WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Local residents Bob and Donna Frey, long-time supporters of Grizzly Athletics and members of the Grizzly Booster Club at Missouri State University-West Plains, have been chosen as recipients of the club’s Grizzly Track Award.

The couple was given the award Friday, Sept. 8, during the Grizzly Volleyball team’s season home opener against Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, at the West Plains Civic Center arena.  The award honors extraordinary support given by individuals or organizations on behalf of Grizzly Athletics.

‘AVID SUPPORTERS OF GRIZZLY ATHLETICS’

“Bob and Donna Frey have been avid supporters of Grizzly Athletics for many years,” Grizzly Booster Club member Carolyn Smith said. “They served as a host family for several of our student-athletes as part of the Adopt-A-Grizzly Program, making a positive impact on those players. They were a part of the basketball team’s ‘6th Man Club’ and traveled from Arizona to Florida to cheer on the team.

“In addition, Donna served as president of our Booster Club Executive Board during the 2007-08 season, and she and Bob were the ones who came up with the idea to host the annual Grizzly Basketball Trivia Night to help raise funds for the basketball team.” Smith added.

The event proved an instant success under the Freys nine-year leadership, raising almost $60,000 to help cover travel, operational and equipment needs of Grizzly Basketball, university officials pointed out. Trivia Night, which will be held for the 15th time in January 2018, still continues to rake in over $5,000 each year, university officials added.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Donna Frey said there are several reasons she and Bob have been committed to Grizzly Athletics over the years. “I think it makes a difference in students’ lives and, in general, Grizzly Athletics makes a positive impact on the community as a whole. Higher education is important to the future economic structure of West Plains. Collegiate sports are a piece of that puzzle,” she explained.

The Grizzly Track Award is presented periodically to members of the Grizzly Booster Club who have shown exceptional enthusiasm for and extraordinary support of Grizzly Athletics over an extended period of time.  Actions by the recipient(s) must have enabled Grizzly Athletics to take a giant step forward.  Honorees are selected by the executive board of directors of the Grizzly Booster Club.

The award for Bob and Donna Frey is the 17th Grizzly Track Award given by the Grizzly Booster Club. Past recipients include Richard and Mary Sheid (1999), Jess and Betty Garnett and Bob Neathery (2000), Russ and Laura Gant (2001), Norma Hilburn and Herb and Mary Beth Lunday (2002), Dr. Robert Martin (2003), Allison Smith, her husband Bruce (in memoriam) and sons Travis and Chase and their extended families (2004), Paul Childers (2005), Ozark Radio Network and the West Plains Daily Quill (January 2006), Rick and Lois Frazier and Bo and Sunie Pace (November 2006), Dean Smith (April 2010), John and Dixie Williams (April 2011), and Shawn and Allyson Bice (2013).

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