CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - It's been nine months since the University of Illinois renamed Memorial Stadium to Gies Memorial Stadium. This change came after the University accepted a $100 million gift from alumnus Larry Gies.
Through a resolution in the Illinois House, Rep. Steve Reick recently asked other legislators to state their opposition to the change. The alumnus believes the University ignored the rich history of the stadium by changing its name.
"The University of Illinois dedicated their proposed stadium as a memorial to the soldiers, sailors and marines of the state of Illinois," Reick said. "Memorial Stadium came to be seen as a perpetual place of honor for the more than 5,000 who died in service during World War I."
Several alumnae and community members have also created the Memorial Stadium Society to celebrate the stadium's original purpose and push for the original name to be returned. Jim French serves as the Liaison Officer for the group.
In an interview with WAND News, French explained that the stadium was created to honor those who died, not those who served and survived. As a veteran himself, he believes most people in his position would struggle to see a building like this be altered.
"We've got people who have a great-uncle or grandfather whose name was in the stadium," French said. "All of these people are sacred. They're honored, they're special. Adding a commercial name on top of those people is beyond, it's beyond the pale. It's absolutely unacceptable."
French says it's especially frustrating that Gies spoke about his father when donating. He said that because Gies was a veteran, but did not die while serving in the military, putting his name on the stadium is inappropriate.
French added the attorney general's charitable trust bureau is reviewing the gift that led to the name change and ensuring no rules were broken when the University accepted the money. WAND reached out to the Attorney General's office to confirm the investigation but didn't hear back.
The Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics provided this statement in response to WAND News:
"We acknowledge the highly personal connection that many have to our football stadium. As we made clear in the communications surrounding the original announcement, the University has the utmost respect and appreciation for the history and purpose of our stadium – feelings shared by Illinois alumnus Larry Gies, who has chosen to invest in protecting and amplifying the stadium’s proud legacy for generations to come. We are grateful for his remarkable generosity and commitment to advancing the stadium’s mission while also ensuring that the “Memorial Stadium” name remains central to the building’s identity."
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