FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
 

Marshall names stadium after Joan C. Edwards

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University will honor philanthropist Joan C. Edwards for her years of unending devotion and generosity to the school and the community by naming the Thundering Herd’s football stadium in her honor.

Marshall President Dan Angel said today that Marshall Stadium will be renamed Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Edwards recently pledged an additional “significant gift” to the MU football program.

“Joan Edwards has made, and continues to make, an indelible mark on Huntington, Marshall University and many of our academic and athletic programs,” Angel said. “We are humbly in Joan’s debt for her long record of giving. The renaming of the stadium is one way to show our gratitude for her generosity.”

The stadium will be the only one in NCAA Division I-A to be named for a woman. The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University is also the only medical school in the country named for a woman.

Angel said the recent gift from Edwards will easily accommodate Marshall’s exit from the Mid-American Conference and entrance into Conference USA.” Marshall football Coach Bob Pruett said he is grateful for the gift.

“It’s wonderful,” Pruett said. “Joan Edwards is one of the most generous, benevolent people in the world. We’re thrilled to death she’s on our team.”

Edwards will be honored Friday, Nov. 28 during a naming ceremony at halftime of Marshall’s football game with Ohio University. The game begins at noon.

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