MONTICELLO, AR — When the University of Arkansas at Monticello found itself
in a difficult situation last week, friends from all over the region – and
even an old rival – volunteered to help.
After discovering fatigue-related cracks in the base of all four light poles
at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium last Thursday, UAM officials were faced
with the prospect of closing Royer Hall and relocating its student occupants
to area hotels, closing part of Steelman Fieldhouse, and moving a home
football game against Henderson State University to Arkadelphia. And on top
of that, Saturday was Parent-Family Appreciation Day on the UAM campus.
Bobby Harper, superintendent of Monticello schools, was facing a similar
problem after cracks were found at the base of the light poles at Hyatt
Field.
“Bobby has gone out of his way to work with us and make finding a solution
to our mutual problems a team effort,” said UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter.
“Since we have so many students who have been displaced and inconvenienced,
Bobby has in effect told us to get our poles repaired first. But it doesn’t
stop with Bobby. We have had so many people step up and volunteer to help.”
The immediate solution to the problem at both UAM and MHS, is to add gussets
(steel plate reinforcements) around the base of each pole. Chester Ashcraft,
assistant director of the UAM physical plant, has already secured the steel,
said Lassiter, and the gussets have been cut by Richard Binns, welding
instructor at the Occupational Education Center.
Dick Carmical, president of The Price Companies of Monticello, sent Lassiter
photos of steel plates used to reinforce a company crane that are similar to
what will be used at UAM. Monticello builder Robert Akin volunteered to
secure a certified welder to complete the repairs and John McClendon,
president of SeaArk Marine, volunteered the use of portable welding
equipment.
“There are so many people to thank,” said Lassiter. “On our own staff, John
Kidwell, our director of public safety, went the extra mile to get
permission to close the roads adjacent to the stadium. Dr. Clay Brown worked
long hours to facilitate the move of students out of Royer Hall and Julie
Gentry and Terri Richardson did a remarkable job with Parent-Family
Appreciation Day, in spite of not having a home football game. Jim Hudgins,
the director of our physical plant, has worked behind the scenes to
coordinate all our efforts in the repair of the light poles.
“And I want to offer a special thanks to Henderson State President Chuck
Welch and Athletic Director Sam Goodwin. They and their staff were very
helpful in moving the football game to Arkadelphia.”
Lassiter said he hopes the light poles will be repaired by the end of the
week, allowing Royer Hall to be reopened and the stadium to be operational
in time for UAM’s next home game with Ouachita Baptist University on October
3. “Hopefully, with everyone’s help, we’ll have the situation at both UAM
and Hyatt Field resolved within the week,” he said.
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