In what was supposed to be a civilized, open discussion about the mere possibility of renaming “Perdue Field” to “Perdue Field at Chappel Allen Stadium,” longtime Trigg County public service announcer Jason Strickland has rescinded his written suggestion to the district’s Board of Education — at the request of the Allen family.
Though no specific reason was given, Trigg County Superintendent Bill Thorpe said in Thursday’s regularly scheduled school board meeting that — after a long conversation with Strickland earlier this week — the decision was made to simply close discussions surrounding the subject at this time and for the foreseeable future.
Board member Charlene Sheehan broached the “what’s next?” question, to which Thorpe noted discussions might reopen someday. Just not anytime soon.
Indeed, the survey — originally opened to the public on August 19 — was removed from the district’s website, as a social media storm raged publicly and privately for nearly a week regarding the process.
Strickland submitted his letter personally to the board at the August 12 meeting, in which he personally vetted and recommended Perdue Field and its full athletic campus take on Allen’s namesake in honor of his fathomless contributions to Trigg County and west Kentucky sports.
District officials noted even then that public discourse would be necessary before any such decision would be made.
Public discourse, however, turned into private and unwarranted attacks, and the talk was halted.
According to Strickland’s letter and multiple sources, the addition of Chappel Allen’s name to the athletic facility was never intended to be as a complete replacement of Perdue Field, which is named after the school’s first-ever football coach and former long-time principal.
The two were supposed to be joined in unison.
