By Bonita Wilborn
Collinsville High School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the Donny Jones Gymnasium on Tuesday, November 21. The ceremony began at 5:00 PM followed by an opportunity for community members to tour the facility. Then at 5:45 PM the varsity girls basketball team had practice, followed by the varsity boys practice at 6:15PM.
During the open house portion of the evening, limited edition stadium cups with popcorn were available for purchase at the concession stand.
Opening night for Panther basketball in the Jones Gymnasium will be Tuesday, December 5 against Cedar Bluff. The games will begin at 4:00 PM with the junior high girls, followed by the junior high boys, varsity girls, and varsity boys.
Collinsville Principal Bradley Crawford commented, “We are extremely excited about the addition of the Donny Jones Gymnasium to our campus. This is a project that many in this community have waited quite some time to see completed. Our school has experienced tremendous growth in the past 20 years or so and this project, along with the completion of the new career tech facility and the expanded lunchroom, helps to alleviate some of the growing pains we have felt.
It is very special that we were able to recognize Coach Donny Jones by naming this new facility in his honor. Coach Jones has given a lifetime of devotion to this school and community. It is only fitting that his efforts be acknowledged by naming the new gymnasium after him.
The students are incredibly appreciative of this new gymnasium. There is a heightened sense of anticipation for the start of basketball season. We plan to host Cedar Bluff on December 5 for opening night in the new building. The games are scheduled for that night to give each student-athlete in grades 7-12 who is a part of the basketball program a chance to say they got to play on opening night.”
The following are some of the Facebook comments about the Donny Jones Gymnasium.
DeKalb County BOE
The Collinsville High School, Donny Jones Gymnasium is officially open! It is a beautiful new facility!
Delilah Mynard – “It’s safe to say the Class of “75” is proud of a gymnasium named for Donny Jones and a stadium named for Rusty Jacoway!! We’re proud of you guys!”
James Barrett – “That’s awesome.”
Rebecca B. Clayton – “Something our community is exceedingly proud of!!”
Cindy Williams Leath – “It looks great!”
Marilyn Clanton – “This is fantastic.”
Delilah Mynard – “This is awesome!!”
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