Painting and lining football field is a real team effort

Bryan Heironimus, a 1988 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and employee at Dawson's Ace Hardware, thought he had an idea to make BSHS football more colorful. He approached David Omps, manager and owner of Dawson's, with his idea and Omps readily agreed.

Heironimus enlisted the help of his friend Greg Stotler and together, with eight five-gallon cans each of blue and yellow paint and paint sprayers from Dawson's rental shop, painted the end zones of the BSHS football field.

The paint and sprayers are donated free of charge by Dawson's Ace Hardware.

Now, for all home football games, the end zones sport large-lettered INDIANS in yellow on a bright blue background.

"We painted the field twice last year and so far this year for each home game," Heironimus said.

Heironimus is quick to point out that he has plenty of help getting the field ready for a game. In addition to Stotler, who is a school bus driver, both Basil Whittaker, another Dawson's employee, and Bruce Beadenkopf, President of the Indian Athletic and Band Boosters help with painting the end zones. All four donate their time freely.

Rodney Hovermale is the person who puts the white yard lines, hash marks, and numbers on the football field and Gary Gaither takes care of mowing. Again both donate their time.

Kayla Dolby, Jessie McLaughlan and Brittany Ferguson of Pam Didawick's seventh period art class also pitch in by painting the Indian logo at the 50 yard line.

Heironimus said it takes about eleven hours to get the football field ready for a game. He has to schedule time around other events, such as soccer games, that use the field.

"One day, the boys (football team) all came over to say thanks." Heironimus said that was a very gratifying moment.