University of Utah - Utonian Yearbook (Salt Lake City, UT)

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inadequate seating facilities. The Univer- sity administration realized that this was an opportune time to campaign for a sta- dium, and no time was lost in making this fact known to the citizens of Salt Lake City. President George Thomas gave un- selfishly of his time and effort in bringing about a definite form to the undertaking. To him goes the credit for not only beginning the pro- ject but also in attending to its satisfactory completion. On January 27, 1927, the Board of Regents reached a favorable decision on the stadium idea and appointed the following body of men as a Stadium Trust, to be empowered with the financing and construction of a stadium ; George Thomas, president of the University; Walter A. Kerr, chairman of the Athletic Gouncil; Ronald McGregor, student represen- tative; Charles R. Mabey, president of the Alumni Association; John F. Fitzpatrick, War- ren L. Wattis, and W. W. Ray. Royal K. Barnes was later added to the Trust. The Trust was organized January 20, when President George Thomas was elected Chair- man. Theron S. Parmelee was chosen secre- tary, and Thomas Hull treasurer. The Trust immediately appointed Professor R. B. Ket- chem to work out the plans and constructional details, and with these complete, bids for the excavation work were opened February 16. The Stadium Trust accepted the bid of Ross Beason Company for the financing of the stadium. The University is grateful to the following firms and individuals for the excel- lent performance of their duties in completing the work on the stadium in time for the first game of the season : Professor R. B. Ketchum, Engineer: Howard Barker, ' 14, Associate; George E!- lerbeck, ' 27, Associate; Vernon L. Bell, ' 26. Associate; J. L. Griffith, Excavation, Supervision, J. L. Griffith. Thomr.s Hughes. Christensen, Jacob and Gardner Company General Contractors for everything except the excavation. William Askee, Super- intendent. William Green, Heating and Plumb- ing. Edward O. Anderson, Architect. These people have taken a genuine interest in the undertaking, and they are deserving of sincere appreciation from the students and faculty of the University. Thanks are also due to the Trust Commission for its energetic action in getting the stadium ready in time for the Utes to meet the Colorado School of Mines in a new home. Both the East and West buildings of the stadium contain training rooms, team rooms, shower room, ladies ' and gentlemens ' rest rooms, and a large amount of attic space for the storing of athletic equipment. Both con- tain steam heating units, maintained by a steam plant in the west building independent of the University heating plant. Conduits for telephone wires are arranged so that those on the sidelines can get connec- tion anywhere on the concrete railing with the men in the press box. Forced ventilation through fans attached to the heating units is a feature of the training quarters, the air being driven by electric motors. Access to the stadium is had through straight romps up the embankment to the top of the structure. This is thought by Profes- SITE 0I ; UTAH STADIUM HI:l-oRI HKIAMNG GROUND Page 172 taoiiKi

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mcELZCKijmKijtcmmEJtm mgjmazs stadium trust commission McGregor, barnes, kerr. mabey. walker, ray. dr. thomas. f1tzpatrick. •The Story of the Ute Stadium GEORGE JAMES Assistant Cheer Leader f M MEDIATELY following the ■ ■ Utah-Aggie football classic held on Thanksgiving Day, 1926, action was taken toward the obtaining of means to build a new playground for the Utes. The Turkey Day contest was witnessed by 15,000 fans which num- ber taxed the old and historic Cum- mings Field to its utmost capacity. Many were turned away because of DICK LAMBOURNE Assistant Cheer Leader : r mm AIRPLANE VIEW OF THE DEDICATION (I-RI-MONY IN UTAH STADIUM Page 171 31

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sor Ketchum to be an improvement over the usual style of towers with circular stairs inside, as it offers a complete and unobstructed view over the stadium when the top is reached. The track contains a 220-yard straightway with a quarter mile loop. This is the first standard track at Utah and permits conference records in the 220-yard dash and the hurdles made on it to stand. The planting of the grass on the field was under the direction of Charles E. Forsberg, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds of the University. Ten thousand seats can be added to the present capacity of 20.000 at any time at a cost of only $17,000. This would bring the total cost of the stadium to $160,000. Before a crowd of nearly IS, 000 students, alumni and other spectators and between the halves of a homecoming game worthy to dedi- cate any playing field, the University of Utah stadium, the new home of the Utes, was dedi- cated. The dedication ceremonies were digni- fied and entirely fitting for such an occasion. The opening was indeed auspicious for the Utes, who won a thrilling 20 to 13 victory from the University of Colorado, the second since leaving historic Cummings field. At the half the Utah pep unit of the R. O. T. C. band marched onto the field and formed into a large U. They were followed by girls of the order of the Spurs, national pep society, clad in white and wearing red and white caps, with strings of red ballons in their hands. The latter marched on around the band and up the center aisle to the President ' s box. Presi- dent George Thomas, Frank Jonas, presi- dent of the A. S. U. U., Theron Parmelee, secretary to the president, E. M. Ashton. president of the Chamber of Commerce, Jesse Thompson, in charge of the ticket selling committee of the Chamber of Commerce, Walter A. Kerr, chairman of the Athletic Coun- cil, Richard A. Hart, president of the Utah Alumni Association, Mayor C. Clarence Nes- len. Dr. Clarence Snow, chairman of the Board of Regents, and the Stadium Trust Commis- sion, composed of President Thomas, Charles R. Mabey, Ronald McGregor, John F. Fitz- patrick, Warren U. Wattis, W. W. Ray and Royal C. Barnes then walked down the crim- son lined aisle to the playing field. Dr. Snow picked up the microphone and, through the radio broadcasting equipment ar- ranged throughout the bowl, welcomed the crowd on behalf of the University and extend- ed his appreciation to those who had assisted in connection with the stadium. He then intro- duced Mr. Hart of the Alumni Association, who welcomed the crowd and began with the dedication exercises. The Utah stadium repre- sents the realization of dreams of the pioneers, who fondly predicted and foresaw the future rise and growth of the institution which they founded, pointed out Mr. Hart. As the climax of the program the stadium was. dedicated to the fostering of high ideals, to the development of fine voung manhood and to the perpetuation and glorification of clean sportsmanship. With the closing words, all the balloons were set loose by the Spur girls, floating, in a gesture of triumph and defiance, over the Colo- rado stands. MONSTER STEAM SHOVELS MIAPIM ' , ROW! Pa%e 173