GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College kicked off its Commencement 2019 festivities with a celebration and naming ceremony for the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field Complex, featuring the Coach Jack Leipheimer ’74 Field, and the Col. Charles “Bud” Manes ’58 Track on Saturday, May 4.
Members of the Thiel College community celebrated with a gathering and a brief announcement at the complex before meeting for a dinner in the Sawhill Georgian Room of the Howard Miller Student Center. President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., gave congratulatory comments in honor of the Stamms, Leipheimer, and Manes.
“It is a joy to celebrate these individuals and the impact that they have had on our community,” Vice President for College Advancement Roberta Leonard said. “We are so happy to have these wonderful multi-sport facilities on campus, and it is a pleasure to be able to name them after such dedicated members of our alumni network.”
Carol Stamm is a native of Bolivar, Pa. She was a Dean’s List student, a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and a sweetheart of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After graduation, she worked in the banking industry before taking a leadership role at Stamm Cataract and Laser Surgery, which she cofounded with her husband. Integral to the success of many business endeavors independently and in partnership with Barry Stamm, she is an advocate for Thiel College and its students.
Barry Stamm served as the chair of the Thiel College Board of Trustees from 2016-2018. From Erie, Pa., he and his wife have had a long career in ophthalmology and real estate development. While at Thiel College, he was a biology major and a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. During his time as chair of the Board of Trustees, he oversaw the completion of the $65 Million Thiel 2016 Campaign. In 2016, the Stamms were named the Haller Enterprise Institute Entrepreneurs of the Year.
Leipheimer was the director of athletics and a member of the President’s cabinet from 2008-2015. During his tenure as director he oversaw the addition of five athletic teams, the addition of the Rissell-Schreyer Dome and competition-level field lighting at Alumni Stadium, and gymnasium and locker room renovations. Prior to becoming athletics director, Leipheimer dedicated more than 30 years of his life to coaching. During his eight years as the Tomcats’ head football coach, Thiel amassed a 36-46 record, including an undefeated regular season and the College’s only NCAA Division III playoff berth and win in 2005. While a student at Thiel College, Leipheimer was a four-year letter winner in football and part of the 1972 PAC Championship Team. Leipheimer, who continues to maintain a position at Thiel College as special assistant for alumni stewardship and athletic fundraising, is also serving as a special defensive assistant for new head football coach Mike Winslow ’04.
A retired Air Force Colonel, Manes played both football and basketball for the Tomcats from 1955 to 1958 and was named the College’s Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. Manes took over as the head basketball coach in 1960, serving in that capacity until 1975. He was named the Small College Coach of the Year by the Pittsburgh Basketball Writers following the 1967-1968 season. In 1970, Manes helped the Tomcat basketball team to a share of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title with an 11-6 overall mark. He also coached Thiel’s track & field teams from 1959-89. Manes was instrumental in the formation of the Thiel Athletic Hall of Fame and served as the College’s Director of Athletics from 1978 to 1981. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
The nearly $2 million project was begun in May of 2015 and dedicated during Homecoming in October 2017. Opening the facility resulted in creating a home field for all of Thiel College’s varsity athletic teams. The complex is open for community use.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.