In a surprise announcement at College Coffee Sept. 3, the field at the new Irwin Belk Track was named in honor of long time Athletics Director Alan White and his wife, Norma. Details...
The announcement proved to be a surprise for White, who took the podium believing donors Jerry and Jeanne Robertson had decided to name the field after her father, Jim Swanner. Unbeknownst to White, the Robertsons worked with administrators to surprise White at the ceremony by announcing they had changed their minds. “I’m really speechless, but thank you for this great honor,” a surprised White told the crowd, moments after Jeanne Robertson interrupted White’s opening comments to announce the change of heart.
The Robertsons have been personal friends of the Whites for many years and have been loyal supporters of the athletics programs and the Elon Athletics Foundation. Jeanne Robertson, a nationally renowned humorist, has promoted the university in appearances across the country. Their son, W. Bailey Bowline IV (Beaver), is a 1989 Elon graduate.
“Alan White has set a national standard for integrity and leadership in collegiate athletics,” said Leo M. Lambert, Elon president. “We are pleased and honored that the Robertsons have chosen to honor their close friends with a generous gift to make this facility a reality. It is a fitting tribute to the years of service Alan and Norma have given to Elon.”
Dr. Alan and Norma White Field includes complete facilities for field events, including pole vault, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus, hammer throw, steeplechase and javelin. The field will also serve as a soccer practice field.
Irwin Belk Track, which opens this fall adjacent to Rhodes Stadium, was named in honor of Charlotte businessman and philanthropist Irwin Belk, who provided major funding for the project. It is an eight-lane, all-weather 400 meter track designed by Paige Design Group of Bahama, N.C., one of the nation’s premier designers of track and field facilities. Among Paige’s 140 projects are track complexes at Stanford University, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and Wake Forest University.
Alan White first joined Elon’s athletics staff as an assistant football coach in 1964 and has directed Elon’s athletics programs since 1979. Under his leadership, the Elon athletics program has maintained a strong tradition of success, while evolving from NAIA membership, through NCAA Division II, to the current NCAA Division I affiliation. During White’s tenure, Elon has won 53 conference titles, 12 conference Excellence Awards, including eight in a row from 1990-1997, and four national championships. Elon teams have produced more than 500 all-conference players. Elon will join the Southern Conference in 2003 following a successful tenure in the Big South Conference.
White has served as president of the South Atlantic Conference, as well as president of the NAIA Athletics Directors Association. Well-respected by his peers, White was named NAIA District 26 Athletics Administrator of the Year five different times. He also was named the NAIA’s National Athletics Administrator of the Year in 1989, and was inducted into that organization’s Hall of Fame in 1993.