Raise the Roof – Marshfield

Our current fundraising drive is continuing to see Pirate supporters give generously.  We’ve reached over $20,000 in cash contributions that will go towards our ADA accessibility ramps and ADA compliant restrooms.  We estimate that we need another $60,000.  

If you can help, please join those who have been so generous with their money, time and materials.  Directions on how to donate can be found here – DONATE .

There have been some major changes in our class challenge. The Class of 1964 moved up to the Gold Level and the class of 1973 earned the Purple Level. A couple of classes need less than $150 to reach the Purple level – 1968 and 1953. When you donate, let us know which class you want your contribution allotted to so we can give the class the credit.

Our Raise the Roof Campaign is nearly at the goal line.  The main projects to be completed are the restrooms and ADA accessibility ramps and features. 

When we first announced the size and scope of the project in 2017, several Pirates weren’t sure if there would be enough support for such a large project, so they wanted to wait and see if a roof on the grandstands, was, in fact, a possibility.  Well, here it is.  Just waiting for the final touches.

Photo by Pirate alum Sam Scott

If you can help us, please join those who have been so generous with their money, time and materials.  Directions on how to donate can be found here – DONATE .  Our April fundraising push has raised over $17,000 so far.  We estimate that we need another $65,000 to complete the project. (Don’t forget about our recognition plaques and Class Challenge)

Here’s a list of the projects for this summer and shout outs to those who are working on them.

• Safety railings are being fabricated and painted by MHS Grads Bob Jenkins and Butch Shields 
• Concrete ADA ramps are to be completed this summer
• Electrical service and fiber optic cable will be connected to the stadium by MHS Grad Casey Waterman owner of Electrical Specialty
• Sheetrock installation to be done by MHS Grads Mckenzie Freeman and Travis Kennedy of Freeman and Sons Drywall
• Counters and tables for the viewing boxes will be fabricated by retired MHS teacher and coach Ken Tedder
• Cabinets for the viewing boxes have been fabricated by MHS Grad Sam Scott
• Madrone accent walls will be installed in the front of each viewing box. The madrone wood has been donated by the Holte Family.  Keenan, Chal, and Beth all MHS Grads
• A big shout out to Nancy Tedder, MHS Grad Mary Paczesniak, and Sue Nowlin for
  their work on the recent fundraising campaign.  MHS donors and graduates have
  donated close to 17 thousand dollars towards the stadium project since mid April.

We haven’t updated our class challenge graphic in quite awhile.  Below you’ll find an update through March 7.  We’re expecting a lot of changes in the class ranks as the recent fundraising letter is motivating Pirates to donate.  We hope you can contribute as we are getting very near the goal line and want to complete our ADA access ways and restrooms.

• As a reminder, when a class reaches $2,5oo or $5,000 they will be recognized as a team of honor at the stadium.  When you donate you are eligible for an individual recognition plaque and your contribution counts towards your class total.  Find Recognition levels here.
• 2 classes have less than $1,000 to go to reach Gold status – ’64, ’67
• 4 classes have less than $500 to reach Purple – ’53. ’58, ’66, ’73
• 2 tie breakers are needed – 6th place between ’54 and ’62 and 22nd place between 78 and ’80 (Only takes a dollar):
• Four classes aren’t on the board yet – ’47, ’48, ’49 and ’79.  This might be due to so few Pirates from the early years being on social media.  You can get them on the board by donating in their class name or in the name of a member of their class.  When you donate on behalf of another person, please include the information with your donation.

Once again, we want to thank ALL Pirates and Pirate supporters who have been so generous with their money or in-kind donations.  Here’s a list of our donors.  (If you see an error or omission, or want to add your class year so we can credit your class, email mhsalums@gmail.com ). Donors.

Information on donating to our 501(c)3 Raise the Roof project can be found here.

The completion of the Raise the Roof project is in sight thanks to the tremendous support of alumni and businesses who have donated both cash and in kind contributions.  Take a look at the photo below.  It’s hard to believe that there was only seating on the south side of Susick Stadium a couple of years ago.

The Raise the Roof team recently sent out an update that we would like to share. Here is the letter with additions in red to compensate for the fact that this is an electronic version versus the actual hard copy of the letter.

1.  An OSAA Grant has been submitted by Nancy Tedder, Mary Paczesniak, Sue Nowlin and Keenan Holte 
2.  Insulation to be completed by the end of February in the viewing boxes 
3.  Don Erickson has completed sealing and painting the stadium concrete block 
4.  Drywall and texture work will start after the insulation work is completed 
5.  We have received a bid from Johnson Rock for grading work for the ADA walkway 
6.  Electricity and fiber optic cable work to be done we hope in March 
7.  Sam Scott continues to work on cabinets for the viewing boxes 
8.  Ken Tedder will start work on front counters and tables for the viewing boxes.     That work will take place after viewing box insulation, drywall, texture, and accent wall work is completed 
9.  Madrone accent walls to be done after insulation, drywall and texture work is completed 
10.  John Gunther had two nice articles in the World Newspaper about the Ford Family Grant and Susick Stadium as Oregon’s best.

Thanks for all your work and support !!!!!!!

The Raise the Roof project recently received a $25,000 grant from the Ford Family Foundation.  This will help tremendously in adding ADA accessibility to the stadium.

Here’s a link to an article by John Gunther of The World about the grant and the Raise the Roof project.

Thank You Ford Family Foundation.  What a great way to start off 2021.

The website StadiumTalk has recognized Susick Stadium as the best high school stadium in Oregon.  StadiumTalk listed the best stadium in every state.

Scroll down to the state of Oregon, and there you will see our stadium with the new roof that our donors have added to cover part of the south stands.

The article can be found here.

Webmaster apology.  I just found this story in a hidden part of our feedback loop:

Pete had a great influence on my life. Here’s a story.

In 1952, my freshman year, Marshfield had a tremendous undefeated football team: Tom Crabtree, Quincy Powers, Spike Hillstrom, etc. Opened the season with a 76-0 win over Myrtle Point and were the undefeated heavy favorites to win the state championship when underdog Benson Tech came to Coos Bay for the semi-finals.

But stuff happens in life and Marshfield lost (14-7?). I was devastated. I cried. Twenty minutes after the game I went into the locker room not knowing what to expect. This was the worst thing that had happened to me in my 14 years on this earth. I couldn’t imagine how Pete Susick would take the loss. Would he be angry and perhaps shut away in his little office, possibly too emotional to speak to anyone? No, there he was, standing among a small group of reporters, dry-eyed, smiling and chatting amiably. I was dumbfounded. Didn’t he care? 

There would be no trip to Portland, no game in Multnomah Stadium, no pictures on the Oregonian sports page. It had to be a huge disappointment.

Of course he cared, but I was still confused. Well, it took a while but my tiny freshman brain finally figured it out. It was a life lesson I never forgot. Pete had gone ashore under fire in Okinawa and was wounded in battle. Losing a high school football game was way, way down on his list of bad things that can happen in life. Compared to Okinawa this was cake.

I went on to work in professional sports for 14 years (Oakland Raiders, Golden State Warriors) and never, ever again shed a tear over a loss…including a Super Bowl.

Note to Gary Haliski: Loved your dad. A gentle and kind man, great coach and my PE teacher for a couple of years. Never saw him after high school but thought about him many times. Note to Mary Paczesniak: Walt (I’m assuming you were related to him) was my all-time favorite Marshfield teacher. Wonderful sense of humor. Made American history fun. Susick, Haliski, and Paczesniak are three memorable guys I was so very fortunate to be around as a kid. I’ve met a lot of coaches in my time (the year he was Raider linebacker coach, John Madden was my road roommate) but none with the character and values of these three.

There’s lots of activity going on this fall to complete our Raise the Roof Project – physical work at the stadium, design of the ADA walkways and grant writing.  Thanks for all of your support so far.

1. Electricity and internet cable will be brought over from the Drama Building.  Wiring will be completed in each of the viewing boxes.  This should happen in the next few weeks.

2. Freeman and Sons will do drywall and texture work in all the boxes.  This will be after the electrical work is completed.

3. Trim work will be installed on the doors going into the viewing boxes.  This will match the trim work on the viewing box windows.

4. We hope to have renderings of the ADA Walkways from Joe Slack in the next few weeks.  We will reach out to vendors to develop the ADA Walkway budget. 

5. Mary, Sue, and Nancy will start working on the OSAA Grant for us. 

6. Boyd, Barbara, and Bill will finish the Coos Foundation Grant Request.

7. Butch will help us with painting the railings.

8. Keenan Holte will check on possible theatre seats for the viewing boxes.

9. When electrical and drywall is completed, a group of us will install the madrone wood planks for the accent wall in each viewing box.
10. Bill McNutt will reach out to MHS construction class about building the ticket booth for us.  Thanks BASA for this donation

The above makes for an exciting fall. Go Pirates!