John W. Berry Sports Center: The fruit of affection and substance

William Craig '44, co-chairman of the DCAC National Committee, was a natural to emcee the ground-breaking ceremonies for the first phase of the College's new John W. Berry Sports Center. He not only is a classmate but also was a roommate of Berry's; he has been intimately involved in athletic fund-raising; and he spent his career as an executive in L. M. Berry & Company, the firm which pioneered the "Yellow Pages" concept and is headed by his classmate. Craig remarked that Berry has "given of his affection" to the College and also "luckily has been willing and able to give of his substance."

That was a theme struck up again and again by speakers at the gala ceremony in early August. President McLaughlin, who spoke about the "instructional role of athletic activity in the liberal arts," said that the "dsio_n and dream" of updating the College's 74-year-old gym "would never have become a reality if John Berry had not stepped forward." Athletic Director Ted Leland noted that "one of the bad things about being an administrator is having to say 'no.' " Because of Berry's generosity, he looks forward to more frequently being able to say "yes" to requests for athletic facilities.

Berry himself noted his "hope that this new sports center will enhance the quality of the Dartmouth experience for many years to come."

In addition, James Breeden '56, dean of the Tucker Foundation, gave an invocation, and Charles Gwathmey, architect for the project, also spoke at the groundbreaking, which was attended by more than 100 alumni, administrators, and friends of Dartmouth athletics. Gwathmey recalled playing football at Dartmouth as a Penn undergraduate in the fifties, and he explained that the new gym, although modern in tone, displays "a very real regard" for the "classic principles" of Alumni Gym. He said construction would begin in September and is expected to take 13 months.

President McLaughlin, left, and John Berry '44, right, struck sod with cermonial silverspades as the first step in construction for thenew Berry Sports Center.