GIVE ON-LINE
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University athletic department has announced a capital campaign for the renovation of one of its most historic venues, while also honoring two of its prominent sports legends.
Pioneer Gym, which served as the home of Tusculum basketball and volleyball for over 70 years, will be getting a major facelift and renovation over the next two months and will become one of the premier practice facilities in NCAA Division II.
Pioneer Gym will be renamed "David Bow Gymnasium", in honor of the longtime Tusculum faculty member who has served TU in a variety of roles for the past 49 years. The original tartan floor is being replaced with a state-of-the art maple wood surface and will be named "Ralph Horne Court", in honor of the late basketball legend who passed away earlier this year.
The 3-inch thick, maple wood floor will be installed by Superior Court Systems by Floor Action and will encompass the entire facility while maintaining the original brick wall dating back to 1926. Black wall pads will be installed, while renovations will include new basketball backboards, improved LED lighting, wall paint and Tusculum branding throughout the facility.
The David Bow Gymnasium and Ralph Horne Court will be a bright addition to the Scott M. Niswonger Student Commons. The renovated facility will provide the basketball and volleyball programs an additional practice venue option outside of utilizing the 2,000-seat Pioneer Arena. During the fall and winter months, four teams were utilizing Pioneer Arena, which meant some teams would either have to practice early morning prior to class or would go late into the evening to get their training in.
The facility will continue to serve the University's physical education department as well as campus intramurals.
Dr. David Bow, professor of physical education, has been affiliated with Tusculum since 1977. He has served in several leadership positions with the University including chairman of the Physical Education program, director of athletics and served as head coach of Tusculum's men's basketball and baseball teams during his career.
Ralph Horne '57 scored a school record 2,487 points during his basketball career at Tusculum from 1953-1957. His teams compiled a 62-38 record and earned All-Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference honors on three occasions. From 1988-2001 he served as assistant coach on the TU men's basketball staff.
Horne was a 1981 charter member of the Tusculum Sports Hall of Fame, while Bow was inducted in 1993.
Initial gifts from anonymous and generous donors are already in place as work on the project is presently underway.
"We are so grateful to receive this generous donation in support of our student-athletes," said Josh Ealy, Vice President for Athletics. "This gift puts us on a path to significantly improve our student-athlete experience while bolstering the growth of Tusculum Athletics."
"We are proud to recognize the legacies Dr. Bow and Coach Horne have contributed to at Tusculum University and this is a great way to honor them both," added Ealy.
The David Bow Gymnasium and Ralph Horne Court continues the positive momentum the athletic department this year. In January, Tusculum entered a five-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership at TU's home baseball venue, Eastman Credit Union Field at Pioneer Park.
In February, groundbreaking took place for the $5.6 million track & field facility located across the street from campus adjacent to nearby Tusculum City Park. The state-of-the art facility will be utilized by the TU track & field program in conjunction with Greene County track and lacrosse student-athletes.
To donate on-line, visit: www.tusculum.edu/giving and select "David Bow Gymnasium / Ralph Horne Court Project" from the dropdown menu.
To learn more about the campaign to create a brighter future for Tusculum Athletics, contact Rasmus Nylander, Director of Athletic Development & Revenue Generation at pioneerclub@tusculum.edu or call (423) 636-7331.
