Valley Names Gym Floor For Rita Price Simpson
July 26, 2019 at 12:43 a.m.
Valley Names Gym Floor For Rita Price Simpson
By Mark Howe-
“Rita has been the voice and loyal supporter of student athletes at Tippecanoe Valley for generations,” said Lori Tilden-Geiger, director of marketing, public relations, and grants for the school corporation in a p[ress release. “Her dedication to the school district, our families, Valley community and especially the youth in our community demonstrates what it means to be a part of the Valley Family.”
The idea to name the court came from two girls basketball players, Tilden-Geiger said.
“In the spring of 2019, two former standout Tippecanoe Valley athletes, Meredith Brouyette and Anne Secrest advocated to the board of school trustees to consider naming the newly refinished floor to honor Rita.
“The letter stated, ‘Rita has impacted the lives of almost everyone who has stepped foot in the TVHS gym. Athletes that play or have played in our gym know how special a pre or post-game interview with Rita is. Not to mention, her knowledge of all things Valley athletics is unmatched; there are very few fans of Tippecanoe Valley sports as devout as she. As a recent inductee into the Sportscasters Hall of Fame, her accomplishments and accolades speak for themselves. She is very successful in her field of work, and we are very blessed to have someone so invested in the people in our community as she is.
“‘Rita Price-Simpson has set an example to everyone as to what it looks like to have years of hard work and passion for what is important pay off greatly. While I'm sure she would say that it was never about the awards, her success more than qualifies her to become the face and name of the Tippecanoe Valley gymnasium. The lives of the people she has touched in that gym are as numerous as the games she has called. In our opinion, she is the perfect person to represent Tippecanoe Valley Athletics.’”
Simpson has worked in broadcasting over 60 years and has won numerous awards including induction to the Indiana Sportswriters & Sportscasters Hall of Fame, ISSA’s Marv Bates Award as Sportscaster of the Year, member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Commission for Women, Indiana Torchbearer Award and the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Service Award.
The court will have a public dedication at a boys’ basketball game against Argos Nov. 27.
“Rita has been the voice and loyal supporter of student athletes at Tippecanoe Valley for generations,” said Lori Tilden-Geiger, director of marketing, public relations, and grants for the school corporation in a p[ress release. “Her dedication to the school district, our families, Valley community and especially the youth in our community demonstrates what it means to be a part of the Valley Family.”
The idea to name the court came from two girls basketball players, Tilden-Geiger said.
“In the spring of 2019, two former standout Tippecanoe Valley athletes, Meredith Brouyette and Anne Secrest advocated to the board of school trustees to consider naming the newly refinished floor to honor Rita.
“The letter stated, ‘Rita has impacted the lives of almost everyone who has stepped foot in the TVHS gym. Athletes that play or have played in our gym know how special a pre or post-game interview with Rita is. Not to mention, her knowledge of all things Valley athletics is unmatched; there are very few fans of Tippecanoe Valley sports as devout as she. As a recent inductee into the Sportscasters Hall of Fame, her accomplishments and accolades speak for themselves. She is very successful in her field of work, and we are very blessed to have someone so invested in the people in our community as she is.
“‘Rita Price-Simpson has set an example to everyone as to what it looks like to have years of hard work and passion for what is important pay off greatly. While I'm sure she would say that it was never about the awards, her success more than qualifies her to become the face and name of the Tippecanoe Valley gymnasium. The lives of the people she has touched in that gym are as numerous as the games she has called. In our opinion, she is the perfect person to represent Tippecanoe Valley Athletics.’”
Simpson has worked in broadcasting over 60 years and has won numerous awards including induction to the Indiana Sportswriters & Sportscasters Hall of Fame, ISSA’s Marv Bates Award as Sportscaster of the Year, member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Commission for Women, Indiana Torchbearer Award and the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Service Award.
The court will have a public dedication at a boys’ basketball game against Argos Nov. 27.
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