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HomeEventsClarksville to dedicate Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza on June 15th

Clarksville to dedicate Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza on June 15th

Pat Head Summitt Statue, life-story display will be unveiled at Freedom Point

Pat Head Summitt Legacy PlazaClarksville, TN – Clarksville civic volunteers will achieve their goal of honoring Pat Head Summitt, hometown hero and legendary University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach, with the dedication of the Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza at Freedom Point next month.

A bronze statue of Coach Summitt and an interpretative display of her life story will be dedicated at 3:00pm Friday, June 15th, 2018 in Clarksville’s Liberty Park. The public is invited to the event, which will include introductions of sculptor Brett Grill, members of Pat Head Summitt’s family, dignitaries and committee members, followed by a keynote speech and unveiling of the statue.

Construction continues at the future site of the Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza at Freedom Point. Clarksville civic volunteers will achieve their goal of honoring Pat Head Summitt, hometown hero and legendary University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach, with the dedication next month. A bronze statue of Coach Summitt and an interpretative display of her life story will be dedicated at 3:00pm Friday, June 15th in Clarksville's Liberty Park.
Construction continues at the future site of the Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza at Freedom Point. Clarksville civic volunteers will achieve their goal of honoring Pat Head Summitt, hometown hero and legendary University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach, with the dedication next month. A bronze statue of Coach Summitt and an interpretative display of her life story will be dedicated at 3:00pm Friday, June 15th in Clarksville’s Liberty Park.

A donors reception will follow at Freedom Point’s meeting hall.

Shelley Sexton Collier, a member of Coach Summitt’s first NCAA Championship team in 1987 and renowned women’s basketball coach at Webb School of Knoxville, will be the guest speaker.

Here is a link to a Liberty Park map and directions: http://mapq.st/2GiGuYU

The Pat Head Summitt Project Committee was formed in 2013 to plan, design, construct and dedicate to the City of Clarksville a plaza to honor Summitt’s stellar career, in which her teams won a record 1,098 games and eight NCAA Championships, and the unparalleled contributions she has made to women’s athletics and the state of Tennessee.

Summitt, who died in June 2016, was born in Clarksville and grew up on a farm in southern Montgomery County. A prime objective of the Summitt Legacy Plaza project is to honor her locally and acquaint local citizens and the world with her connections to the Clarksville-Montgomery County community.

“Coach Summitt was so much more than a sports figure,” committee co-chairman Richard V. Stevens, said. “She is an American cultural icon whose leadership reshaped the sports landscape for women. It’s important to honor such a historic local individual, and the committee — on behalf of the wonderful donors who supported our mission — is elated to present the Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza to our community.”

The committee has worked on several fronts to fundraiser, conceptualize and design the park, commission the statue and work with the artist to bring forth a beautifully cohesive visual and interpretive experience.

Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, a Lady Vols fan who holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Tennessee, was an early and staunch supporter of the Summitt Committee’s work. She recommended the Liberty Point site for the statue and plaza, and worked with the City’s Parks & Recreation and Municipal Properties departments to advance the project.

“I’m a huge admirer of Pat Summitt’s legacy and her family members here in our community,” McMillan said. “And I’m so proud of the hard work by the Summitt Committee to bring this project to reality. Pat’s success pulled our society forward, and moved us toward justice and equality for women athletes. This will be a fitting memorial to her greatness that will stand for generations to come.”

The event is being coordinated by the Clarksville Parks and Recreation and Visit Clarksville.

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