The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/672211
MAY 2016 ■ 71 ■ PACK PAST field house in the north end zone. Walker — known as "the man who gets things done" — was among those present with head coach Earle Edwards, athletics director Roy Clogston, Caldwell and con- solidated university system president Wil- liam C. Friday when ground was broken on the site of a former research fish pond surrounded by acres and acres of alfalfa and corn fields. The silver shovel used on Dec. 14, 1964, has been lost to history, but it was a momentous time in the history of the university. On March 3, 1965 — barely 18 months before the first game was played at the new complex — university officials met in Walker's Raleigh office to authorize the final financing plans for the stadium. Like the pennies, nickels and dimes col- lected from school children around the state to save and restore the U.S.S. North Carolina battleship, young Wolfpack fans saved their change to help pay for the new stadium. Fifth-grader Lee Hunsucker of Savan- nah, Ga., whose grandfather played on the 1927 State College team that won the school's only Southern Conference football championship while playing at Riddick Stadium, wrote in on behalf of his four brothers: "We want to send our Christmas money to help build the new field, so it is in this letter." Older fans bought in as well. Those who gave $75 or more were remembered in the official dedication program, which is filled with more than 3,000 names of contributing individuals and compa- nies. Among the individuals were three governors, two Raleigh mayors, Friday, hundreds and hundreds of distinguished alumni and Sister Mary — Faith Healer and "Bob Caudle's brother." (Bob himself was not listed.) The NC State basketball team, the NC State cheerleaders, the Duke football team and the Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Writers Association were all among the groups that gave money. The Angus Barn, Dr. Pepper Bottling SEPI is proud to support NC State and Wolfpack Athletics Improving the communities we impact and the infrastructure they depend on. At SEPI, we look at each new project as a unique opportunity to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors and ourselves. That's why our award-winning, woman-owned business offers clients a superior team of professionals dedicated to engineering excellence. 1025 Wade Avenue | Raleigh, NC | 27605 | 919.789.9977 | sepiengineering.com | @SEPIengineers Steve Thomas, PE | COO MSCE, NCSU Class of '86 BSCE, NCSU Class of '84 Sepideh Saidi, PE | President/CEO BSCE, NCSU Class of '93 BSAg.E, NCSU Class of '85 C.E. "Neil" Lassiter Jr, PE CEI Division Manager BSCE, NCSU Class of '83 Photo by Oak City Photography GO PACK! "When we undertook this difficult job many people said it couldn't be done. But Walker did it. He's been the driving force behind the entire fund-raising for Carter Stadium." ■ Former NC State athletics director Roy Clogston