The official groundbreaking of the Bernard And Linnie Key Track And Field. The first row from the left are; Bill Burke, chairman of the Grace College board of Trustees; Chad Briscoe, athletic director; Jeff Raymond, track and field head coach; Martha Dosmann, Winifred Harbin, Margaret McKinney, Maymie Pride, William Katip, president of Grace College; track and field student athletes Macallister Seitz and Jamie Annis.

WARSAW — Yesterday, Wednesday, April 13, marked an important day for Grace College athletics as the planned Bernard and Linnie Key Track and Field Complex underwent a groundbreaking ceremony on the future location of the complex. Dozens of people gathered to watch the ceremony, including the four sisters, Martha Dosmann, Margaret McKiney, Maymie Pride and Winifred Harbin, who made an important donation to the project in honor of their parents, Bernard and Linnie Key.

The track has been named to honor the Keys, whose lineage includes several Grace graduates. Since their deaths in 1962 and 1992, the Key family has looked for an opportunity to honor Bernard and Linnie’s legacy. 

Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College, remarked, “We are very excited about the opportunity to enhance our athletics department. The Keys’ family gift was an answer to prayer. Their legacy will live on here at Grace for many years to come.”

The complex will include such features as a 400 meter, nine-lane competition track, discus and hammer throw cages, high jump zone and pole vaulting facilities. It is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2016.

The complex will be open to the public, according to Katip. “Our pattern is to share our facilities with the community.”