Photo Gallery

MARIETTA, Ohio — After brushing away some dirt, Joe Chlapaty H'10 bent over and began to write.
 
Chlapaty was putting his own personal message on the final piece of arched steel that will eventually top off the four-story structure at Don Drumm Stadium. Chlapaty was one of three donors, a handful of football coaches, about three-dozen players and Marietta College's Director of Athletics to participate in a special signing ceremony at the stadium Thursday afternoon.
 
The Chlapaty family donated $2.6 million in December 2009 to kick-start a $3.6 million stadium renovation project that includes a four-story structure that will include new locker rooms, coaches' offices and press box.
 
The project is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2011 football season in September.
 
The players and coaches were introduced to the donors—which also included Ann Bowser Bailey '87 and Dale Wartluft '63—and thanked them for their support. Larry Hiser, Director of Athletics, took the group on a tour of the first two floors of the new facility.
 
The facility will be dedicated on Sept. 3 before the Pioneers football game against Thiel (Pa.).