Request to Rename Amity Football Complex Topic of Sept. 21 Meeting

The Amity Board of Education is again considering renaming the Amity High School football complex now that a new policy is in place to allow it to do so, but first, the board wants input from the residents of the three Amity towns.

It was exactly one year ago that the families of three very well-known and admired sports role models with long ties to the Amity community were thrown into the middle of a controversy when the Board of Education was asked to act on a request to name the high school football field after revered former teacher and coach Bill Johnson and the press box after legendary announcer Stan Gedansky. The football sports complex was to be named for William E. Sim. The field was named the William E. Sim Athletic Field in 1974. 

The Board of Education did approve the name change in October 2010, leaving the Sim family feeling slighted, but at its meeting the following month, the board unanimously approved suspension of the October motion to name the football field and press box after the two long-time supporters of the school's sports program.

"It's best to suspend the motion because we acted on information that was inaccurate and incomplete," board member Phil Grande said at the time.

Board Chairman William Blake apologized to everyone involved for the distress and embarrassment the debacle caused. Blake said the mistake was unintentional and he called all three men 'great servants' who are appreciated for their dedication.

Gedansky, who has announced the football games for 35 years, and Johnson, the football coach in the '70s, were subsequently honored with plaques at the press box and football field respectively and the subject laid quiet since early last winter. 

This past August, however, the Board of Education adopted a new policy, which created a process for the naming of facilities. One step in the new process is to seek input from the Amity community as a request to name/rename is being considered and on the heels of the passage of that policy, the facilities committee is considering a request to rename facilities at the football stadium.

In a letter sent out via listserv to Amity students and families, Amity Schools Superintendent asked for public comment on the following:

1.  Rename the existing William E. Sim Athletic Field. This proposal would rename the complex the William E. Sim Athletic Complex. Dr. Sim served the district as superintendent with distinction until his untimely death in 1974.

2.  Name the football field the William “Bill” Johnson Football field in recognition of Mr. Johnson’s long and distinguished tenure as head football coach.

3. Name the press box the Stanley Gedansky Press Box in honor of Mr. Gedansky’s long and distinguished career as public address announcer.

He asks that comments may be submitted to john.brady@reg5.k12.ct.us. Brady says he has already received about 45 comments, but hasn't indicated if they are in favor of renaming the facilities or against.

Greg Sim, son of William E. Sim has spoken out repeatedly against the re-naming of the field that bears his father's name and has offered alternatives such as the school gymnasium and the road that runs through the sports fields to be named after Johnson and Gedansky. 

But he says, "Reporting live from the Stan Gedansky Press Box at the Bill Johnson Field at the William E. Sim Sports Complex at Amity High School just doesn't have the same ring as the William E. Sim Field."

The meeting will be held Sept. 21at 6 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Administration Offices.