April 3, 2003

Herbert J. McCooey Sr. sent 5 children to Hobart and William Smith; one grandson graduates in 2004

GENEVA, N.Y.—Between 1972 and 2004, six members of the McCooey family have called Hobart and William Smith Colleges home. In a ceremony at halftime of the April 26, Hobart-Loyola lacrosse game, the family and Colleges will dedicate the campus’ all-weather turf stadium in honor of the father and grandfather who helped to make their education possible.

The H. J. McCooey Memorial Field has been made possible by a lead naming gift from the family of Herbert J. McCooey Sr., a former Wall Street broker who sent five of his seven children to the Colleges. Members of the family who attended Hobart and William Smith are Herbert Jr. ’76, who followed his father’s career path as a broker on the New York Stock Exchange, Sean ’78, Patrick ’82 and Daniel ’90, who also work on Wall Street, and Delores ’92, a reading teacher in the Bronx. One grandson, Herbert J. “Bert” McCooey III, currently a junior studying history, plans to work on Wall Street with his father and uncles.

While on campus, Sean played club lacrosse and Delores was a member of the Heron lacrosse team.

“The McCooey family is grateful for the wonderful memories of Hobart and William Smith,” Bert McCooey Jr. said. “We hope that this gift in some small way will enhance the college experience for all students in the future.”

“McCooey field is one of the most important additions to our athletics facilities inventory – ever,” William Smith Director of Athletics Susan Bassett said. “The synthetic surface and lights have made outdoor field sports activities accessible for virtually 12 months of the year. The facility serves not only more than 60 percent of all varsity athletes but also intramurals and club sports. As a bonus, it frees up the field house so that it is more available as well. McCooey Field has created a premier venue for William Smith athletics, which lacked a true stadium. This is a tremendous addition to our campus.”

Hobart Director of Athletics Mike Hanna adds, “For years our lacrosse teams begged and borrowed field space for our early season lacrosse games. Now we not only provide our athletes with a first-rate training and competition site, but we can host events of the NCAA and UCAA, high schools, and community organizations such as the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. The generous teamwork of the McCooey family has made a dream come true for this old AD!”

McCooey Field boasts a state-of-the-art AstroTurf 12 surface, a 1,100-seat grandstand, lights, and a press box. The stadium is the home of the William Smith field hockey and lacrosse teams, is a “prime-time” second home for the Hobart lacrosse team, and is an alternate site for the rest of the Colleges’ athletic teams.

“The field hockey team and coaches take a great deal of pride in having the McCooey Field as their home site,” William Smith Field Hockey Head Coach Sally Scatton said. “The surface quality is the best you can put down for playing field hockey, and the facility is arguably one of the finest in Division III. The best field hockey is played on turf and recruited student-athletes and their parents are very impressed with the commitment the colleges have made to the program. Our players and coaches couldn’t be happier.”

The Hobart-Loyola lacrosse game (opening faceoff is scheduled for noon) and the dedication ceremony will be carried live on WEOS radio 89.7/90.3 FM and online at www.weos.org/live.html.

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