GREENFIELD SCHOOL NAMES BASEBALL FIELD FOR RALPH HODGE
By Drew C. Wilson
dwilson@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7818
Greenfield School dedicated the Ralph Hodge Family Field with baseball players, school officials and community leaders in attendance Tuesday.
Head of School Beth Peters called Hodge a longtime Greenfield supporter.
“When I became head of school, I had no idea how benevolent he was through his construction company and all that he had already done for Greenfield,” Peters said. “He would see roofs that needed updated and he was just do it. He would say, ‘We’re coming out there to do the roof on that building.’”
If Hodge saw something that needed doing, she explained, he’d step up to the plate.
“He’s just been so generous to the school that way,” Peters said. “We had a leak during a hard freeze in another school building and some pipes burst and water fell out for a few days and ruined two classrooms, and he was the first to say ‘I’ll get my guys to come out there and take care of it and fix it up.’”
Hodge sent his crews to grade the land for tennis courts and the new baseball field, Peters said.
Ralph Hodge, his wife Linda and extended family members attended the dedication ceremony.
The Hodges’ two daughters attended Greenfield, a private school on N.C. 42 in western Wilson.
“I don’t feel like I’ve done that much,” Hodge said “When they needed help and I was available, I had the facilities to do it with.”
Hodge said the facility looks great.
“There’s still a little work to do, but it’s coming along,” Hodge said. “A lot of people deserve the publicity rather than me. There have been a lot of people that worked out here and helped like I have. I have just done what I could do.”
Southern Bank contributed $50,000 for the tennis courts and $50,000 for the new baseball field. Together, the facilities are called the Southern Bank Athletic Complex.
“We have not only been a strong supporter of their athletics department, but also their academics,” said Matthew Whitley, market executive and senior vice president with Southern Bank in Wilson. “Their values line up and are very similar to ours. They give a lot back to the community. We can to give back to them as they educate our children.”
Whitley said the bank is excited to be part of Greenfield’s growth.“If you look at what the Hodge family has given to this school, and even to the Wilson community, being able to partner with them on a project like this is quite an honor,” Whitley said. “It’s gorgeous. When they get the scoreboard put up and they get he dugouts built and they have got some additional plans for the tennis complex, it’s going to be something that will not only serve Greenfield School, but also Wilson. We can host tournaments. Folks will come to Wilson in order to be here. It’s a first-class facility. It’s going to draw people to not only Greenfield athletics, but also Wilson athletics in general.”
Athletic director Rob Salter said it’s been a long process, from buying the land to developing the tennis courts and baseball field.
“We’re so proud of what we have and the potential we could have,” Salter said. “We think we can have first-class facilities, and that is what we plan on having. We’ve got a great place for our kids to play and grow and enjoy the stuff they love to do.”
By Drew C. Wilson
dwilson@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7818
Greenfield School dedicated the Ralph Hodge Family Field with baseball players, school officials and community leaders in attendance Tuesday.
Head of School Beth Peters called Hodge a longtime Greenfield supporter.
“When I became head of school, I had no idea how benevolent he was through his construction company and all that he had already done for Greenfield,” Peters said. “He would see roofs that needed updated and he was just do it. He would say, ‘We’re coming out there to do the roof on that building.’”
If Hodge saw something that needed doing, she explained, he’d step up to the plate.
“He’s just been so generous to the school that way,” Peters said. “We had a leak during a hard freeze in another school building and some pipes burst and water fell out for a few days and ruined two classrooms, and he was the first to say ‘I’ll get my guys to come out there and take care of it and fix it up.’”
Hodge sent his crews to grade the land for tennis courts and the new baseball field, Peters said.
Ralph Hodge, his wife Linda and extended family members attended the dedication ceremony.
The Hodges’ two daughters attended Greenfield, a private school on N.C. 42 in western Wilson.
“I don’t feel like I’ve done that much,” Hodge said “When they needed help and I was available, I had the facilities to do it with.”
Hodge said the facility looks great.
“There’s still a little work to do, but it’s coming along,” Hodge said. “A lot of people deserve the publicity rather than me. There have been a lot of people that worked out here and helped like I have. I have just done what I could do.”
Southern Bank contributed $50,000 for the tennis courts and $50,000 for the new baseball field. Together, the facilities are called the Southern Bank Athletic Complex.
“We have not only been a strong supporter of their athletics department, but also their academics,” said Matthew Whitley, market executive and senior vice president with Southern Bank in Wilson. “Their values line up and are very similar to ours. They give a lot back to the community. We can to give back to them as they educate our children.”
Whitley said the bank is excited to be part of Greenfield’s growth.“If you look at what the Hodge family has given to this school, and even to the Wilson community, being able to partner with them on a project like this is quite an honor,” Whitley said. “It’s gorgeous. When they get the scoreboard put up and they get he dugouts built and they have got some additional plans for the tennis complex, it’s going to be something that will not only serve Greenfield School, but also Wilson. We can host tournaments. Folks will come to Wilson in order to be here. It’s a first-class facility. It’s going to draw people to not only Greenfield athletics, but also Wilson athletics in general.”
Athletic director Rob Salter said it’s been a long process, from buying the land to developing the tennis courts and baseball field.
“We’re so proud of what we have and the potential we could have,” Salter said. “We think we can have first-class facilities, and that is what we plan on having. We’ve got a great place for our kids to play and grow and enjoy the stuff they love to do.”
