Gravette opens new complex

Ceremonies held March 5 at new baseball/softball complex at Gravette High School

The baseball field press box and bleachers are matched by similar facilities in the adjacent softball field.
The baseball field press box and bleachers are matched by similar facilities in the adjacent softball field.

GRAVETTE - It didn’t matter the sod on the new Gravette High School baseball field was not bright green. And although the wind-chill factor was just a few degrees above freezing, courtesy of a stiff northwest wind, it didn’t seem to matter.

Because last Tuesday, March 5, was a red letter - make that a Gravette Lion Orange Day - when the new $1.7 million ball complex held its grand opening.

The stadium, which rivals any of those in 1-A conference, includes a baseball diamond and companion softball field in the adjacent area, both with first-rate press boxes.

The complex is the latest addition to the Gravette High School campus, which first opened in 2007 with a state-of-the-art high school building and adjacent football stadium and track as well as a transportation facility. A few years later, a field house was constructed which serves all of the athletic arenas, including the new ball fields.

A cost breakdown for the high school campus includes $18,000,000 for the high school/performing arts center; $4,200,000 for the football/track stadium; and $2,800,000 for the field house. Adding the $1,700,000 cost of this ball field complex brings the total investment by the citizens of the school district to more than $26,000,000. This does not include the new transportation building.

Those attending the grand opening admired the field, with its newly installed sod which will soon be bright green, and were also able to visit the adjacent softball field. Both will see much action in coming months.

Because of the afternoon opening, and because of the frigid wind, the crowd attending the ceremony was not large. But the spirit was strong as boosters huddled in the bleachers during the program which was emceed by Bob Ford, the Voice of the Lions.

Ford welcomed the crowd and told a brief history of the stadium.

Construction began last August and was completed just two weeks ago. The total cost of the stadium complex, including press boxes, was just under $1.7 million. The field is natural grass and includes a complete irrigation and drainage system.

“Gravette will now be able to host competitions at this first-class facility,” Ford said.

“There is a concession stand located on the southwest corner of the field house. We would like to thank our Gravette Booster Club for providing all of the equipment for the concession stand,” Ford added.

Carson Pollreis, a member of the GHS Student Council, gave the invocation and, from their position just behind second base, the GHS band, directed by Mike Johnson, played the National Anthem.

Ford continued with recognition of special organizations and persons who helped make the complex possible, including David Swearingen and Matt Crafton of Crafton, Tull and Associates, architects; Jared Brown of Nabholz Construction, who was construction manager for the project; Jim Singleton of Arvest Bank; and Rickie Stark of Bank of Gravett.

Members of the school board, president John Edwards, vice-president Danny Alsup, Jay Oliphant, Susan Santos, Jack Skillett, Jim Singleton and Dan Yates; superintendent of Gravette School District, Richard Page; and past school board members who worked on the project, Marion Harris and congressman Jim Hendren were recognized.

A “complex committee” which spent hours in dozens of special meetings assisted in designing and planning the facility, Ford said as he introduced members Jim Hendren, Jim Singleton, Jack Skillett, John Edwards, Dan Yates, Richard Carver, Norman Mitchell, Bob Moorman, Jared Brown and David Swearingen.

A moment of silence was observed to remember those from Gravette schools who are “today defending our freedom,” Ford said, adding that “without their sacrifice, days like today would not be possible.” It was followed by a rousing rendition of the Gravette High School fight song played by the band.

Gravette players entered the field from the home team dugout as they andplayers from the Huntsville Eagles were introduced, followed by the ceremonial “first pitch” in the new stadium.

A native of Gravette and GHS graduate in 1958, Federal Judge Jimm L. Hendren was chosen for the honor. An all-sports Lion in high school, after graduation he signed to play pro ball in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. He played two years in the minor leagues and later attended the University of Arkansas, where he received his law degree in l965. Besides his practice of law in the civilian world, as a Naval officer he served two tours of judicial duty in Vietnam. He has served as a chancellor/probate judge for Arkansas’ 19th Chancery District, a special associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and was later appointed U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, a position in which he still serves as the Senior U.S. District Judge.

The ball he used forthe ceremonial pitch was one of his home-run balls which traveled more than 400 feet in a game at Neosho. It is appropriately inscribed July 18, 1958.

After the pitch, it was “play ball” as the Lions took the field against the visiting Huntsville Eagles for seven innings of good high school baseball.

The Lions put the icing on the cake for the evening as they won the exciting game 3-1. See related story elsewhere in this week’s Westside Eagle Observer.

News, Pages 15 on 03/13/2013