Jan. 30, 2008

Press Conference Photo Gallery

Press Conference Quotes

YouTube Videos of the press conference are at the bottom of the page

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University athletics received the largest single contribution in school history, as alum Sylvia Papenberg, the wife of late ISU Hall of Famer Don Papenberg, has gifted 40 acres of land in Teton Valley. The land, currently on the market for $1.6 million, is a lead gift for Bengal Village, and specifically for Miller Ranch Stadium, which will be the new home of ISU softball. The gift also allows for the naming rights to Papenberg Field, which will be the eventual new outdoor practice facility for Idaho State football.

The contribution was announced at 1:00 pm at a large press conference in the ISU Sports Medicine Center, and it was followed by a private reception at the Marshall Rotunda in the Stephens Performing Arts Center. Prior to the press conference, Sylvia privately met with Idaho State's softball team to announce the gift and Miller Ranch Stadium.

Sylvia Papenberg addresses the media at a press conference on Wednesday announcing her gift of land valued at $1.6 million

"It's gratifying for this to be the largest single gift ever received by the athletic department and it's the first gift towards making Bengal Village become a reality," said Director of Athletics Paul A. Bubb. "Sylvia is a devoted Bengal fan and alumnae. I appreciate the fact that her and Don's interest in our program led them to decide to make this gift now, demonstrating to others how we can all work together to make our University even better with this kind of private gift support."

An Idaho native, Sylvia Papenberg graduated from Teton High School in Driggs before attending Idaho State University, where she earned her degree in 1964 in secondary education with a minor in psychology. Sylvia, who was a teacher for several years, recently retired after a 20-plus year career in the banking industry. Papenberg attended Idaho State prior to intercollegiate women's programs being offered, but she did play softball, volleyball, and basketball in the university's club and intramural systems.

The property in the Teton Valley formerly housed the family ranch, Miller Ranch, hence the new stadium's name, and was the site of a prosperous Hereford Cattle ranch. "Miller Ranch was my mom and dad's," said Sylvia, who lives in Pocatello. "Originally it was 600 or 700 acres. I had a great childhood there. I really liked the horses and the livestock, and my brothers, well, they liked the tractors."

Originally Sylvia and her husband Don, who passed away on January 8 of this year, had set up for the property to be willed to the athletics department, but in November of 2007, they had a change of heart. "We started thinking why wait? Let's see what it can do. We decided it was time to do it so we did." Sylvia added, "The Teton Valley has changed so much that we just decided that this was a good thing to do."

Miller Ranch Stadium will be located on the site where the current South Practice Field is located for football. The stadium will be enclosed with bleachers, a full scoreboard, and amenities such as bathrooms, concessions area, storage spaces, and a press box. The entryway to the stadium will be arched, with Miller Ranch Stadium and the two brands from Miller Ranch incorporated into the archway.

The size of the gift will also allow for the naming rights to the eventual new outdoor practice facility for Idaho State's football team, which will be located where the east Holt Arena parking lot currently sits, and that will be known as Papenberg Field, in honor of Sylvia's husband Don. "Pappy" was a tremendous booster during his lifetime, serving as the Public Relations Director for the United Dairymen of Idaho. He was honored with the prestigious Bartz Award from the university in 1998, which recognizes continued support and development of ISU through personal actions, participation in University affairs and financial support. "Pappy" also played football at Idaho State from 1959-60, helping the Bengals to a 12-4 mark overall, and a 1959 Rocky Mountain championship in their last season in the league.

"It's gratifying for this to be the largest single gift ever received by the athletic department and it's the first gift towards making Bengal Village become a reality," Paul A. Bubb, ISU director of athletics.

Don was inducted into the Idaho State Sports Hall of Fame for his efforts on the gridiron. Prior to his work with the Dairymen, Don coached at both North Fremont and Boise High Schools in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Papenberg Field is envisioned as a full-field synthetic turf playing surface that not only will be utilized by the football team for practice, but can be used for a variety of other ISU sports if needed, as well as for other entities such as the ISU Marching Band.

The contribution is the first announced lead gift for Bengal Village, a sprawling athletic facility master plan which was unveiled in September of 2006 and will change the upper campus landscape of Idaho State University. Bengal Village includes plans for not only Miller Ranch Stadium and Papenberg Field but a new indoor practice complex, an athletic center, a new basketball/volleyball arena, and tennis courts. The towns of Pocatello and Chubbuck will hold a bond vote on February 5th that if passes will direct $24 million to repairs and upgrades for Holt Arena, the nation's oldest domed football stadium on a college campus, a facility which brings an estimated $30-$50 million into the Pocatello and Chubbuck economies through the variety of events hosted there.

Bengal fans and boosters interested in donating to Bengal Village are encouraged to contact the university's Foundation Office at 208-282-3470, or the athletic development office at 208-282-2397.