The all-weather sports facility at Douglas High School will be named the Big George Athletic Complex, with the blessing of the Douglas County School Board and Douglas field namesake Keith Roman.
"(Principal) Mr. Swisher took me out today to look at the new track," Roman said. "It's going to be the premiere facility out there. It's a great move to come to a high school with this complex - it helps us get closer to the community. Thank you."
The sports complex will be named in honor of Ray Sidney, owner of Big George Ventures, who donated a total of $1.725 million for the project.
"We'll be the shining star in Nevada," said Superintendent Carol Lark. "I'm looking forward to seeing kids use it."
"We're looking forward to seeing people out there too," said Sidney. "This is the first track I ever bought a chunk of."
Members of the school board voted to name the high school track and field complex Big George Athletic Complex on Tuesday while retaining the name of Douglas' Keith Duke Roman Field.
School board members also voted to accept an additional donation from Robbe Lehman, project manager for Big George Ventures, for the amount of $125,000 to complete the track with an upgraded surface.
Lehman recommended donating more money to complete the track with a colored surface that wouldn't be hot.
"I wanted to know, 'What would it take not to be hot?'" Lehman said. "The base layer is like a sponge and the top quarter will be a color: brick track red."
Completion of the track is estimated to be in time for Douglas' homecoming on Oct. 6.
