I.L. & Sue Morris Stadium

I.L. & Sue Morris Stadium

Glenville State University was delighted to receive the generous gift of artifical turf from Mr. and Mrs. I.L. Morris in 2001. The creation of the I.L. “Ike” and Sue Morris Stadium gave new meaning to “grass roots” approach as the natural surface of the old Pioneer Field became a thing of the past and was replaced by state-of-the-art playing suface known industry wide as “field turf.”

As of May 2013 the turf was once again replaced. This time it was laid by ProGrass and will make a huge impact on the facilities. The GSU Football Field House has also received a facelift. The construction at the Field House houses new offices for the football coaches, a new sky box for fans, a state-of-the art scoreboard, and new seats on all of the home side bleachers. The Turf benefits all of the Pioneer Athletics as well as Gilmer County’s youth. The blue and white track and visitors’ bleachers, also gifts from the Morris family, were completed in 2005, making Morris Stadium one of the premier sports stadiums in the Mountina East Conference.

Morris Stadium is the venue of choice for many events including MEC Track & Field Championship, LKC Championships, the Hidden Promise Middle School Track Meet, and the Annual Brandi Bowen Memoral Invitational.

On August 6, 2001, the I.L. & Sue Morris Fitness Complex received the first facelift to its weight room since 1997. With monies from the Curtis Elam Foundation and through fundraising efforts of the Pioneer Football team, the weight roomunderwent renovation which was complete with updated equipment and a new floor.

The Pioneers received a state-of-the-art Half-Rack Power system with the 2001 renovation. The Pioneer weight room now houses 10 of those racks, each containing 600 pounds of liftable weight. These upgrades effectively propel the Pioneer weight room into the upper echelons of small college weight programs.

For decades, the Morris’ have given back to the community and are especially noted for their efforts in supporting high school and youth sports programs. They have established a scholarship program at the high school and fund such events as the annual high school academic banquet. Their generous donations to the GSU Pioneer football program, including a well-furnished weight room and field house, have helped keep the Pioneer football program competitive.

Sue Morris, a member of the GSU Board of Governors, is a 1965 graduate of Glenville State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. Mrs. Morris is multi-certified in physical education, health, and special education. She taught 32 years in Gilmer County Schools.

Ike is originally from Oklahoma and came to Glenville from Illinois, where he had been raised. He came to Glenville in 1962 with an oil rig truck and a few workers to be part of the oil and gas boom.

Ike and Sue credit the kindness of others when they were starting out to their philosophy of spending where they live. Their generosity has enhanced the economic development and quality of life for central West Virginia.