BAF Stadium
Even those people who did not count math as their strong point could work the numbers -- the old Harmon Field, former home of the Bellevue Redmen football team from 1928-1968, had a seating capacity for 1,000 spectators. Rarely, if ever, did fewer then 2,000 show up for games.
Beyond that there were no concession stands, public restroom or adequate public parking. Something needed to be done. The school and team needed a new stadium, but more importantly, they needed someone or some group to step forward and lead the charge to see that dream become a reality.
Enter the Bellevue Rotary Club.
In September 1965, the Bellevue Rotary Club, under the direction of Dale Yearick and Charles Sabo, wanted to make the idea a reality. The Rotary Club had preliminary drawings made and received bids for the construction of the athletic field. The Bellevue High School Alumni Association was incorporated to handle the donations.
The project was a large undertaking, too much for the Alumni Association, Rotary Club, Redmen Boosters Club, Band Boosters Club, or any other group to handle. It had to be a full community effort of all clubs, organizations, industries, businesses and professional groups; everyone's help was necessary to make it a success.
"Operation BAF" was spearheaded by then Rotary President Charles Sabo. But he had plenty of help along the way. The Rotary Club paid for a community survey, conducted by the Capital Funds Division of the Krogers Company, Fostoria. Finding the survey was favorable for a financial drive for $100,000, the local rotary club decided to initiate the project, doing so with a commitment of volunteer work and an initial donation to the fund-raising drive of $1,600.
From their own membership they also guaranteed the cost of $6,500 for professional service, then turned the campaign over to the Bellevue High School Alumni Association. The fund-raising drive was conducted. However, this did not mean the withdrawal of the Rotary Club from the project since the rotary members became more involved.
Sabo became co-chairman of Operation BAF with the late Terry Ruppert, who was then president of the Redmen Athletic Boosters. Johnny Burrill took over as publicity chairman. Hollis Matherly, Rotary Club secretary, became teams chairman. The special events committee was headed by Wilson Louden-slagel, Jerry Foos, Bill Fulton and Dave Vogel. J. Richard Pollock and Frank Johnson took charge of the Industrial Division, while Dr. F.D. Crosby and Dr. Don Taggart took charge of the Professional Division. Nearly all 27 Rotary Club members had a role to play in Operation BAF.
Sabo appointed an executive committee to help with the project. The committee included community members R.L. Smith, Lowell Shaffer, Robert Kellerman, T.R. Ball, Richard Raish, Terry Ruppert, Donald Hassalbach, Wilson Loudenslagel, Robert Ruffing, J. Richard Pollack, Mrs. Robert Canfield, Millie Tuttamore, R. Hollis Matherly, Bud McKenzie and M.B. Denbow.
Others who helped serve on the executive committee included A.D. Wolfe, Paul Callaghan, John Aigler, G.I. Billiard, Frank Johnson, S.N. Woodward, J.M. Strayer and Mrs. Willard Miller.
In just four years, the BAF Stadium netted over $125,000 and construction was begun and completed on the state-of-the-art athletic facility.
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Bellevue Historian Bill Oddo writes a weekly column for The Bellevue Gazette.
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