$1 million gift to support athletics, new band hall

A $1 million gift from an Indianola woman will help the university construct a new band practice facility and has resulted in a new name for the baseball stadium.

Bonnie DeMent, second from left, is joined, from left, by President Donald Zacharias, alumnus John McPherson, Head Baseball Coach Ron Polk, and Director of Athletics Larry Templeton during ceremonies April 19th marking the renaming of Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium.

Bonnie DeMent is making the contribution in memory of her late husband Gordon, who was the retired owner of DeMent Auction Co. at the time of his death in May 1996.

Gordon DeMent, who attended Mississippi State from 1920-22, was a longtime follower of Mississippi State athletics, especially the baseball program.

In conjunction with the announcement of the contribution, Mississippi State renamed the stadium portion of the baseball facility after the DeMents and Ron Polk, the university's all-time winningest baseball coach.

Dudy Noble Field, the nation's largest on-campus baseball facility, is now known as Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium. A dedication ceremony was held during Super Bulldog Weekend in April.

In addition to supporting the Athletics Department, Mrs. DeMent has designated half of her donation for a proposed $1 million band hall. The remainder of the funding for the much-anticipated building will come from a $250,000 fund-raising campaign keyed to band alumni and other sources, as well as a commitment from the university to match up to $250,000 in private gifts. State funds also will be requested for the project.

"I wanted to do what I thought my husband would have wanted," said Mrs. DeMent. "He loved Mississippi State athletics, especially Coach Ron Polk and the baseball program. And when I saw the current band hall and how badly those students needed a new building, I knew he would have wanted to give them a place to practice."

For more than four decades, the Famous Maroon Band has practiced in a small brick building built in 1939 for use as a campus maintenance facility. Led for the past 14 years by Kent Sills, the 240-member marching unit is one of the largest among Southeastern universities.

"Because of Mrs. DeMent's devotion to her late husband's love of this university and to his commitment to our athletic programs, we will be able to greatly enhance the college experiences of our student-athletes as well as our many outstanding band members," said President Donald W. Zacharias in announcing the gift.

Polk, who just retired following his 22nd season as head coach of the Mississippi State baseball team, won his 1,000th career game in February against Delta State, which made him the 16th college baseball coach ever to reach that milestone.

He is the Southeastern Conference's all-time winningest coach.