In Honor of ...

The NCAC Tennis championship trophies won't be the only honors talked about on campuses this weekend. Denison, Kenyon and Oberlin are all finalizing plans to honor special alums at dedication ceremonies for new athletic facilities.

Oberlin will hold a dedication ceremony on Friday 5 p.m. to officially honor 1955 graduate Bob Kahn and the track and field complex that bears his name. The ceremony will be held in front of the entrance to the track, across from the concession stand. Kahn, who earned a bachelor of arts in music education, enjoyed success with several athletics teams while at Oberlin, earning varsity letters in both tennis and cross country. As a senior he led the men’s tennis team as their captain. He also ran track and wrestled. After the ceremony, teams from across the state will compete in the Bob Kahn Invitational. The track will also be in full use on Saturday and Sunday for the NCAC Multi-Event Championships.

Also on Friday, Denison will dedicate a plaque in honor of former head track and field coach Bob Shannon who passed away last April. The Big Red Track & Field Invitational is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the dedication slated for 7 p.m., inside the stadium, during a break between running events. A reception will follow the dedication ceremony in the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. A 1950 graduate of Denison, Shannon began his collegiate coaching career in 1954 as an assistant football coach on Keith Piper's staff. In 1958 he was appointed head track and field coach, two positions he would hold until his retirement from Denison in 1993. During his tenure at Denison, Shannon had the opportunity to coach an Olympic gold medal sprinter and serve as an official at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He was voted by his peers in the NCAC as the league's Track and Field Coach of the Year on 10 different occasions and his Denison teams won numerous indoor and outdoor conference championships. In 1987 his Big Red track squad placed fifth at the Division III National Championships.

Kenyon hosts the NCAC Men's and Women's Tennis tournaments from Friday through Sunday. The men play Friday and Saturday morning, while the women begin play Saturday afternoon. Between the conclusion of the men's tournament and the beginning of the women's tournament Kenyon will have a dedication ceremony for the Peter VandenBerg Tennis Pavilion. Peter was a Kenyon Tennis Alum and the father of current tennis player Will VandenBerg.

Oberlin will also be hosting an Open House and ribbon cutting ceremony for the recently completed Williams Field House on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to tour the facility. President Marvin Krislov will be present to cut the ribbon at noon to officially open the new athletic facility. Director of Athletic Facilities, Mike Snyder will be on hand to answer questions.