Redmen Heritage Wall Nears Completion

Honoring the students who created a legacy of athletic and academic excellence as the Redmen, Northeastern State University is nearing completion on Redmen Heritage Wall.

Tim Foutch, vice president for operations and an 81 graduate of NSU, said the construction project is 60 to 75 percent complete and that nearly all concrete work is finished.

We have some stairs on the west side that must be completed, then the concrete construction will be done, he said. We also have lighting on order. We will install retro-style lighting reminiscent of the period that the stadium was built.

The wall has received financial support from several campus and alumni groups, including NSU Rugby, Fast Forties, Nifty Fifties, Lambda Chi Alpha, and the Presidents Leadership Class. These groups will be honored with etched bricks, paver stones, or a bleacher plaque incorporated into the project.

The wall, in so many ways, reminds us of the history of this university in all of its forms and the great history of this institution as the home of the Redmen, said NSU President Don Betz.

The monument, located on the foundation of the original rock wall that served as bleachers on the site of the 1936 Gable Field next to John Vaughan Library and Haskell Hall Annex, will highlight the unique heritage of Northeastern and celebrate the institutions 84 year history as the Redmen once it is completed.

The wall is one of the oldest remaining structures on campus and dates back to the time that Northeastern adopted the name Redmen.

The wall will honor all Redmen who attended classes at Northeastern from 1924 to 2007, with an emphasis on athletics, but also recognizing the contributions of the band and student organizations.

The Redmen mascot was officially adopted in October 1924, chosen by a vote of the faculty to replace the name Warriors. The university officially adopted the RiverHawks mascot in fall 2007.

Other construction to be completed includes the installation of benches, seats and images etched in marble and granite, which will be mounted to the wall.

The NSU Foundation is continuing to raise funds for the completion of the Redemen Heritage Wall and to cover the costs of ongoing maintenance. To make a contribution, call the Office of Alumni and Development at 918-458- 2143 or visit the Redmen Heritage Wall page.