Those in Oklahoma are probably familiar with the ******* family. Rich, powerful....etc. etc. Mr. *******'s latest ploy however takes the award for the most gall I've seen in a while. Thanks to a recent $12 million donation to Oklahoma University, Mr. ******* has managed to have the university's football stadium renamed from Memorial Stadium to The ******* Family Memorial Stadium. (For those who don't know, Memorial Stadium was built to honor the students and faculty who gave their lives in WW-1 and was later re-dedicated to honor all service people who gave their lives in all wars.)
It's incredible that anyone would take a memorial (no matter that it's a football stadium) dedicated to our fallen service men and women and want to put their name on it. What's next? Someone "buying" the rights to the Vietnam (or the proposed WW-2) memorial and sticking their name on it? As a veteran (and the son, grandson, great-grandson, father, nephew and son-in-law of veterans), I am offended and disgusted.

 

I hear ya bud, and I share your feelings. Some things just shouldn't be for sale. Unfortunately there will always be people with plenty of bucks and no decency who think nothing of making such a bequest in exchange for naming something after themselves. Nevermind the good that their money could do, they've tarnished the deed by being selfish. And there will always be a college pres. that want's those bucks bad enough to give in.........

Ron

 

money talks and the B.S. walks

BuiltToughF250

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Sep-02 AT 09:49 PM (EST)]

I'm sick and tired of everything being for sale in this country,and day in time.I'm not a sports fan,but it makes me sick to see stadiums and coliseums,etc..that are funded in most part by tax payers,named in "honor" of the person with the most $$$$ to burn,(the highest bidder).
The saddest part is that many times these people acquired their wealth through the hard work and sacrifices of others.(No I'm not a liberal with an ax to grind when I say this either).

You've got me going on this one!

BTW...No need to be sorry,whatsoever.What's right is right.
The U.S.is a great country because of in large part,the dedicated citizens that have been willing to litrerally put their lives on the line for it.

 

Seems to me it's a major sign of insecurity, mistaken sometimes for notoriety. What happened to the days when the well-to-do were just as happy to contribute, get their tax deduction, and have a library dedicated in their honor to boot. Granted, it didn't promote as much press, but the act of kindness didn't used to be for the purpose of getting in the headlines.

I can't say I blame them for taking what they can get anyway they can get it. It's just a shame that times have become this commercialized.

 

I'm going to ask a favor. Local veterans are starting a petition drive and e-mail campaign to get this name change reversed. If you are a veteran or the widow/widower of a veteran, please take a few minutes and e-mail the University President, David Boren, and ask him not to change the name of Memorial Stadium to The ******* Family Memorial Stadium. The strangest part of this is that Dr. Boren was in the US Senate and chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee. You'd think he'd realize what a slap in the face this is for all living veterans and a total lack of respect for those who gave their lives for this country. His e-mail addy is dboren@ou.edu

 

I was upset when Candlestic Park was renamed to 3Com Park. But not nearly upset as I am when I read this post. The ******* family might as well go desecrate the graves of the fallen and spit in the faces of the veterans while they are at it.

When Candlestick was renamed I always thought that I would have a lot more respect for the company or individual that donated the money if they would simply leave the name of the park as it has always been but perhaps just make it mandatory for sports announcers to say something like "sponsored by so and so".

I'm totally with you.. it gets my blood boiling.

Graffe.

 

 

Well, I got a reply back from Dr. Boren. Here it is:

September 24, 2002

Dear Friend of OU,



Thank you for contacting me to share your opinion about the naming of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. As you know while many other universities around the country have named their college and university stadiums for commercial companies, the University of Oklahoma has not done so. We have generally named our facilities after either prominent athletic figures at OU or after generous donors to the university. Examples of our policy include the L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park, the Lloyd Noble Basketball Arena, the Howard McCasland Field House, the Headington Family Tennis Complex, the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center and Owen Field. We feel it is appropriate to recognize and honor philanthropy because this kind of generosity is an important value that should be encouraged in our society.
In the case of the current gifts from the ******* family I think there has been a great deal of misunderstanding. Just as adding Darrel Royal's name to the Texas Memorial Stadium in no way diminished the stadium's commemorative purpose, OU is retaining Oklahoma Memorial Stadium as the central name of our stadium. Mr. ******* strongly urged the name Oklahoma Memorial Stadium never be removed from the stadium. In addition he required that a part of his gift should go to create a memorial on the grounds of the stadium which will for the first time list the names of all faculty, staff and students who have given their lives for their country. He felt that such recognition for our men and women in uniform was long over due. I hope you will want to join me in thanking the ******* family for all of their gifts to the university which will help enrich the lives of our students for generations to come.



Sincerely, David L. Boren
President

 

Funny... I just got mine...September 24, 2002

Dear Friend of OU,



Thank you for contacting me to share your opinion about the naming of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. As you know while many other universities around the country have named their college and university stadiums for commercial companies, the University of Oklahoma has not done so. We have generally named our facilities after either prominent athletic figures at OU or after generous donors to the university. Examples of our policy include the L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park, the Lloyd Noble Basketball Arena, the Howard McCasland Field House, the Headington Family Tennis Complex, the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center and Owen Field. We feel it is appropriate to recognize and honor philanthropy because this kind of generosity is an important value that should be encouraged in our society.



In the case of the current gifts from the ******* family I think there has been a great deal of misunderstanding. Just as adding Darrel Royal's name to the Texas Memorial Stadium in no way diminished the stadium's commemorative purpose, OU is retaining Oklahoma Memorial Stadium as the central name of our stadium. Mr. ******* strongly urged the name Oklahoma Memorial Stadium never be removed from the stadium. In addition he required that a part of his gift should go to create a memorial on the grounds of the stadium which will for the first time list the names of all faculty, staff and students who have given their lives for their country. He felt that such recognition for our men and women in uniform was long over due. I have attached a copy of a letter sent to the newspaper by athletic director, Joe Castiglione. I hope that it will more fully explain the entire situation. After you consider all of the information contained in it I hope you will want to join me in thanking the ******* family for all of their gifts to the university which will help enrich the lives of our students for generations to come.



Sincerely,



David L. Boren

President

Looks like many people were under a wrong impression? Hence the form letter response.