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Leon Peters, arrow, addresses crowd at official ground-breaking ceremonies for the Fresno State University stadium.
Bee Photo
Ground-Breaking Ceremonies Mark
3rd Step In FSU Stadium Progress
Nobody turned a spade of dirt,
perhaps because a fleet of mechanized monster earth-movers had been
doing the job for more than a week.
But the ground-breaking ceremonies
for Fresno State's $7.2 million stadium Thursday morning on the Cedar-
Barstow southwest corner appropriately marked the third step in the
biggest community project in Fresno
history.
As several of the half dozen speakers pointed out, the first step was tne
dream, which dates back to 1962.
Next was the task of raising the
funds within the community. Third,
Thursday's official confirmation, and
finally, the structure itself, scheduled
for completion in early December,
1980.
"We're here to celebrate a victory," proclaimed Fresno industrialist
Leon Peters, who with financier Lew
Eaton and retired rancher Russ Giffen comprised the steering committee.
"It will be a tremendous asset to
the community for years to come,
and one day the people here will
thank you for this great facility. I
want to give a special tribute to
(FSU) President Norman Baxter
(absent because of off-campus
committments) for keeping the faith.
He led us through all kinds of obstacles to achieve this dream.
"I don't think that we c an yi
comprehend the importance to the
community of this project. I predict
that one day, before too long, there
will be pressures to add even more
seats to the present 30,000."
Giffen said, "The completion of
this stadium will enrich all athletic
programs of the university and the
community for major events such as
Billy Graham's crusades."
Gary Fisher, president of the R.G.
Fisher Co. of Fresno, the general
contractor, said, "Even if we were
not involved in this, we'd be proud. -
. .A true monument to the genius and
vision of the people of the San Joaquin Valley."
Gus Graham, assistant to the FSU
president, and Bud Richter, chairman of the seat option committee
(there are about 180 pairs of seats
available for donors, contrary to an
See Stadium, Page C2
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