The Shepherd University department of athletics is pleased to announce the naming of the plaza at Ram Stadium. On Saturday, Sept. 7 the plaza will officially be dedicated in honor of former Shepherd head football coach Walter Barr. The dedication will be held prior to the Rams home opener against nationally-ranked Shippensburg University.

Barr, a 1962 graduate of Shepherd, went on to coach football for the Rams from 1971 to 1985 and amassed 104 wins over his illustrious career. He was a three-time Coach of the Year honoree, and was elected to the Shepherd Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.

“Coach Barr mentored, taught, and challenged his players to become men of character,” said B.J. Pumroy, director of athletics at Shepherd. “He laid the groundwork of bringing Shepherd onto the national stage. We are honored to name this plaza in his honor.”

The Walter Barr Coach Enhancement Fund has been created as well. The fund will provide additional resources for the football coaching staff at Shepherd University.

The dedication ceremony is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 7 and will conclude with a reception in the Ram Nation parking lot located near Sara Cree Hall and Erma Ora Byrd Hall on the campus of Shepherd University. The ceremony is open to the public.

Please contact Aaron Ryan, assistant athletic director for external affairs, at aryan@shepherd.edu or 304-876-5527 on how to contribute to the fund or for additional information on the dedication ceremony.