Column: Naming of complex is fitting tribute

Daily Journal

The Edinburgh school sports complex soon will be titled the Steve Hollenbeck Athletic Complex in honor of the former Johnson County Council member who worked at Edinburgh Community High School for 35 years. Hollenbeck passed away in February 2011.

The sports complex includes basketball and tennis courts, a football field and a track. The school district was looking to replace the complex’s deteriorating sign and thought naming the facility after Hollenbeck was fitting, Edinburgh Community High School Principal Kevin Rockey said.

Donations made to the high school’s athletics department in Hollenbeck’s memory will be used to pay for the new sign, Rockey said. The district will cover the rest of the costs.

Residents who wished to donate money in Steve Hollenbeck’s memory were asked to send their donations to the school athletics department. Former students and athletes are among the donors, said Joanne Hollenbeck, Steve Hollenbeck’s widow.

Instead of spending the money on uniforms or other items that could become worn out, the donors wanted the money to be spent on something permanent, said Rick Bechtel, a teacher at Edinburgh Community Middle School and Steve Hollenbeck’s longtime friend.

“I think they wanted something that would stay around. Uniforms wear out and go away. This is something that people in the community want, something that’s going to be around for a while,” Bechtel said.

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