googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1599240294477-0'); });
Nelson Family and Rotary Corp support Paulson Stadium

Share On Social

Nelson Family and Rotary Corp Support Paulson Stadium

The family of the late Bill W. Nelson and Rotary Corporation, the company he built into an internationally-recognized leader in the outdoor power equipment industry, have made a major gift to the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation. The announcement was made Thursday by University President Dr. Brooks A. Keel. Ph.D. and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein.

The generosity of the Nelson Family will fund the Hall of Fame in the new Ted Smith Family Football Center, which is located inside Paulson Stadium. It will be named the Bill W. Nelson Hall of Fame and will serve as a permanent recognition of inductees with highlights including the rich history of Eagle football.

In addition, Rotary Corporation has funded the “Field of Dreams” between the stadium’s east end zone and the football center. The field, which provides a game day experience for children 12 and under, was the brainchild of Kleinlein and Frank Hook, director of donor relations for Georgia Southern’s Athletic Foundation. The field measures 48’ wide X 144’ long and features artificial turf.

Since Paulson Stadium opened in 1984, kids have enjoyed sliding down the hills and playing football in the end zone. With stadium expansion and upgrades earlier this year, athletic department officials were determined to maintain certain traditions like this for future Eagles.

Bill Nelson passed away in 1999 but his philanthropic contributions and deep sense of community continue to be felt by people in southeast Georgia. He was a longtime supporter of education and built a strong relationship with Georgia Southern University. When Coach Erk Russell landed in Statesboro in 1981, Nelson was one of the first to step forward with a commitment to the Eagle program. On more than one occasion, Erk was known to say, “We need more people like Bill Nelson.”

Nelson purchased a small lawn mower repair shop from his uncle in 1957 and built Rotary Corporation, recognized today as the world’s largest supplier of outdoor power equipment parts. Based in Glennville, Rotary operates eight distribution centers in the U.S. and serves customers in all 50 states and 68 countries worldwide. Nelson’s son, Ed, currently serves as president and CEO of Rotary.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1599239852235-0'); });

Latest News

2014 Small Business Of The Year Award Contest

The national small business movement Independent We Stand is thinking outside the “big-box” and breaking the “chains” to ask consumers in towns across the country about their favorite independently owned businesses. The movement is now…

OPEI ‘Look Before You Pump’ Ethanol Education Campaign

Protecting your investment in small engine products, from boats to snowmobiles, from outdoor power equipment to motorcycles, is smart equipment ownership. Now, the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has partnered with the Outdoor Power Equipment…

Toro Announces Boss Acquisition

Officials with The Toro Co. recently announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Boss professional snow and ice management business of privately-held Northern Star Industries, Inc. Based in Iron Mountain, Mich., Boss designs, manufactures and…

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1508263076017-0'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1508263123532-0'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1508263182735-0'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1508263219563-0'); });