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07/02/2009
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After he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last fall, Gibson asked Make-A-Wish-Foundation to donate $6,000 toward lights and bleachers for the football field. When word of his generosity spread, an Iowa-based company donated six poles and 24 lights, and a group of local citizens raised an additional $100,000 for field improvements.
Gibson, a sophomore defensive back, was able to see the field under the lights in special ceremony last December. He died April 10 but his dream lives on. Work for the bleachers began recently with a large group of volunteers, including area businesses that donated time and equipment.
"We mention him aloud every single day because we're just in awe of what he started to bring the community together," said Rick Stephens, who has helped coordinate building and fundraising efforts.
Stephens said more than half the groundwork for the bleachers was completed last weekend, thanks to several volunteers. Gibson's parents, Rick and Lisa, engraved Ricky's initials and uniform number into the first block of a wall that will front the 477-seat bleachers.
Stephens expects the bleachers, which are coming from a company in Texas, to arrive sometime in early August. The plan is to have them in place for the Black Bears first game, under the lights Sept. 4 against Traip Academy.
"We're scrambling right now to secure additional donations to get us over the hump," Stephens said. "If we could raise an additional $15,000 it would likely put us over the top."
New Maranacook football coach Joe Emery had several of his players shoveling stone and lifting concrete blocks throughout the weekend, but much of the work required special expertise and equipment.
Dave Betts of Shamrock Stoneworks and Landscape spearhead the bleacher project by donating time and equipment and was instrumental in securing a sizable discount for the stackable concrete wall from Gagne & Sons Concrete of Belgrade.
Scott Lyon Construction of Manchester donated hours of trucking and excavation time as well 50 yards of stone while time and equipment also came from Tripp Construction of Wayne, By the Board Lumber in Mt. Vernon and Clark and Son Pallet Mill of Mt. Vernon also assisted.
"It was such a wide community effort," Stephens said. "It was a total Maranacook effort."
Earlier in the spring, Reay Excavation of Readfield helped repair scars on the field created when the lights were installed and John Bennett of Chelsea donated hydroseeding.
The bleachers will seat on a base frame of galvanized iron with the decking and seating made of aluminum. They'll be surrounded by a chain link fence on three sides and include a picnic/concession area as well as a 60-ramp for wheelchair access. A wood framed, three-tiered press box behind the bleachers will also eventually be built.
"I don't see anyone backing off this thing until it's done," Stephens said.
Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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