New Summerfield dedicates new coliseum

by By Michelle Dillon Contributing writer
Photo by Michelle Dillon
Superintendent Brian Nichols, board members Glenna Weaver and Missy Tennison; Dr. Craig Wilcox, Curriculum and Special Programs Director; board members Joe Taylor, Lolita Davis, Lori Lawon, J.B. Neely and Michael Davis; Joe Brandon, junior high principal; and Josh Faucett,  high school principal all gather around former superintendent Dr. Gregg Weiss as he cuts the ribbon for the official opening of the New Summerfield Coliseum. Photo by Michelle Dillon
Superintendent Brian Nichols, board members Glenna Weaver and Missy Tennison; Dr. Craig Wilcox, Curriculum and Special Programs Director; board members Joe Taylor, Lolita Davis, Lori Lawon, J.B. Neely and Michael Davis; Joe Brandon, junior high principal; and Josh Faucett, high school principal all gather around former superintendent Dr. Gregg Weiss as he cuts the ribbon for the official opening of the New Summerfield Coliseum.

The New Summerfield Coliseum was dedicated Friday, Nov. 9, after two years of construction.

In 2015, voters approved a bond measure which allowed for construction of the coliseum. Ground-breaking took place September 2016 with work beginning the following month.

The new building will allow for a larger seating capacity, which was needed due to increased enrollment over the last 10 years, and gives the students a first-class facility, according to Superintendent Brian Nichols.

Acting as master of ceremonies, Nichols welcomed those present during opening remarks of the dedication ceremony.

“I know that I can speak for all of our students, our staff and for the board when I say that we thank you for your support and without it tonight would not be possible,” Nichols commented.

He noted many firsts would take place that night, including “the first tip-off, the first basket and the first opportunity for the community to enjoy watching their hornets compete in this beautiful facility.”

Following the invocation, Nichols recognized members of the New Summerfield administration who were present. They included Dr. Craig Wilcox, curriculum and special programs director; Angie Tucker, elementary principal; Joe Brannon, junior high principal; and Josh Faucett, high school principal.

“New Summerfield has a long and rich tradition of basketball and looking back, I was fortunate enough that someone gave me a dedication program from 1938 when they opened the first gymnasium in New Summerfield,” Nichols stated. “Eighty years ago they celebrated that dedication and prior to that opening the teams played on a dirt court….Now 80 years later our student athletes get to play in this facility here tonight.”

Nichols then introduced two special guests.

“We are privileged tonight to be able to have a gentleman who played not only in that first game in that gymnasium, but also on that dirt court in Mr. B. R. Darby, who was a member of the 1938 new Summerfield Hornet basketball team,” Nichols said.

“Escorting him tonight is Mr. Collin Wilkerson who is a senior, class of 2019, member of the Hornet basketball team and his great-grandfather, the late Mr. Boyd Davis, was also a teammate of Mr. Darby in 1938. So we have a living link between our past, our present and our future.”

Also introduced were the members of the New Summerfield board of trustees, as well as former superintendent Dr. Gregg Weiss, all of whom took part in the official ribbon-cutting to conclude the ceremony.