Athens, Ohio, a beautiful city nestled in the basin of the rolling Hocking Hills. This small town, where everyone knows each other, was abruptly shaken to its core nearly one year ago. On September 16, 2010, a violent tornado ravaged its way through the town of Athens and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service reported six tornado touchdowns in the area, four of which were in Athens County. The tornados left a devastating trail of destruction in their wake, including major damage to Basil Rutter Field at Athens High School, home of the Bulldogs. Amongst the wreckage lay the mangled goal posts, flipped bleachers and the ruins of the press box. Even the Bulldog’s beloved Victory Bell was left badly damaged.
After the storm had passed through Athens, the community immediately sprang into action and united together to help rebuild the destroyed stadium. Building a new stadium does not come cheap, but with the love, support and financial donations of a whole community, Athens High School was able to rebuild the stadium using money donated by the community and without the need for a tax increase.
One way Athens high school raised money was through the selling of bricks, varying in sizes, which members of the community could personalize. These bricks were then joined together to build a wall that can be viewed and cherished for years to come. It took the whole community to re-build Rutter Field, but behind every brick there is a story. The wall can be seen at any Bulldogs' home football game.
Terry Dale Hawk: Graduate of Athens High School class of 1975. Terry’s mother bought this brick for Terry as a gift. Cindy Hoskinson Hawk, Terry’s wife and fellow Bulldog says, “Buying gifts for her husband can be very difficult, but this gift is great. Now he will be remembered forever and it is a wonderful way to give back to the school.”
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