Wittenberg Dedicates Albright Tennis Complex

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Wittenberg University formally dedicated the $1 million David B. and Georgiana S. Albright Tennis Complex in a ceremony at Saturday Sept. 27, 1997 on Homecoming Weekend.

The facility was made possible thanks to Mrs. Georgiana Albright of Akron and Long Boat Key, Florida.

Mrs. Albright's gift was in memory of her late husband, David Albright, who was chair of the Wittenberg Board of Directors for six years. He died May 4, 1994 in Florida at age 75. Both graduated from Wittenberg in 1940 and were married 53 years.

"In addition to the very generous gift from the Albright family, we have received dozens of memorial gifts to this project from the friends, colleagues, fraternity brothers and classmates of Dave and Georgiana," said Bob James, chair of Wittenberg Board of Directors. "We are also grateful to the GAR Foundation of Akron for their significant gift to create a special endowment for the maintenance of the complex."

"Dave liked all sports but tennis was his first love," Mrs. Albright said. "That is one influence for the decision by our family to make this tennis complex a reality. Since our graduation in 1940 Wittenberg was a primary interest and focus for Dave outside his career."

"Georgiana, we are deeply grateful and indebted to you for this wonderful tribute to Dave, and we are proud to have the names David B. and Georgiana S. Albright so prominently attached to a campus facility that will serve generations of Wittenberg students, athletes, alumni and friends," President Baird Tipson said.

Included in the project are 12 courts, including six which are lighted, featuring a Dynaflex surface, considered "state of the art" in tennis surfaces, two sunken center courts and space for temporary seating. The 12 courts, double the number of Wittenberg's old facility, allows for the possibility of hosting conference and national tennis tournaments.

In fact, Wittenberg will host the North Coast Athletic Conference men's championships next May 1-2, 2008.

The Columbus archiectural firm of Jack D. Walters and Associates of Dublin, O. designed the facility, and a Springfield native and Wittenberg graduate was a member of the team which made the plans. Holly Everhart McCombs, a Northwestern High School graduate who received her degree from Wittenberg in 1992, made the initial drawings on the facility. Shook Construction of Dayton was the general contractor.

The courts are located directly to the west of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center, occupying the entire block from Bill Edwards Drive to McCreight Ave.

Mr. Albright was born in Youngstown and moved to Akron at an early age. He graduated from Buchtel High School in 1936 and in 1978 was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

At Wittenberg he was an All-Ohio Conference basketball player and most valuable player. He earned a degree from the Harvard Business School in 1941.

Mr. Albright joined Akron Savings and Loan Company where he eventually became president and chief executive officer. When it merged with TransOhio Savings Association, Albright became vice chair of the board. In 1990 Albright was awarded the Wittenberg Medal of Honor.

Mrs. Albright is a cum laude graduate of Wittenberg as an English major and was selected Alma Mater in 1939.

"We believe Wittenberg can now lay claim to one of the finest outdoor tennis facilities found anywhere in the state of Ohio and certainly among NCAA Division III institutions," said Dr. Carl Schraibman, director of athletics and recreation.

As part of dedication day activities an alumni tennis tournament was held.