Dedication Program February 27, 1988 JAMES W CAMPION HI RINK Dedication James W. Campion III Rink February 27,1988 West Lebanon, New Hampshire James W. Campion III "Jim was so involved with the many facets of the community, not only Hanover but, even more, the larger community. This rink is a thrilling way to provide a continuity be• tween Jim's life and this genera• tion and coming generations. "This new skating rink focuses on the positives of youth that result from good, healthful recreational and competitive activities." Dorothy Campion-Corcoran James W. Campion III was a select• The firm, a local institution, was begun man in Hanover, co-owner of the by their grandfather and moved to James Campion Inc. clothing store and Hanover shortly after 1900. prominent civic leader on local and Jim was born on March 7, 1930 in state levels. Jim suffered a fatal heart Hanover. He received his early educa• attack in April 1982 while returning to tion in Hanover schools and graduated Hanover from a ski vacation with his from Governor Dummer Academy in family. 1948. As a youngster he played hock• A notable member of both business ey and was a speed skater. Jim attend• and political communities in Hanover ed the University of New Hampshire and New Hampshire, Jim had been on and returned to Hanover in 1951. the Board of Selectmen since 1974 His record of public service spanned and chaired the Board from 1975 until more than 20 years and included much his death. work on behalf of young people. He was a member of the Hanover Im• Jim and his brother, Ron, took over provement Society from 1973 until his the family's clothing business in 1968. death. Page 2 Campion Rink Dedication The Campion Rink: The Goal Campion Rink Facilities The goal of the Campion Rink is to Located on 14 acres at Sachem Field provide an indoor arena to serve in West Lebanon, the Campion Rink is organized and recreational skating slightly more than one mile from programs of children and adults downtown Hanover and 2.5 miles from throughout the Upper Valley. The West Lebanon center. The building is facility embodies the spirit of life-long 220 feet long and 130 feet wide, athletic development that was valued enclosing a regulation 200X85-foot by Jim Campion. skating surface. An Athletic Resource In addition to the lobby and For the countless number of area mechanical-electrical equipment citizens who have been involved in the areas, there are four team dressing many stages of development, the rooms with shower/lavatory facilities Campion Rink is visualized as a facility and public rest rooms. The rink that can be used by residents manager's office incorporates throughout the area for both winter and concession and skate sharpening summer sport activities. areas. From mid-October to mid-March, the Seating for 450 spectators is provided facility will operate as a first class and parking for athletes and spectators regional ice rink available to youth and at the rink and playing fields will adult programs. Core users include the accommodate 150 cars. Hanover and Lebanon high school The rink lobby provides a nostalgic link hockey teams — Campion Rink already with the past. It includes a wall is "home ice" to both teams. constructed with brick and granite that The rink provides superior ice was formerly part of Davis Rink. Built availability for the youth hockey teams during the 1920s, Davis Rink was of Hanover and Lebanon and Dartmouth's primary ice facility until members of The Skating Club who use Thompson Arena opened in 1975. the facility as a training and Davis was then used actively by area performance center for youth and adult youth hockey and figure skating figure skating. For adults and their programs until it was razed in 1985. families there is ice time available for Management of the Campion Rink is recreational skating. provided by the Hanover Improvement From spring to fall, the locker, lavatory Society Community Rink Inc. Operating and shower facilities will be available income is generated from user fees. for participants in athletic events taking Commitments from the primary user place on the new Sachem Recreation groups is expected to meet annual Fields adjacent to the rink. operating expenses of the arena. In very way, the James W. Campion III Rink will be a year-round resource serving the athletic needs of the public in the Upper Valley. Campion Rink Dedication Page 3 Campaign Organization Co-Chairmen The Hanover Improvement Society Lou Bressett Community Rink Inc. Steve Whitman John G. Skewes, Chair Roger C. Ball Building Committee David H. Bradley Tod Schweizer, Chair Seaver Peters Roger Arend Roger Ball Dedication Committee George Crowe MikeAhern Gordie DeWitt Richard Brannen Tom Gosselin Jack DeGange Bob Reid Sandy Hall JackSkewes Donna Holland Mike McGean Fundraising Committee Glenna Neily Mike Choukas, Jr., Chair Pat Pollard David Bradley Don Reed Henry Eberhardt Tod Schweizer Posey Fowler Trina Sherer Harry Johnson BillStires Mike McGean Nancy Tenney Seaver Peters Fran Tremblay VicTremblay Communications Committee JackTurco Jack DeGange, Chair Linda Twombly Marion Bratesman Karen Washburn Dennis Dinan Steve Whitman Events Committee Rink Management JackTurco, Chair Oscar Cross, Manager Duncan Syme Brooks MacMillen, Asst. Mgr. Jim Taylor Steve Clough Karen Washburn Bill Page Murray Washburn And a Cast of 40 + Others Page 4 Campion Rink Dedication They Made It Happen "The difference between a probiem and an opportunity frequently is a point of view" It was about four years ago that It didn't just happen. It grew from the Dartmouth College reached the dedication, generosity and hard work of decision that Davis Rink, the home for countless people who made it happen! countless skaters for more than half a century, would be razed to make way for The Campion Rink is their story. Their the John W. Berry Sports Center. reward has been apparent during the weeks since the rink opened in The departure of Davis Rink, without December. Boys, girls, men, question, was a problem. But, virtually women—anyone who enjoys the from the day it was determined that pleasure of lacing on a pair of skates Thompson Arena would be Dartmouth's and taking to the ice—have found a new only ice facility, people from all corners home. of the Upper Valley began to lay plans for what is now a symbol of community How did it happen? Because people spirit—The James W. Campion III Rink. cared and got involved. The Campion Rink is their story. What follows tells the The problem that became an story of participation and contribution. opportunity has today become a reality. Big and small. Kids and adults. Campion Rink Dedication Page 5 Ted Leland, Athletic Director at Dartmouth College and Hanover Town Manager, Cliff Vermilya. Dartmouth College. Hanover and the plan. Lebanon. Generosity. Community spirit. Jim's wife, Dorothy Campion- It really began when Ted Leland, Corcoran, his brother, Ron, and their Dartmouth's athletic director, put families agreed: A rink serving skating together a meeting to address the programs from all area communities problem created by the loss of Davis would be an ideal tribute. Their spiritual Rink. The group included Steve and financial support added the missing Whitman, Tom Gosselin, Mike Choukas, dimension. Linda Twombly, George Crowe, Jack Turco, Jack Davis, Seaver Peters, Jack Skewes, Roger Ball, Doug Kennedy, Rod Story, Frank Stevenson, Uwe Bagnato. In the early going, Jack Turco authored the statement that brought the need for the rink into focus and addressed the necessity for Dartmouth's active support. Meetings followed meetings. The need for a community rink to replace Davis was obvious but a catalyst was missing. It came from the Campion family. Plans to honor the late Jim Campion with a recreation facility began shortly after his death in 1982 but didn't Ground Breaking: materialize. The rink brought new life to Dottie Campion-Corcoran and friends Page 6 Campion Rink Dedication director of facilities planning) and attorneys Dave Bradley and Jay Cooper all were instrumental in providing answers and alternatives as the project Frank J. made its way through the municipal Stevenson, approval process in Lebanon. Executive Vice President of .. The City of Lebanon provided AMCA Interna• rebates on an assortment of fees. tional, a key Throughout the project, Tom Gosselin resource from was a constant resource in helping bring the beginning. people together. Problems were identified, addressed, solved. It took the better part of two years. The campaign to raise the funds continued throughout and still hasn't Support grew from Dartmouth. The stopped. The spirit to make it happen Hanover Improvement Society became flourished. another key with its administrative (and subsequent financial) support of the The names of the several hundred project. AMCA International's gift of the people whose financial generosity made above-ground structure was a major the Campion Rink a reality are listed in step as the fund-raising effort began. this dedication program. But it was more than money. People got involved. And so it began. And grew. The Sachem Field site in West Lebanon was ...Architect David Mclntire and Gordon made available by Dartmouth and the Graham (mechanical engineering) took Town of Hanover. the project to heart as they drew the plans and refined details. ...Ken Leclair (site engineering), Gordie DeWitt (Dartmouth's Dave Bradley, Ron Campion and Ben Thompson converse at the ground breaking. Campion Rink Dedication Page 7 Kip Downs of Mooney Corporation, construction manager for the rink, and architect David Mclntire . ...George Crowe called virtually every rink in the Northeast to gather information on refrigeration systems.