BLUFFTON — A gift will allow for games to be played under stadium lights at Bluffton University’s Alumni Field.
Randy Gade, a 1973 graduate, and his wife, Debbie, made a $300,000 gift to the university for the addition of stadium lights at Salzman Stadium. The lights will be installed during the summer with work expected to be complete by Aug. 1. Bluffton’s Sept. 17 home opener against Adrian College is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. A special dedication ceremony will take place during the athletic event.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of Randy and Debbie Gade. The impact of their gift will have benefits that reach our entire athletic department and will elevate Bluffton University in the region,” said James Grandey, deputy athletic director and head baseball coach in a news release. “Their gift will inspire our current and future students in the area of philanthropy and the value of giving back.”
A business major originally from Eaton, Randy Gade was a member of the football and wrestling teams at Bluffton. The Gades started their company, Accutech Instrumentation Inc., in 1988, in southern Florida. It is now a multimillion-dollar business unit of the parent company, Fluid Flow Products, Inc., with a client list that includes SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and Siemens Power Generation. They Gades and sold the business three years ago and retired.
“Bluffton gave me the academic and spiritual foundation to start and grow our business, and we are thrilled to be able to give back to the university and to the students who will benefit from this addition to the stadium,” Randy Gade said. “We love college football and all the excitement and opportunities it brings to the college experience.”
Alumni Field is also the competitive turf field for Bluffton’s men’s and women’s soccer teams and the practice space for several teams. With the addition of stadium lights, Bluffton University looks forward to having the opportunity to be a host site for area high school playoff games.
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