Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Surpasses Goal for Football Stadium Improvement Project
October 15, 2005 | Football
During homecoming activities Oct. 15, Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora honored several benefactors who assisted in pushing Drive to Distinction: The Ball State Stadium Campaign past its original $12 million goal.
Former Ball State football player John Scheumann and his wife, June, provided $4 million to the campaign. Business executive Paul Kozel and his wife, Patricia, have made a $1.25 million gift while Drive to Distinction campaign chairman John Fisher and his wife, Janice, gave $510,000.
All three couples were honored during homecoming activities with the stadium being christened the John B. and June M. Scheumann Stadium and the training center being named the John W. and Janice B. Fisher Football Training Complex. The new press box will be named the Paul L. and Patricia L. Kozel Stadium Communications Center.
"We are deeply appreciative of the support from the Scheumanns, the Kozels and the Fishers in addition to the more than 700 other benefactors who provided gifts to the stadium campaign," said Gora, who also recognized major gifts to the campaign made by the George and Frances Ball Foundation, the Ball Brothers Foundation and the Cardinal Varsity Club.
"John Scheumann came to Ball State in the 1960s as a scholarship football player and over the years has been a strong supporter of the university, providing funds to assist both academic and athletic programs," she said. "The Kozels played a significant role in generating momentum for the campaign. When their gift was announced in June, the news inspired many new benefactors and pushed the campaign within sight of its goal."
In addition to providing a significant gift, John Fisher served as chairman of the Drive to Distinction campaign. Fisher's strong, energetic leadership guided the campaign past its goal within a year of the kick off, Gora said.
"John and Janice Fisher also are being honored not only for their most recent gift, but also for their history of philanthropy to Ball State," she said.
Gora said the successful campaign has made the long-awaited project possible by funding the installation of synthetic grass and construction of a larger press box and entertainment center, private boxes, enhanced ticket offices, concessions facilities, restrooms, a brick and wrought iron exterior and new seating. The university also would like to include a video replay board in the final plans. Work is scheduled to begin on these projects in 2006.
"We want to acknowledge all the individuals, families, foundations and businesses contributing to the renovation of the stadium, which we've always considered the university's front door," she said. "In our campaign, we said we would 'make it happen.' Now, we are moving closer to creating a state-of-the-art athletic facility that can also host a wide variety of university and community events."
John Scheumann, a former Cardinal defensive tackle, graduated in 1971 with a degree in accounting. Cofounder and former chairman and chief executive officer of Crossman Communities, he is currently involved in several real estate and development ventures in Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina.
"Each time I go to a football game, I take a second to think about the times I spent on the field as a player and in the stands as a fan," he said. "I have had some great memories over the years. Our gift should help produce similar memories for players and fans for years to come."
Paul Kozel is president and treasurer of Chesterfield Management, a company that owns multiple restaurants in northern Indiana and manages commercial properties. Patricia Kozel has been active with Chesterfield Management since 1980 and now serves as vice president and secretary. The couple, along with their children, also owns a wireless phone and tower company.
The Fishers also are longtime benefactors of the university, providing the largest private gift in the early 1990s to Ball State's first major campaign, Wings for the Future. The gift established the Fisher Chair in Exercise Physiology in the Human Performance Laboratory and helped build Worthen Arena.
John Fisher is a former president and chairman of Ball Corporation. In 45 years with the company, he was instrumental in the growth in sales from $17 million in 1941 to $1.1 billion in 1986. Janice Ball Fisher, who has been active in civic affairs, is the daughter of Edmund B. Ball, one of the five industrialist brothers who provided funding to create Ball State.
"My wife and I have always believed in Ball State and the positive role the university plays in the community as well as the state," John Fisher said. "We are proud to assist the university with the stadium project. We believe, as the largest public venue in East Central Indiana, it will become a real focal point for community activities just as Emens Auditorium has since its opening."
For the past several years Ball State has been renovating its football stadium, which opened in 1967, adding additional seating, lights and a training facility. When completed, the facility will include new seating in the north end zone that will wrap around the structure to create a 25,400-seat horseshoe stadium.
More information about the football stadium renovation project may be found online at www.bsu.edu/stadium.
