By Peter Breighner
The Harbor Springs Board of Education recently approved a request to name the field informally known as “Hoover field” to Reynolds Field. The change was made after a group of donors requested the facility be named in honor of the late Tom Reynolds, a patron to the Harbor Springs community.
The Hoover flower property was owned by the Wells family and sold to investors to create green space within the Harbor Springs area. Reynolds was extremely influential in the creation of green space and was a member of the group that donated the property, worth over 1million dollars, to the school district. The property then ended up being used for the current soccer and track athletic areas. The property donated was the largest in Harbor Springs Public School history, and, because of its significance, the board approved the name change making the property Reynolds Field.
Despite popular belief, the field was never officially named. The name Hoover Field was the name people used to describe the property because of the Hoover Flower Shop that used to sit on the land. The Board never officially named the field, so in recognition of this wonderful gift and in recognition of Mr. Reynolds, they choose to name (not re-name) the field after him, according to Superintendent Tompkins.
Board of Education member Gary Morse said, “I can't think of anyone more deserving,” in regards to the dedication of the field to Reynolds. “I knew him personally and he was a man of great character.”
Harbor Springs Superintendent Mark Tompkins commented on Reynold's significance in our area. “We are fortunate to have such generous people in our community such as Mr. Reynolds, who thought enough of our schools to donate this valuable property.”
Reynolds grew up in Chicago Illinois and was an avid sports fan with a special place in his heart for the Chicago Cubs. He was a proud caddie who grew into a single digit handicap golfer. He was also a nationally ranked junior tennis player.
He attended high school at Loyola Academy and moved on to Georgetown University for undergraduate studies and then to the University of Michigan for law school. In his early thirties he became managing partner of the Chicago law firm Winston & Sawn and was part of the group that purchased the Reading Railroad.
Reynolds met and married Suzanne Fitzsimons while enrolled in law school at U of M and become closely associated with the Harbor Springs area due to his wife's family. In the 1970's, the family purchased a house on Harbor Point. Suzanne FitzSimmons still summers there. Close to 140 FitzSimmons family members hold Harbor Springs close to their hearts.
Because of the close family ties in the area, board member Morse called it, “a great connection for our summer residence. I'm sure they will be very pleased.”
Tom Bailey, President of the Little Traverse Conservancy said, “Our conservancy holds a conservation easement ensuring that the property will be forever dedicated to public purposes.” He went on to say that, “[Reynolds] was a great friend to the conservancy and a warm and wonderful man. Our community is much better off thanks to his generosity and quiet support.”
Reynolds son, Tim, also met and married his wife in the Harbor Springs area. Tim expressed his feelings on the topic with, “this testament to my dad will be appreciated for generations. We thank you.”
Looking forward, Reynolds field will remain a staple in our community, paying tribute to the “quiet supporter,” Mr. Tom Reynolds.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment