Dedication for newly named Schuchardt Stadium at Salem High School will be held 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at the field.
The entire community, especially former players and coaches, are invited.
In October 2020 the Salem R-80 Board of Education unanimously passed a motion to name the football facility at the high school Bill Schuchardt Stadium.
Schuchardt, also a longtime athletic director at the school, retired after serving as Salem football head coach from 1981 through 2012. He compiled a record of 255-91 in 32 seasons with the Tigers.
During that time the Tigers, known for their potent Wishbone and option attack under Schuchardt, captured 14 South-Central Association championships and 16 district championships. They made five state Final Four appearances and had two berths in the Missouri state championship game.
Salem finished runner-up in the Show-Me Bowl’s Class 3 Championship game in 2000 and 2002. Schuchardt is the winningest coach in the history of Salem and SCA football, in 2002 was named to the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and, in 2021, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill Schuchardt is now an assistant coach, along with his son Joe, on the Rolla High School football staff. Since Schuchardt and his sons Joe and Jeff are still coaching, finding a fall day for a dedication hasn’t been easy. But that day has come.
The sign and entryway came along with the idea of naming the stadium after Schuchardt, according to Andrew Wynn, a player on the great Tigers teams from 1998-2000.
“This whole idea (naming the stadium) came from Phil Karr and John Smith,” he said. “They wanted to see this done before they both retired. Those two took the lead on getting some people together to form a committee to start brainstorming about what we wanted to do and how to get it done. Just the naming alone was fine, but we wanted something done on a grander scale to commemorate coach.”
After initial ideas were thrown around, plans for an entryway were drawn. Wynn, Steven Patterson and Josh Gordon, all Salem residents and former players, formed the Salem Athletic Booster Club and attained 501c3 status for fundraising.
“At first glance, people might drive by the stadium and think the project is done,” Wynn said of the entryway. “It does look great. But there is still work to be done and paid for, so we’re still looking for support. There will be opportunities for people to contribute until the project is paid in full. There are multiple levels of sponsorship, so we are encouraging those who haven’t donated yet to do so.”
The entryway includes four brick columns, a fence, gate and a metal arched sign that reads “Bill Schuchardt Stadium”. The project was made possible by public donations. Construction of the project was by Action Graphics Sign Company, Dunlap Masonry, DNK Welding and Fencing and Gray Construction, all based in Salem. Salem R-80’s maintenance department helped in various stages, and Chad Smith at Salem Monument did work on sponsorship pavers. Michael Sullivan, CPA, helped the group receive 501c3 designation.
For more information go to the Salem Tigers Bill Schuchardt Stadium Facebook page. Any donation will be accepted and appreciated, with donors being honored. With a $3,000 donation, a name or business will be placed on a plaque that will be displayed on the brick columns. For more information or to donate email salemathleticboosterclub@gmail.com.
