Knoxville alumni, residents celebrate approval to begin fundraising efforts for historic stadium
Ken Locke Stadium, which is named after a former Knoxville student who died during his senior year, is 85 years old.
Ken Locke Stadium, which is named after a former Knoxville student who died during his senior year, is 85 years old.
Ken Locke Stadium, which is named after a former Knoxville student who died during his senior year, is 85 years old.
Ken Locke Stadium is celebrating 85 years this year. It was built through a Depression-era government program in 1938. Decades later, it was named after a Knoxville student.
"Ken Locke was a senior who died playing football," Pennie Sommar, a member of the Knoxville Alumni Association and co-chair of its Save Our Stadium committee, said. "We have a lot of older alumni — such as myself — that went to school with him. That tugs on our hearts. There's just a lot of love for that place."
Members of the alumni association and Knoxville residents have been pushing to make renovations to the stadium.
"The history of Ken Locke Stadium is Knoxville's history and we feel we have a responsibility to keep it a very special place," Sommar said.
Sommar gave the presentation for the association at Monday evening's school board meeting. Board members happily approved the presentation, which association members say now gives them the chance to fundraise for renovations.
Sommar tells vlog she and the association have worked closely with the school's superintendent to make this happen.
During her presentation, Sommar said the association would like to see the stadium renovated to the point it can be used for more than just high school and middle school sports.
"We feel little league football and soccer kids could use a home with restrooms and a concession stand," Sommar said. "We would love to see large band competitions there, concerts, summer outside movies, and walkers on the track."
The association also hopes to build an area with a community room for activities.
"It will be fun to see the little kids now get to come back and do those same kinds of things," said Connie Husted, a board member of the Knoxville Alumni Association.
The association says the first fundraising event will be on homecoming night, Sept. 22.