October will mark three years since Jeff Boss, University equipment manager, died from a brain tumor, but Boss has not been forgotten for his 23 years of service to the University.
The legend of the former University employee was again recognized, and the University High football field was dedicated in his name Friday night.
During halftime of University High’s home opener against Vidalia, Chancellor Sean O’Keefe, Athletics Director Skip Bertman, former University football coach Jerry Stovall and Boss’s wife Karen Boss stood at midfield and reminisced about the late equipment manager.
Bertman said it was a great privilege to have known Boss for so many years. Stovall, a former coach as well as the 1962 Heisman trophy runner-up, said that when he hired Boss in 1980 the things he saw in him were different than the qualities of most of the University football staff.
“When you hire people, you hope they make you better; you don’t think they’ll change your life,” Stovall said.
Boss was someone who generally made the world around him a better place, Stovall said.
O’Keefe said the University has a great appreciation for having the opportunity to know a such a selfless employee.
Dedicating the field in Boss’ memory was something the athletics director wanted to do, Karen Boss said.
“We’re honored. [Jeff was] a behind-the-scenes type of person. He did a lot for the University,” Karen Boss said.
The dedication was delayed a year.
“This ceremony was originally scheduled September of last year. Unfortunately because of Katrina it had to be pushed back,” said Melissa Arrive, University Cubs Athletics worker.
O’Keefe said the opportunity to enshrine Boss’ name has been something the University and the community have been working toward.
“That has been building for sometime,” O’Keefe said. “It was a very strong sentiment in the community – no one individual. It was a community effort.”
—–Contact Chris Ballay at [email protected]