The members went back to the purchase of the bonds and asked if they would turn them in without payment.  All except $925.00 of the total was donated to the Association.  With this money they were able to purchase lights.  The holes for the poles were dug by the members and the poles were set by the Electric Company.  The wiring was done by Tab Braithwaite. 

The land was seeded and fertilized and the members rented bleachers for two years.  The balance of the above money with $1100.00 donated by the school was used to erect a permanent stadium of cement blocks and concrete.  Bolts, nuts and other hardware was donated by Ralph Parsons, concrete was donated by “Sid” Stratton and Fred Norris donated his time and labor to install the plumbing in the locker rooms under the stadium.  A press box was erected by Bill Yantes and other members.  Walter Loveless donated material and wires the press box.  Many other individuals provided labor and material to provide for the schools and the community.

In April, 1962, Sid Stratton and Leigh Bradfield presented a resolution to the Athletic Association to turn over all assets, including real estate in Jefferson Township, over to the West Jefferson Community and Businessman’s Association in consideration of the Association taking care of the said lands.  The resolution was passed unanimously by the members present.  It was specified in the deed delivered to the West Jefferson Community and Businessman’s Association that the school board had first priority on the use of the land and the community to have second priority.

The first offices of the association were Ralph Parsons, President, Earl Huffman, Secretary and William B. Culp, Treasure.  Vice Presidents were Percy Harbage, Leigh Bradfield, Charles Phillips and Merrill Mellott.  The purpose of the group was to purchase land for athletic fields to be used by the school and community.

After several meetings they decided to sell “Baby Bonds” –non interest bearing bonds to raise money.  Their efforts raised approximately $4,400.00 with which they purchased land- now identified as the “old football field, the Ox Roast Grounds, the Middle School grounds” or whatever your name is for it, from C.F. Kuener.  After the field was laid out they did not have enough so and additional five acres was from Mr. Smith.  This piece of property is not the tennis courts.  An additional piece of land was donated by Larry Kahoe providing a fence be erected and maintained. During the grading of the property three foot of dirt was removed from the northern part of the land and moved to what is now the baseball field.  The grading was done by Russell “Scotty” Keel and L.C. Clymer.

The above was prepared by Jack A. Pfeil from information recorded in the Minutes of the Jefferson Township Athletic Association, from Ralph Parsons and other sources. Any omission of information or mis-information is unintentional.