Ashley Nelson, student body vice president; Johnnie Cain, Portales Municipal Schools superintendent; and Terry Othick, vice president of the ENMU Board of Regents.
“This is a huge day for us students,” observed Ashley Nelson. “The student government and student body pushed for and were the first to financially back the new project. The stadium will cater to all students, not just our dedicated athletes. It will be an educational facility. A place for intramurals and band, and a place for all to come together to cheer on the Greyhounds.”
Kris-Ann Walters
- Kris-Ann Walters, Greyhound Track and Field Athlete
“The spectators will come to Portales to buy gas, eat meals, spend the night and have a chance to visit with the great people of this community,” explained Johnnie Cain with Portales Schools. “This new stadium will be a showcase for the ENMU Greyhounds and the Portales Rams.”
The stadium will open for the fall 2016 football season. It will hold up to 5,000 spectators and the field will be made of UBU turf; the same surface used on the fields for the last two Super Bowls.
Thanks to students, alumni, community leaders and donor support, $12 million is committed to the $15 million project. The Stadium Campaign will continue through the end of 2015. The ENMU Foundation staff would love to visit with you about your personal gift. Please call 888.291.5524 to learn about giving opportunities.
Al Whitehead Field Named After 1955 Grad
The new football field inside the soon to be constructed Greyhound Stadium will carry a name well known to ENMU alumni and supporters.
Al Whitehead
When plans were announced to bring the stadium “back home” to ENMU’s campus, Al Whitehead (BBA 55) and his wife Lacy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, were one of the first to pledge their support, donating $500,000 to the stadium project. Whitehead played four seasons for the Greyhounds in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1954. His education was placed on hold for several years when he served in the U.S. Army and spent time in Korea. Al and Lacy are long-time supporters of Eastern, underwriting scholarships for students in a number of academic areas. The naming of the Al Whitehead Field recognizes their gift and their decades of “giving back” to ENMU.
“I loved every minute I was here,” Al said after the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is a special day for all Greyhounds.”
Video Scoreboard Donor Recognized
Richard Griffith
Richard Griffith (MBA 67) and his wife Gilley donated $400,000 for the stadium. Their gift will help underwrite a state-of-the-art digital video scoreboard. The Griffith & Field Scoreboard will honor Richard Griffith and his longtime friend and colleague Dan Field. Griffith provided additional comments at the end of the groundbreaking ceremony stating, “The current Blackwater Draw Stadium is the loneliest place in New Mexico. I’m so glad that ENMU is correcting this 45 year old mistake. I’m proud of my alma mater.”
