November 22, 2002

PALADIN PLAZA TO BECOME PART OF
FURMAN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL STADIUM

GREENVILLE, S.C. ­ Thanks to the efforts of four donors, the outside of Furman University¹s Paladin Stadium will have a new look by the beginning of the 2003 football season.

A 17-foot bronze statue of a horse-and-knight will be the centerpiece of a new area just outside the home entrance to the stadium. The lighted, 12,000-square-foot area, which will include brick walkways with granite set edging, a replica of the Diamond "F" and custom landscaping, will be known as Paladin Plaza.

The university will break ground in May for the $500,000 project, which should be completed by July.

The horse-and-rider will be a bronze patina and, when mounted on a six-foot pedestal, rise 17 feet into the air. The names of athletic donors who have created fully endowed scholarships will be engraved into the pedestal. In addition, the names of the Order of the Paladin members (those who contribute at the quarter-, half-, or full-scholarship levels) will be engraved on a plaque attached to Paladin Stadium.

According to Ken Pettus, director of Furman's Paladin Club, Paladin Plaza is bound to become a campus landmark in the tradition of the Bell Tower, Rose Garden and Cherrydale.

"As the Bell Tower is symbolic of academic life at Furman, this plaza will be the focal point of athletics at Furman," says Pettus. "It's going to be phenomenal, and it will provide a lasting tribute to those people who have been so generous to Furman athletics."

Sonny and Keeter Horton of Greenville and Melvin and Dollie Younts of Fountain Inn are the primary donors for Paladin Plaza. The horse-and-rider statue is donated by Irwin Belk of Charlotte, N.C.

Chris Stewart and Marty Priore, 2002 Furman graduates who were All-American offensive linemen for the Paladins last year and who are now in the granite business in Odessa, Fla., have donated and will install the material for the statue¹s pedestal. The horse-and-rider was designed by artist John Hair of Cornelius, N.C., who has replicated a number of mascots for other universities across the South.

"It is a pleasure for Keeter and me to help with the project," said Sonny Horton. "Furman has done so much for our lives that we feel blessed to be able to give back to such a wonderful athletic department that emphasizes academics and integrity as well as winning."

Melvin Younts said that he and his wife, Dollie, have been avid Furman football fans for many years and are convinced that Paladin Plaza will create additional financial support for the Paladin athletic program.

"We especially like the idea of engraving on the base of the statue the names of those who have provided fully endowed athletic scholarships," Melvin Younts said. "This will reward prior contributors and encourage future donors to endow a scholarship in memory of a coach, teammate or family member."

For more information, contact the Furman Paladin Club at 864-294-3469.