Kickoff!

Two $1 million gifts get the ball rolling
for a new athletic performance center

The two $1 million commitments are part of JMU's total private fundraising goal of $7 million toward the future center. The remaining $3 million will come from the university's reserve account.

Joseph K. Funkhouser II, a Harrisonburg realtor who is heading the fund drive, says the million-dollar gifts and pledges came from Zane Showker, a Harrisonburg businessman and philanthropist, and the Bridgeforth family of Winchester. Bridgeforth Stadium is named for the late William E. "Ed" Bridgeforth Jr. and his family.

Funkhouser, president of Prudential Funkhouser and Associates Realtors, says that another $560,000 has been pledged in smaller gifts.

"The Athletic Performance Center will provide the support services necessary to ensure the total success of our student-athletes," Funkhouser told about 150 university supporters. "JMU and our student-athletes are counting on the support of alumni, friends and donors to provide this type of facility."

Athletics Director Jeff Bourne said the new facility is needed so that JMU can "recruit the finest student-athletes, those who can perform with equal prowess on the field and in the classroom."

Head football coach Mickey Matthews says that the quality of facilities can weigh heavily in a university's ability to recruit outstanding student-athletes. "Recruiting efforts at colleges around the country very often succeed, or fail, because of the institution's facilities," he says.

A two-story structure, the new performance center will contain 45,500 square feet. The first floor will include the football team's locker rooms, a team lounge, a strength and conditioning center, training/ rehabilitation facilities and an equipment room. On game days, the JMU football team will enter the playing field from the new center.

The second floor will include an academics center that will be used by all student-athletes. The center will include computer labs, study areas and tutorial areas.

The academic center will be named the Challace McMillin Academic Center, in honor of JMU's first football coach. Today McMillin is a professor in JMU's School of Kinesiology and Recreation.

Also on the second floor will be space for the JMU Sports Hall of Fame, a reception area, team meeting rooms and coaches' offices.

Construction time for the building will be about a year and a half after the fund drive has reached its goal, according to Bourne.

The $10 million figure includes furnishings and equipment for the building. About $3 million toward the project will come from JMU's reserve account, with $7 million to be raised from gifts. No tax funds will go toward the center's construction.

After the dinner and the gift announcement, Showker told the audience, "I've seen JMU evolve from a small teachers college to a major university. I'm happy to play a role in enhancing the opportunities for JMU's excellent student-athletes."

Showker is rector of the JMU Board of Visitors and has served on the board since 1994. He is chairman emeritus of Sysco Food Services in Harrisonburg. Showker Hall, the university's College of Business building, is named in his honor. One of JMU's major benefactors, Showker has served in a leadership capacity on a number of boards and councils. His son, Joseph Showker, is a JMU alumnus and played on the football team.

James Scott Bridgeforth, vice president of Royal Crown Bottling Co. of Winchester, says his gift was on behalf of his entire family. "All of us in the Bridgeforth family have a deep affection for JMU. We are proud to make this gift to enhance the facilities in the stadium, which bears our family name," he says.

Bridgeforth and his brother, W.E. Bridgeforth III, president of the bottling company, are graduates of JMU, as are their sisters, Diane B. Lively, who was on the JMU Board of Visitors from 1992 to 1996, and Karen Eyles. Their father, "Ed" Bridgeforth, was on the board from 1982 to 1990.