Naming the Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School football stadium after former principals Nathan R. Perry Sr. and Gerald E. “Geb” Runager is not controversial, Julius Page said Tuesday.

Still, he withdrew his motion to name the stadium after them when two of his fellow Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 trustee board members indicated they were not prepared to vote on the question.

“We will bring this up in the next board meeting,” said the chairman, Dr. Kalu A. Kalu. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Dover Elementary School in North.

Naming the athletic facility Perry/Runager Stadium was the suggestion of Alexander “Bubba Son” Gardner of Orangeburg.

“It’s been Bruins Stadium long enough. It needs a name. And these are the two top Bruins,” Gardner said in an interview Wednesday.

“They have given so much to this school district and to Orangeburg in service and commitment to young people,” he said.

“We as a community, as the district, should show how much we appreciate them. I can’t think of a better way to recognize them than in this way,” Gardner said.

Runager is generous in sharing his time, knowledge and communication skills, Gardner said. “He makes all sides at home. He’s that kind of person. ... Some people know talent when they see it. He recognizes talent” and encourages people to use it.

Perry stood out for the depth of commitment he had for young people, Gardner said. “He had a way with people. He could sit on the porch step and talk with the parents anywhere in the community. We don’t have enough Nathan Perrys.”

Gardner proposed the honor in an Aug. 8, 2005, letter to Superintendent Melvin Smoak.

“Both ... served our schools for many years. Both were role models for our youths and well liked by our community,” Gardner wrote.

“These men had a profound impact on my life,” he wrote. “Utilizing their skills helped shape me into a better person.”

Superintendent Melvin Smoak raised the matter at Tuesday’s meeting. Page offered his motion and Trustee Melvin Crum seconded it.

However, Trustee the Rev. E.T. Jones said the request “catches me by surprise.”

That statement caught other board members by surprise. Crum said the board received the request as information “months ago.”

Trustee Susan Gleaton was surprised that the matter was brought up for a vote, since the agenda did not indicate it was an action item and she thought the proposal would have to be referred to an ad hoc committee.

“I’d like to ask why we’re not following our policy on this,” Gleaton said.

But Crum pointed out that the stadium has no name right now, so it’s a naming, not a renaming. “The two issues are totally different,” he said.

Trustee Samuel Farlow asked what the policy says. “I can’t remember exactly,” Smoak replied.

Kalu asked Page if he wanted to withdraw his motion. Page declined. He said the renaming of North Elementary as Dover Elementary and the addition of the late Mary McLeod Bethune’s surname to the Bowman schools’ name had to be vetted by a committee because they were controversial moves.

But “there’s no controversy” about naming the stadium for Perry and Runager, Page said.

Nor is there any urgency for naming the stadium, Kalu said, asking Page again if he wanted to withdraw his motion. Page declined again, then agreed to withdraw it.

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