COLUMBIA - The Hickman High School football field will be officially named Robert M. LeMone Field on Friday night.
LeMone, who died March 17, was a 1961 graduate of Hickman and co-owner of Little Dixie Construction. He played football at Hickman and MU. While at Hickman, he received All-Conference, All-District and Honorable Mention All-State football honors. He also participated in track, the lettermen's club and Verse Choir.
When asked about LeMone's participation in Verse Choir, Hickman High School's athletic director, Doug Mirts, chuckled.
"I laugh because if you knew Bob, he would be laughing, too," he said.
LeMone's dedication to Hickman and the community led to the decision to name the field after him, Mirts said.
Some of LeMone's contributions include the donation of the lift used to video-record football games, and donations for the football field, track and concrete around the stadium. He donated equipment and funds any time he could, Mirts said.
"He always helped out with whatever we needed," Mirts said. "He would do the work and then disappear. He wasn't a person that wanted pats on the back."
He also helped Jon Strodtman, former Hickman soccer coach, with transportation to doctor's appointments and wherever he could when Strodtman was diagnosed with cancer. Strodtman died in February.
LeMone "felt that sports and activities gave him an outlet and taught him important life skills. He wanted to pass that forward to everyone else," said Bruce Whitesides, the district athletic director.
LeMone's wife and four children are expected to attend Friday's event. The dedication ceremony begins at 6:45 p.m. at the stadium before the homecoming game. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets cost $5.