Alabama State University News February 3, 2012 ASU to Hold Two Dedications During Founders Week By Deonshay Danson As part of its 112th Founders' Week observance, ASU will formally dedicate two locations on the University campus. Alabama State University will hold two dedications during its 2012 Founders' Week celebration - Ross Dunn Drive and the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. Both will be held on Friday, Feb. 10. Ross Dunn Drive, formerly East University Drive, will be dedicated beginning at 1 p.m. at the parking lot behind the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The street will be renamed in honor of Ross Dunn, an alumnus and longtime ASU supporter. Dunn received his Bachelor of Science degree from ASU in 1959 and a Master of Education degree in 1966. He is recognized as a charter member of ASU's Board of Trustees, a position in which he served for 15 years. During his tenure on the Board, Dunn was instrumental in obtaining funds for the ASU Endowment. The Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex will be dedicated beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the complex site on Carter Hill Road. The new complex is named in honor of two former head baseball coaches, Herbert Wheeler and Larry Watkins. Wheeler earned both his undergraduate (1937) and graduate (1967) degrees from ASU. He played several sports, and his athletic abilities earned him the nickname "Hot Dog." Wheeler became head coach of the baseball team in the 1960s and led the Hornets until 1981, passing the torch to his former player and assistant coach Larry Watkins. Watkins, a native of Thomasville, Ala., earned his undergraduate (1973) and graduate (1975) degrees from ASU. He played for Coach Wheeler as a student, and joined his coaching staff after graduating. As a player and coach, Watkins served the University for 40 years. Watkins took over as head coach in 1982, a position he held for nearly 20 years. His teams earned 515 wins, making him the all-time leader in wins in ASU history. The $3.9 million baseball complex was completed in the spring of 2011, and brought baseball back to ASU's campus for the first time since 1996. It features an intramural soccer/football field, a press box, bathrooms, dugouts, a concession stand, parking, lighting and seating. For more information, contact ASU's Office of University Relations at 334-229-6795. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.