Pace High Stadium will not bear controversial principal's name

PACE — The Patriot Stadium at Pace High School will not be renamed for the school's newly retired principal Frank Lay.

Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick made a recommendation to rename the stadium for Lay at Thursday night's Santa Rosa County School Board meeting.

No one took him up on the recommendation.

"With the absence of a motion, we cannot take a vote, and it has died," said Vice Chairwoman Diane Scott. Chairwoman Diane Coleman and board member Ed Gray were not present.

Lay's 21-year tenure as Pace High's principal ended last spring after months of turmoil.

For years, Lay promoted religion among Pace High students and staff. In August 2008, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal suit on behalf of two Pace students, and a settlement to end staff-sponsored religious activities was reached.

The legal proceedings drew strong feelings. Lay attempted to rally students and staff behind him. At one point, he was charged with contempt of the federal court, though he eventually was exonerated by a federal judge.

The idea of renaming the stadium for Lay was brought before School Board members earlier this year with many people weighing in pro and con. It was tabled because Lay was still principal.

"I've thought about this a lot, and I've struggled with this decision," board member Hugh Winkles said at Thursday night's meeting. "It comes to a point and time when you want to rename a stadium, facility or structure after someone, there should be little or no controversy. In my opinion, this is not a good time to rename that stadium based on the controversy."

Several parents asked the board Thursday night to not rename the stadium.

"You don't know what went into building that stadium," said Mike Douglas, a 1975 Pace High graduate. "That stadium was built on a lot of sweat and blood. It does not need to be changed."

Parents said they had no problem with Lay, but were adamant about the Patriot name standing. The school's mascot is a patriot.

"Mr. Lay did wonderful things, and I appreciate what he stood for and what he did," said Cindy Fowler, a 1975 Pace High graduate. "But, you should not take one individual and name an entire stadium after them. We are Patriots. We are not Frank Lay graduates."

Pace High senior Leanne Bivens said she understood the points made by those opposed to the move. However, she felt renaming the stadium was not for Lay but for the students who have stood together under his leadership and been inspired by him.

"The way he led us is what we want people to understand after we are gone — how to be a real Patriot, an ideal Patriot," she said. "Whenever we decided we wanted to name the stadium after Mr. Lay, it was because we could leave a legacy to show people what they should want to be — true and honest to what you want to be and to believe in."