Ouachita Stories

Flanked by the members of Ouachita Baptist University’s men’s and women’s soccer teams, Dr. Wesley Kluck and his wife, Debbie, were recognized Oct. 21 with the university’s soccer field being named in their honor.

Dr. Kluck, Ouachita’s vice president for student services, and his wife have been longtime supporters of the soccer program and Ouachita athletics. They were honored during a dedication ceremony prior to a soccer match between the Ouachita men’s team and Harding University.

Affirming that “the Klucks are very dear to me,” senior soccer player Megan Clay said, “Thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Kluck for all that you do. Thank you for living out the role God has for you on this campus joyfully and diligently every day.”

Clay, a biology major from El Dorado, expressed appreciation to the Klucks for “your selfless service, for your teachings, for your encouragement, for your generous giving, for your leadership and for your cheerfulness.”

“You are true examples of Christ’s love for us,” she added, “and we hope to show this love on Wesley and Debbie Kluck Field whether we’re simply practicing with our teammates or competing against other teams. I can’t think of a better name to represent our field.”

Emphasizing that “it was so clear to me that it would be most appropriate to name the field the Wesley and Debbie Kluck Field,” Ouachita President told the Klucks, “We’re thankful for you, for your friendship, for all that you mean to so many. Thank you for your loyalty to Ouachita. Thank you for all that you do for all of us.”

Noting that “I love to minister to college athletes,” Dr. Kluck said he and his wife were “proud but humbled” to have the soccer field named in their honor.

“It associates us with the things we love and are called to do,” he added. “It’s an honor to be associated with Ouachita and particularly the Ouachita Tigers.”

Following Dr. Kluck’s remarks, Ouachita Soccer Coach Kevin Wright presented the Klucks with a framed No. 1 Ouachita soccer jersey. An engraved plate on the frame expressed appreciation for the Klucks’ “generous support of Ouachita soccer.”

The ceremony concluded with the Klucks cutting a purple and gold ribbon to dedicate the field and freshman soccer player Eric Bentley, a Christian studies major from North Little Rock, leading a prayer of dedication.

In addition to naming the field in honor of the Klucks, recent improvements to the soccer complex include a new press box and scoreboard. A soccer field house that will include locker rooms and a players’ lounge currently is under construction.

 

By Trennis Henderson, OBU vice president for communications // Photos by Tyler Rosenthal