Central Oregonian

In memory of Kathy Rhoden

New entrance to Ward Rhoden Stadium dedicated to the late Kathy Rhoden last Friday night

Lon Austin

October 21, 2010

Ward Rhoden Stadium has a new entrance.

Workers spent much of last week pouring concrete footings and installing a giant arch at the main entrance to the stadium.

The graceful soaring arch, which says Ward Rhoden Stadium across the top, Cowboys down the left-side support beam, and Cowgirls on the right, is a memorial to Kathleen Marie (Kathy) Rhoden.

“It’s perfect,” said Rhoden family spokesperson Chera Elliott (one of Kathy’s daughters). “It exceeded my expectations.”

The arch, which was conceptually approved by the Crook County School Board five years ago, was built without using either school district or Crook County Booster Club funds.

“A lot of community members seem concerned about who paid for this,” Elliott said. “I want the community to know that there wasn’t any school district or booster club money that went into the project. We just funneled the money through the booster club. The memorial fund has been sitting there for eight years and we just started actively working on the project this year.”

Ward Rhoden, who died in 1969, was a long-time Crook County resident. A lumberman, he was actively involved in Crook County High School athletics, town team sports, and parks and recreation.

In 1974, his sons Jack and Lee Rhoden were the driving forces behind plans for a new football stadium.

Prior to 1975, the Crook County High School football team played its games at the Crook County Fairgrounds in the affectionately nicknamed “Cow Palace.”

Local sawmill and moulding plants, Consolidated Pine, Hudspeth Pine, Pine Products, Ochoco Lumber, Coin Millwork, and Clear Pine Mouldings, all made donations of time and materials to make the new stadium possible.

Built largely with volunteer labor and donated supplies, the new stadium opened in the fall of 1975.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the stadium fell into disrepair. Dry rot was found in portions of the stadium, and other structural issues rendered part of the facility unusable.

Many of the same individuals who had stepped forward to help build the stadium came forward again to ensure that the stadium would remain open.

Kathy Rhoden was one of the individuals who stepped forward to solicit funds and work on the stadium.

Three generations of Rhodens have now graduated from Crook County High School, and a fourth generation is currently attending the school.

Like much of the family, Kathy was actively involved in the community. While in high school she was a member of the cheerleading squad, band, and track. She later became the cheerleading coach. Among other activities, Rhoden was chairman of the Ward Rhoden Scholarship committee, a member of the Crook County Planning Commission, the new high school building committee, Crook County Rotary, Prineville Bank Board of Directors, Prineville Hospital Foundation Board, and the Crook County Hospice Fundraising Committee.

“She was simply a champion of all things Crook County,” Elliott said. “Her devotion to the future generations of our community is much like the permanence of the archway. It is meant to be appreciated, admired and enjoyed by all for generations to come.”

There is still work remaining on project. New gates and a memorial plaque will be installed in the next couple of weeks.

However, the family is pleased with how well the project is coming together.

“It was really cool that as soon as they found out what we wanted to do the community was right on the ball,” Elliott said. “The generosity of the community was really encouraging. It restored my faith in the community. There were so many people who helped — so many people donated material and time or sold us materials at cost. You just knew that people were helping because they wanted to. It was awesome, it was wonderful. So many of our friends and family showed up for the dedication and the ones who couldn’t come all said that they were there in spirit.”

Special Thanks

The Rhoden family wishes to thank the following people for their help with the new memorial arch.

Michael Reger — Sunburst Fabrications, Monte Burch — Sunwest Builders, Dean Noyes — Cowboy Booster Club, Crook County School District Maintenance Department, Crook County School District, Clint Woodward Construction, Scott Porfily — SMAF Construction, Larry Smith — ABC Fence Company, Justin Johnson — Hi TECH Electric, Mason Stafford — Concrete Mobile Mix, Swift Steel, Commercial Powder Coating, Max Manufacturing, Pro Tech Coatings, Cody Jessee — Jessee Monuments, Crook County Planning Department, City of Prineville Building Department, Zach Smith, Brendon Harkey, Trevor Rasmussen, Ryder Shinkle, Tristen Reinhart, and others who are too numerous to mention.