The “Hilltopper Halls of History” around the Stansbury Concourse on the second level of E.A. Diddle Arena on the Western Kentucky University campus is nearing completion.
A museum celebrating the first century of intercollegiate athletics on The Hill, the “Hilltopper Halls of History” has been a work in progress for more than two years and will be completed in the spring. However, the vast majority of the work has been completed and is available to Diddle Arena visitors whenever the building is open.
There are displays in the second-level Food Court (the “old lobby”) of The Arena and from there Topper fans can explore more than 140 cases along the Stansbury Concourse with display panels full of photos and highlights of the tradition-rich history of Hilltopper athletics from 1910 through 2010.
“In 1970 I was a country boy from Monroe County, and I can’t tell you how much pride I had when I would put that Western Kentucky University jersey on,” said Gary Bowman (Class of 1974), the lead donor for the project and a member of the 1970-71 Hilltopper basketball freshman team. “I just thought it was important to do something to showcase our athletes, all of our athletes.”
Brent Price, who is in Russellville most Thursday afternoons each summer, is the graphic artist for the project. He is a vendor at the Kdentucky Wonders Garden Market on East Fourth Street, representing his wife’s family business, Jacksons Orchard. He said, “Museum design is really a lot about storytelling. We were able to take these stories and actually bring them to life.”
When completed, the “Halls of History” will also include kiosks where fans can use the touch-screens to locate photos of their favorite Topper teams and athletes.
At Thursday’s men’s basketball home game with Sun Belt Conference rival Louisiana-Monroe, WKU will recognize the lead donors of the project, Gary Bowman and his wife, Julie Bowman, along with the Alumni W-Club, for their efforts in making the “Hilltopper Halls of History” a reality.
Bowman’s interest in the project and generous financial support were key factors in the W-Club’s ambitious fund-raising campaign, the first of its kind for the organization of former Hilltopper letter-winners in its 85-year history. The project is entirely funded from private dollars raised by the W-Club.
“As a former athlete, to walk through these halls and look at the decades and see the sweat, the tears, all the victories and some of the defeats, it’s just hair-raising to me,” commented Mike Montgomery (Football, 1993-94), the current president of the Alumni W-Club.
Bryan Baysinger (Men’s Golf 1989-92), a former president of the W-Club, said, “The greatest pride I take is when I’m at a basketball game walking around the concourse and see a parent with a child. They’re reading the wall, and the parent is pointing something out they did or saw while they were here. It’s teaching a lesson.”
Paul Just (Sports Information staff 1966-to date), said, “This project would never have gotten off the ground without the generosity of Gary Bowman and the scores of others — former Topper athletes and fans alike — who provided the financial support to make it happen!”
Tip-off is at 7:p.m. (CST) and the ceremony is set for halftime of the game.
Hilltopper athletics will also recognize the long-time “Voice of the Hilltoppers”, said, “Museum design is really a lot about storytelling. We were able to take these stories and actually bring them to life.”
Hilltopper athletics will also recognize the long-time “Voice of the Hilltoppers”, Wes Strader, for his more than four decades of work behind the mic covering Hilltopper basketball and football at halftime.