Arena on GSCC's Cherokee campus to carry name of longtime Cherokee legislator Lindsey

The Cherokee Arena on Gadsden State Community College’s Cherokee County Campus in Centre has a new name.

The Alabama Community College System’s board of trustees on May 11 voted to name the arena, Cherokee County’s largest sports venue, after former state Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre.

A ceremony will be held later to officially recognize the site as the Richard Lindsey Arena.

Lindsey served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2018. He chaired the House’s Agriculture Committee for three terms and the Education Finance and Appropriations Committee for 10 years, and received an assortment of awards and honors during his legislative career.

“We are delighted that we are able to honor and celebrate a man who has been so supportive of Gadsden State throughout the years,” GSCC President Kathy Murphy said in a news release announcing the change. “It is fitting that the arena is named for Mr. Lindsey considering he was very instrumental in securing the construction of the facility.”

Gadsden State Cherokee began offering instruction in 2002 in response to community and governmental efforts to meet the growing educational needs in the region, according to the news release.

The current multi-level complex on Cedar Bluff Road opened in 2008, at a cost of $22 million. Along with the 2,500-seat arena, it features a 300-seat conference room, smaller meeting rooms, classrooms, learning laboratories and office space. Cherokee County’s Chamber of Commerce is also headquartered there.

Murphy said Lindsey “had a vision to increase educational opportunities in our service area. He worked hard to rally people for funding and support. As a result, collaborative partnerships were formed with local townships, the Cherokee County Commission, state and local leadership and ACCS. It was certainly a grassroots initiative that continues to promote education, economic growth and community development.”

In an interview with Alabama Political Reporter announcing his retirement from the Legislature, Lindsey said, “This facility has changed the lives of many people in our area. Many have received a college education, gained invaluable training and found employment opportunities that otherwise would have never happened.”

Lindsey co-owns Cherokee Gin and Cotton Co. and is a partner in the Coosa River Land Co., a large farming operation. He’s active in various national and regional agriculture industry organizations, and in local civic groups.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: New name for Gadsden State's Cherokee Arena