Didn't see this posted anywhere on here...hope I'm not duplicating.

 

Harlan County received a most generous donation from Mr. & Mrs Richard Gilliam today in the amount of $1,000,000. :thumb:

 

The funds will be used to help complete Phase I of II and hopefully will be complete to play on next year.

 

Several People have worked very had since the consolidation and this is a huge reward for all of Harlan County. Thank you all so much, especially Mr. & Mrs Gilliam.

 

$1,000,000 this afternoon....Regional Championship this evening! Pretty awsome day in Harlan I'd say!

Will they have the field ready by next week?

WOW that's great news and it's really great to see the communitty pulling together there. I've driven by that school for work one time. It looked like a very nice school to be proud of.

Yes, Bear Paw...definitely an AWESOME day in good ole Harlan County!!!

Will they have the field ready by next week?

 

No but we have procured the services of a turf specialist from about 30 miles down the road to help prepare the field we have. Seems the lack of rain has left the grass brown and dry. :laugh:

 

Oh yeah...um you guys bring the chopper....be careful...it's a little tricky navigating in through the hills. HARH might let you use their pad...lol :idunno:

Foundation donates $1M for field

 

Harlan County School District Superintendent Tim Saylor announced Friday that the Gilliam Foundation has made a $1 million donation that will allow work to begin on Phase I of the football and track complex at Coal Miners Memorial Stadium.

 

“We feel very fortunate to make this sort of gift to Harlan County. We looked for an opportunity to help as many students as possible, and we felt like this project would allow us to do that,” said Richard Gilliam. “There is a great business environment here and great workers, and we are grateful for our partnership with the people of Harlan County.”

 

The stadium will include an eight-lane track, high jump facility, long jump and pole vault area and a synthetic-turf football field among other items. The football field will be named in honor of Needham Saylor, a long-time coach, teacher, principal and superintendent in the Harlan County school system.

 

“Athletics are so important to a school. Of course, academics are first, and that’s where I and the board put our emphasis to get this high school constructed, so we could give a great education to our kids. But, we need our athletic fields too, and now we are going to get it finished up,” Saylor said.

 

Phase I will include the construction of a 2,000-seat home section, a 1,000-seat visitor seating section and a press box. The additional phases will include bleacher expansion on both sides of the field, expansion of the locker room and training facility as well as other features.

 

“When I took this job as football coach there were two things I knew. I knew there would be great support for football and we didn’t have a football field,” said Harlan County coach Tom Larkey. “I think it’s good for any team in any sport to have a place that they can call home. I really believe it’s a big part of the psychology of football to have your own house to play in.”

 

The first phase of the complex will cost approximately $3 million with bonding funds being used to pay for the remaining amount.

 

Officials are hopeful that play will begin at Coal Miners Memorial Stadium next season.

 

“For the past three years, we have become accustomed to practicing and playing on facilities that require a bus ride every day. I can’t think of one day that the football team has had the opportunity to stay at school and do any kind of training,” Larkey said. “I have always had faith, and have never questioned that we would have a football field. I trusted him and the county board that this would become a reality. We go to class here. We get our education here, and in the near future we are going to have winning football teams here.”

 

Construction has already started on the school’s spring sports fields and those projects are expected to be completed during the spring.

Saw a rendering of the new facilities and it looks beautiful. Where is the football field now?

Wow!!!!!

 

Nice school to boot!!!

 

Let me say again......Wow!!!!

We play at the old Cawood High School football field right now.

Harlan County Black Bear Videohttp://www.harlan.k12.ky.us/pr/video/HCHS_Coal_Miners_Memorial_Field.wmv

It's cool the way that sits right on the river, but will that be a flood concern?

It's located out of the flood plain.

You should see the gym. Seriously off the hook!

Harlan County High School Gym