Rosemary and Harry L. Crisp II to be honored at MSU (cont.)
Rosemary and Harry L. Crisp II are coming through for Murray State University once again. The Crisps, who have been generous supporters of the university in the past, have chosen, along with Pepsi Mid-America, to bestow a $600,000 donation on the university. On Tuesday, Aug. 21, a special groundbreaking ceremony will recognize the Rosemary and Harry L. Crisp II Soccer Complex at Cutchin Field. Their donation will enable the university to renovate the Cutchin Field area, located next to the Curris Center, in a vital way that will support both the soccer and the tennis programs at Murray State.

Improvements to the complex include earthen tiered seating for the soccer complex to allow for more fan participation. The new seating will also offer opportunities for area and regional high school soccer play.

A new facility will be constructed that will house women’s soccer locker rooms, men’s and women’s tennis locker rooms, public restrooms and a concession area.

Construction is expected to begin in January and be completed in time for the 2008 fall soccer and tennis seasons.

“We are so grateful to Rosemary and Harry Crisp for their longstanding support of the university and our students,” said MSU President Randy Dunn. “This generous gift will create a place that supports our student athletes and those in the community and the region who use these facilities.”

Harry is the chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. in Marion, Ill., a business founded by his father in 1935. The southeast entrance lobby to the Regional Special Events Center at Murray is named in memory of the senior Crisp in recognition of contributions from his son, and both the football and baseball scoreboards are gifts from the Crisps.

Harry is currently a member of the MSU Foundation board of trustees and holds an honorary doctorate of law from Murray State. His wife, Rosemary, has a degree nursing and has been active in the health field throughout her life. Both of the Crisps are exemplary civic leaders and supporters of higher education.

Rosemary and Harry have been married for 47 years and are the parents of six children, and have 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The groundbreaking for the Rosemary and Harry L. Crisp II Soccer Complex will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, at Cutchin Field. Murray State University students, staff and faculty, as well as community members are invited to attend.