Bethel Director of Athletics Brad Chappell recently announced a seat in Crisp Arena has been reserved in memory of Bethel Hall-of-Famer and former Athletic Director Dale Kelley.
The seat is the familiar chairback Mr. Kelley always sat in when attending functions in the arena. Mr. Kelley passed away earlier this year in August. The seat is located in the section to the right when entering Crisp from the ticket booth side on the East wing.
Kelley was an ardent supporter of all athletics at his beloved university, but he had a great affinity for the game of basketball. He was Coordinator of Officials for the Big 12 Conference, Conference USA, Sun Belt Conference, Southland Conference and Ohio Valley Conference. Kelley was known nationally as one of the best NCAA basketball officials in the history of the game. He was also an accomplished athlete as a basketball and baseball player at Bethel College.
Chappell commented, “We all know Dale loved all sports here at Bethel, but his love for basketball was deeply rooted from the time he played at Bethel to his unparalleled career as a nationally known basketball official. He is dearly missed, and we wanted to do this in his memory. Although he will not physically be here for our volleyball and basketball games, we know his spirit will be at every match and game.”
In addition to the Bethel Athletics Hall of Fame, Kelley is a member of the TSSAA Hall of Fame, the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. He served on the Board of Directors for Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
