September 9, 2006
Release courtesy of Larry Happel, Central College sports information director

PELLA, IOWA . . . Recognizing two of the most prominent family names in Central College history, the school’s newly renovated football field and track were christened Saturday as Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium and the expanse containing the college’s athletics facilities was renamed the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.

Central College President David Roe made the announcement Saturday morning at dedication ceremonies for the new FieldTurf football playing surface and 400-meter full-pour polyurethane track that are being installed as part of a $2.8 million stadium renovation. Musco lighting was also installed. The football surface is a newly developed version that is a mono-fusion product, designed to stand up better to wear and is less likely to crush and lay down after years of use than earlier FieldTurf surfaces. The field made its debut in Saturday’s Central-Hope College (Mich.) football game while the track installation is expected to be completed later this month.

Prior to the renovation, the field was named A.N. Kuyper Stadium. Roe noted that the renovation was the third major football stadium change at Central, providing a naming opportunity. The original field, located on University Street where the Kruidenier Center and Vermeer Science Center now stand, was named A.N. Kuyper Stadium and the name was retained when the field was moved to its present location in 1977.

Roe said that adding the new stadium name following the renovation came at the request of Joan Farver, on behalf of the Kuyper family, who wished to pay tribute to Ron Schipper following his passing March 27. Schipper served as Central’s head football coach for 36 seasons (1961-96) and with a 287-67-3 record was among the winningest coaches in college football history.

“To my knowledge, his record of 36 consecutive winning seasons has never been matched,” Roe said. “And the fact that he spearheaded the fund drive for the renovation makes it even more fitting to have his name associated directly with this facility.

“Moreover it is highly appropriate that Joyce’s name be included as well, given the emphasis he placed on family within his team and in his life. Central College has an ethos and an emphasis on family as well, as does our current coach, Jeff McMartin.

“At one of the tributes to Coach Schipper last spring, I was struck by the comments of one of his sons. He said he knew that football was Coach Schipper’s passion but he never felt that he was second in his father’s life.”

McMartin said his staff and players are honored to compete at the newly named stadium.
“`It’s a really special thing,” he said. “Coach Schipper meant so much to so many people. This is a real testament to the service, dedication and hard work he put into Central College and speaks volumes to the impact he had.

“It’s also very fitting that Joyce’s name is included. No person can do it alone. She was an integral part of his life and played a huge role in the success of the program.”

Hope College connection—Ron and Joyce Schipper both attended Hope College. He played quarterback for the Flying Dutchmen before graduating in 1952.

“It may be providential that the first sanctioned contest on the new field be against the Schippers’ alma mater,” Roe said. “It was a game that Coach Schipper dreamt about and it’s a real credit to the scheduling work of athletics director Al Dorenkamp, who is also a Schipper legacy as a former player.”

Athletics complex name-- The overall complex was previously known as the Kuyper Athletics Complex and included P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium and H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse. A.N. Kuyper, who died in 1910, was the father of P.H. “Pete” Kuyper, who founded what is now Pella Corporation in 1925. H.S. “Stu” Kuyper was Pete Kuyper’s son and was a leader in the company as well. Farver is P.H. Kuyper’s daughter and has also been a company leader.

The complex was launched with the gymnasium construction in 1970 and has grown to include the fieldhouse, the Ron Schipper Fitness Center, the Ryerson Golf Range, baseball, softball and soccer game and practice fields, tennis courts, a cross country competition and training course and intramural fields.

“We did not want the name of A.N. Kuyper to disappear,” Roe said. “Given the incredible support Central College has received from the Kuyper-Farver family over the years, it seemed appropriate to name the entire complex for him. As the complex undergoes additional growth and change in the future, the name will remain.”

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