Hundreds turn out for grand opening of Gainesville’s new sports complex
photo by Baylor Hewett Farewell to the old field The Gainesville boys 2023-24 baseball team poses on the fence of the Lions Club-owned ballfield last week during the team’s last play at the field. On Monday, the Gainesville School District held its grand opening at the new sports complex, located across the street from the high school where the baseball and softball teams will now host their home games. The school will still lease the Lions Club fields for $1 per year to be used for summer league ball, practices and junior high baseball and softball games when the other fields are in use.
Bobby Grisham, center, was escorted by Gainesville School board member Jerry Kiger, left, and Gainesville Superintendent Justin Gilmore, to be honored at the ceremony for raising more than $50,000 for the school’s backpack program.
All photos in this article, unless otherwise noted, are by Karla Smith The family of the late Melvin C. Bushong was honored at the grand opening of the Gainesville School new sports complex, held April 22, for their part in allowing the school to acquire the land where the ballfields were built. Pictured, from left, are: Carrie Bushong Laird and her children Nova and Mikey, Sue and Mike Bushong, Ronnie and Carylon (Bushong) Goodwyn, Evin Bushong, Lana Bushong and Gainesville Superintendent Justin Gilmore.
This photo of Gainesville School District’s new ball fields, which opened this week, was taken by GHS senior Kannon Morrison with a drone. The fields are located directly across the street from the high school, which is pictured in the background of the photo. The elementary school is also shown in the far distance.
The grand opening ceremony of Gainesville School’s new sports complex was held Monday afternoon, and the community turned out in a big way. Hundreds of people attended the event, and proud smiles beamed from the youngest to oldest fans as they watched the first-ever baseball and softball games played at the field, an event that will be remembered for decades.
The approximately $1 million project was announced in early 2023, and was funded 100 percent through district funds, financial contributions and in-kind donations of labor and supplies. Organizers say it was made possible by conservative budgetary measures and wise financial decisions by the school board over the last several years. There was no tax increase involved.
The day kicked off at 3:30 p.m. April 22 with junior high baseball and softball teams taking to the two fields for the first games of the night.
At 5 p.m., a grand opening ceremony was held, with GHS senior softball player Emory Warden singing the National Anthem, and senior baseball player Brady Myers leading the group in a prayer.
Tyler Watterson of KKOZ, 92.1, then took the mic and welcomed everyone to the event.
“As the famous quote says, ‘If you build it, they will come,’ and we are so grateful you all are here to celebrate the grand opening of this awesome facility,” he said.
Named for Melvin C. Bushong
Watterson told the attendees that the field had been named the Melvin C. Bushong Memorial Complex in honor of Bushong, the original owner of the land where the ballfields now sit.
The land was originally donated after his death to become an airport. After operating as an airport for some time, in May of 1950, the airport was dedicated as a memorial to those who served and died in WWII. The sign was later changed to include “all war veterans.”
Many decades later, in partnership and cooperation with the Bushong family heirs, the Gainesville School District acquired the property for a new purpose, a sports complex.
“Today, we are proud to dedicate this facility not only in memory of Mr. Bushong but also to this entire community,” Waterson said.
Words from the superintendent
Superintendent Justin Gilmore then took the microphone and thanked his wife Chelsey and children Parker and Ellie for their patience and support the last several months. “I haven’t always been easy to live with through this process,” he said.
“My father Dwight is in attendance and he taught me many life lessons on a ballfield. Most importantly, hard work, dedication and God’s will can make your dreams a reality.
“The Gainesville School District is blessed with several staff members who have spent countless hours preparing for today. Specifically I would like to thank Butch Hornstra, Zach Luna, Nick Coonts, Luke Cooley and the baseball and softball coaches and players. There also is one individual who has spent hundreds of hours coordinating, building and planning for this project. I would like to give an extra special thank you to Todd Luna.
“Last but not least, a huge thank you is owed to the Gainesville R-5 Board of Education. Without the vision of Marti Warden, Jabet Wade, Heather Bushner, Corey Hillhouse, Mason Eslinger, Robby Walrath and Jerry Kiger, we wouldn’t be here today. There is no way we could mention everyone who played a role in the construction of these fields, but we owe a huge amount of gratitude to everyone who has had a part in this process. Thank you.
“In closing, our hope is that the Melvin C. Bushong Memorial Complex will build on the strong tradition of Bulldog pride and become a place where memories are made for years to come,” Gilmore said.
Recognizing Bobby Grisham and Lester White
Organizers then asked Bobby Grisham and Lester White to come onto the field.
Bobby, who will turn 91 in May, was recognized for raising over $50,000 for the Gainesville backpack program over the years through popcorn and peanut sales at games.
“There are very few, if any, games held at GHS where you won’t find Bobby working to raise money to support students. We are truly grateful for Mr. Grisham and his continued support,” Gilmore said.
Lester White was given the honor of throwing the first pitch on the new field, while GHS senior Andrew Hambelton took the catcher’s seat.
Lester, a 1964 Gainesville graduate, played basketball and baseball all for years of high school at Gainesville. He began coaching Mountain Home (Arkansas) American Legion Baseball in 1984 and has continued coaching ever since. In 2015, the baseball field at Cooper Park in Mountain Home was named after him. He has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the Arkansas State Championship in 1997 and the Arkansas Diamond Award in 2020. He has coached more than 1,700 consecutive games. This year marks his 41st year coaching.
Workers and helping hands
Organizers named and thanked several individuals and companies who worked countless hours to make the fields a reality.
Contractors who were named include: 4Most Sports (James Beaver and Ross Crites), Site One Landscape Supply, Crawford Electric, West Plains Fence, Bryson Grabher Pump Service, Cary Stewart Construction, Thornton Masonry, SDS Excavating (Seth Smith and Will Johnson), Ray Grisham Construction (Ray and Wyatt Grisham), Chaney Monument Works (Rob and Seth Collins), Gardner Farm Plowing and Grazing Systems (Mike Gardner), Meeks Welding (Kevin Meek), Suter Fencing and Welding LLC (Cole Suter) and Dustin Heriford Welding.
Local businesses and community members who donated financial resources, labor or equipment to the project were White River Valley Electric Cooperative, whose local linemen set all of the vertical poles around the fields; Randy Donley, who donated his D6R dozer, and Stan Pelham, who used it to moved dirt at the complex for over three weeks, all free of charge; Marty and Heather Morrison, who donated fertilizer, their tractor, roller, dump truck and anything else that was needed and asked of them; Matt Wade of Ozark County Land Surveying, who spent hours surveying and re-surveying the land to ensure the layout was correct; Carylon and Ronnie Goodwyn, as Carylon is a member of the Bushong family who helped the school acquire the land; Rex and Patty Donley, who look forward to seeing their grandkids, nieces and nephews play on the fields for many years to come; and the parents and community members who volunteered to pick up rocks, hand windscreens, sweep dugouts and pitch in any way they could to make the grand opening a success.
First high school games to be played on the fields
The Gainesville High School Bulldogs baseball and Lady Bulldogs softball then took the fields and gave the spectators a long awaited show. Although each run in the games were celebrated heartily, it was the honor of being the first high school teams to ever play on the new fields that is sure to stay with them forever.