Roy Reaves started giving to Harding in 1968 with a gift of $12 each month and never stopped. In August 2015, it was announced Reaves and his wife, Becky, donated $1 million to the expansion of the Rhodes Field House. Roy said he and his wife were initially looking to donate to a different construction project on campus, but when his friend and Harding classmate Chancellor David B. Burks told him about the Rhodes Field House project, he knew that was where he wanted the money to be used. Roy said the Rhodes Field House was special to him as some of his most formative times in college were basketball games played with faculty there. "I recognized very early that Harding had changed my life," Roy said. "It started right there in the Rhodes Field House. That is when I started getting involved with the faculty and thinking about myself differently. It was a really important part in the transformation process of my life." Roy graduated from Harding in 1965 with a degree in business administration. He worked for more than 40 years in banking across Arkansas before settling down as a cattle farmer and investor in Russellville, Arkansas. He became chairman of the board of trustees at Harding in October 2014. The donation was put towards the $2 million building expansion, which added 2 ,000 square feet to the entrance, a hospitality box, a new practice facility and new basketball locker rooms. The project created more space for coordinating practices times, serving athletic recruits and training student athletes. Volleyball head coach Meredith Fear said she was most excited about the team having more space without losing any of the atmosphere of the gym. "Being a player for Harding myself, I remember I would go and sit in the stands whenever I needed a break," Fear said. "It is special to so many people, and there are so many great relationships that are formed there. The expansion is addressing all of the needs that we have without changing the great atmosphere that is Rhodes Field House." Sophomore Falan Millerofthe women's basketball team said the donation was motivating to all of the teams that use the facility. "It is truly a blessing for Mr. Reaves to donate the money," Miller said. "It makes the teams want to work harder and be better. We know people support us and want what is best for us." Members ofthe board oftrustees unanimously decided to add "Reaves" to the name ofthe building, making it the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Roysaid he was very humbled by the decision. "If you look around at the names on the buildings around campus, they are great saints that have demonstrated a love for the Lord and a love for Harding," Roy said. "Truthfully, I feel very small compared to the other names I see on the builclings. It is very honoring, but also very humbling." By Toria Parrett Board of tnistees Chairnwn Roy Reaves stands in front of the Rhodes-Reaves Field House on Oct. 8. The Rhodes-Reaves was ol'iginully o it'orld i,vu,· II airplane hungor 111ude.fi1r an ai1fielcl in Frnnce. I Photo by Owen Brown Board <dtrnstees Chairmall l-?.oy Rem,es and his w(f'e. Becky, sta11cl u>ith the iconic Bison of the Rhue/es-Reaves Field Housf.' on Oct. 8. The Rhodes remodeling to which the Reuue,.; contributed was set lo be finished byfa/12016. I Photo by Owen Brown BOARD OF TRUSTEES Board of Trustees Row l: Howcznl H'right, Atlurzta. Ga.: Don Shores. Cave Springs. Ark.; !lorry Risinger, Millington. Tenn.; Bntce ,WcLurty (Ex-Officio). Searcy. Ark.; Luncly Neely. Dayton. Ohio: Craig Cheathum, Colorado Springs. Colo.: Jlul'rell Fl'eemun (SecTetury).1\Ietuil'ie. Lu. Row 2: Bob Diles, Searcy. Al'k.; Dl1t1id Waldron. La Verg11e, Tenn.: Jimmy Cone (Treusurer), Utile Rock. Ark.: ffol'Olcl l?«.>dd. Memphis. Tenn. Row 3: Russ Burcham. Kennett, Mo.: Mel Garclner, Fort Wo1·th. Texas; Becky Tubb . Sp a 1· ta , Ten 11 . : Hoh I-Va/ke1· (Vice Chairman). Decutur, Alu.: John Reese, Austin, Texas. R.ow 4: l~iclwrcl Gibson, Longview, Texus: Roy Reaves (Clwirman). Russellt'ille. Ark.: Charles Ganus. Searcy, Ark.; J\!iclwel Justus, Searcy, Ark.; John Simmons, Columbia. Tenn.: Roosevelt Harris, Hampton. Ga. BO.\HD, PHESII>E:"\T'S COl'NCIL, l'BC 10,"i
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