The Wartburg College football team will take to the newly named Zimmerman Field during its home opener Saturday, Sept. 21.

The Wartburg College Board of Regents has approved the naming of the football field at Walston-Hoover Stadium in honor of Richard Zimmerman, a 1951 graduate, and his wife, Marge. Richard Zimmerman is a retired agriculture business executive from Mendota, Ill. 

The Zimmerman family donated $500,000 to the college. The money will be used to purchase a new video scoreboard, enhance the infrastructure for live streaming of athletic events, and help replace the field turf.

In addition, a $600,000 estate gift from Lotus Knief, a 1952 graduate, is contributing to upgrades at Hertel and Lynes fields, used for baseball and softball, respectively. Work has already begun on the planned field upgrades. Future improvements will enhance spectator-seating areas, as well as create new restrooms, concessions and storage space.

Both gifts support the college’s $3.4 million Outdoor Athletic Facilities Project — part of its upcoming Transforming Tomorrow campaign. The project includes upgrades to the football stadium, track, baseball and softball fields, and a new artificial turf lacrosse field for the women’s lacrosse team, scheduled to begin play in spring 2015.

The Zimmerman family has a long-standing relationship with the college. Four of Richard’s children attended Wartburg. His grandson, Grant Zimmerman, is a sophomore punter for the Knights from Mendota, Ill., who earned first-team All-Iowa Conference honors in 2012 as the leading punter.

Past gifts from the Zimmerman family have supported Zimmerman Tower, the entryway to the Wartburg Chapel; the Konditorei coffee shop in Vogel Library; and a new sound system in the Wartburg Chapel.

The Zimmermans said they were pleased to support Wartburg College in honor of all of Rich’s children and his brother, Dean, who taught under Dr. Elmer Hertel, a biology professor, from 1962 to 1965.

“We believe that God has chosen us, as Wartburg alumni, to go out and bear the fruits of love, and we respect the fact that Wartburg is and always has been a faith-based college,” the Zimmermans said.

The Knights will celebrate the field naming and the enhanced facility at their home-opening football game against Carthage (Wis.) College Saturday, Sept. 21.

President Darrel Colson is grateful for the Zimmerman family’s long-standing support of the college.

“When I step back and look at the range of projects they’ve supported on campus — from the chapel to the football field — I see that they ‘get it,’” Colson said. “Rich and Marge understand education is about the whole person, not just the intellect, but character and spirit, too. 

“Their generous gift of Zimmerman Field emphasizes the valuable role that our athletic programs play in preparing our students to become the leaders and servants they are called to be. What a blessing for our students to have such selfless benefactors as Rich and Marge.”

Crews worked through the summer to install a new FieldTurf playing surface on Zimmerman Field, as well as a new charcoal gray track. Both replace surfaces in use since 2001.

Walston-Hoover Stadium also will have a new Daktronics video scoreboard installed before the first home football game. The board will “allow for maximum flexibility for both football and track and field,” said Rick Willis, director of athletics.

The 36-foot by 15-foot scoreboard will show score and time, live video, replays, graphics and stats, and keep time for multiple track events, as well as provide new sponsorship opportunities. It will be one of the largest in NCAA Division III athletics, Willis said.  The video board also will significantly upgrade the sound quality in the stadium. Live streaming capabilities will be enhanced through improved infrastructure.

Travis Bockenstedt, lecturer and McElroy Chair in Communication Arts, said the donation also allows for the launch of KnightVision, a premium online sports video streaming network, which will employ up to 10 students.

“We are excited to provide real-world experience to students on campus who are interested in live sports broadcasting,” Bockenstedt said. “KnightVision will provide a premium game-day experience for fans watching inside the stadium and at home on their computers.”

The upgrades also will improve the quality of live streaming from Levick Arena. KnightVision will live stream five football games, five men’s and women’s basketball double-headers, three volleyball matches and two wrestling meets.

Knief’s gift honors her parents Elmer and Anita Knief. Elmer, a 1918 graduate, played for the baseball team.

At Lynes Field, Peters Construction Corp. of Waterloo contracted with the Iowa Cubs to provide the turf management. A second bullpen, an outfield irrigation system and outfield fence upgrades also are underway.

At Hertel Field, crews will lay an artificial field turf on the infield. Willis said the artificial turf will allow the team additional practice time during the spring when grass fields are not suitable for play.

Crews also will replace the chain-link fences that currently run from dugout to dugout at both venues with a 3-foot wall and netting designed to keep spectators safe and improve their view of the game.

Additional gifts will be necessary to complete the Outdoor Athletic Facilities Project. To donate, call the Advancement Office at 319-352-8495 or visit www.wartburg.edu/give.