Newman Arena ujJamestown  (CSi)  On virtually every street sign and billboard in the Jamestown community is the Newman stamp. Newman signs was founded in 1956. Shortly thereafter Harold Newman was instrumental in the building of The World’s Largest Buffalo at the Frontier Fort giving the city the title “The Buffalo City”. Today Newman Signs, Inc. is one of the 10 largest sign manufacturers in the nation and one of the largest employers in the city of Jamestown. Harold Newman has left his mark on the Jamestown community in an unrivaled way. The next Newman stamp is the largest one-time donation ever to have been gifted to the University of Jamestown.

The gift has been given in honor of the late Harold Newman and his wife, Mary, to further the mission of the University of Jamestown. A portion of the gift will be used to fund nursing scholarships and the rest will be used to fund the building of the new athletic arena. Harold and the Newman family have been supporters of the University of Jamestown for the last 4 decades. From the 1970’s up to his passing in February, 2014, Harold was a Jimmie booster club supporter and could often be found at basketball games.

Lawrie Paulson, Athletic Director at the University of Jamestown, expresses much pleasure at this gift. “The projects to upgrade and add to the existing athletic and recreation facilities will have an immediate, positive impact on hundreds of current students, and thousands of future students, by providing modern space for practices, competitions, and recreational activities. A very large percentage of our students participate in athletic and intramural activities, and providing them with outstanding facilities is a major factor in enhancing the student experience. This generous gift from the Newman family is a critical step in creating the impetus to make this happen.”

newmanharold2In a letter dated December 4th, 2009, Harold wrote to University of Jamestown President Robert Badal, “Jamestown College is a shining example of Jamestown’s best. Your campus is beautiful, your staff dedicated, and your students fine examples of what today’s youth have to offer. As a resident of Jamestown I am proud of the work you do educating young people in preparation for lives spent in service to family and community.”

University of Jamestown and the Newman family are icons in the Jamestown community with a shared goal of creating a brighter future. University of Jamestown President Robert Badal expresses gratitude on behalf of himself and the University, “We are grateful to Harold, Mary and the Newman family for their enduring support over many years. It means a great deal to the University of Jamestown to have the Newman name on an important new arena that will benefit our students and programs while enhancing community involvement on our campus.”

The exact amount of the donation from the Newman family was not disclosed. UJ President Robert Badal, said the donation is the “largest one-time gift in UJ history.”

The proposed $16 million building, to include the Newman name in its title, will hold an arena that can seat 2,200 people, have training facilities for the university’s student-athletes and students and meeting space that will be open for community use. The new building will be located east of the Larson Center.

The University of Jamestown was established in 1883 and is ranked as a top tier regional school in US News and World Report and a top Midwestern school in The Princeton Review. The school features development of the whole person through its distinctive Journey to Success experience.