New Names Imminent for Amity High Sports Complex

A year-long controversy, one that has pitted resident against resident, came to an end Wednesday night.

The Amity Board of Education's facilities committee last night agreed that three is company, at least in the area of naming the sports complex. They decided to recommend to the full board of education the renaming of the Amity High School football complex in honor of Former Superintendent Dr. William Sim to be the Dr. William E. Sim Athletic Facility (as it was named in 1974). The committee will also recommend to the board the naming of the football field in honor of former Coach Mr. William Johnson and the press box at the football stadium in honor of Public Address Announcer Stanley Gedansky.

Before the committee approved the recommendations, they heard from three local residents, all who spoke in favor of the honoring of the three gentlemen.

Greg Sim, Wiliam Sim's youngest son also spoke, describing a recent conversation that he had with Superintendent of Schools John Brady.

"It was a positive conversation," he said. "There was a tone building across the three towns that didn't reflect the values of Amity or what Dad had stood for. He'd be upset with what's happened and he always only wanted what was best for the district."

Last October, the Board of Education was asked to act on a request to name the high school football field after revered former teacher and coach Bill Johnson and the press box after legendary announcer Stan Gedansky. The football sports complex was to be named for William E. Sim. The field was named the William E. Sim Athletic Field in 1974. 

The Board of Education did approve the name change in October 2010, leaving the Sim family feeling slighted, but at its meeting the following month, the board unanimously approved suspension of the October motion to name the football field and press box after the two long-time supporters of the school's sports program, subsequently leaving the Johnson and Gedansky families feeling hurt as well. 

Committee member Steve DeMaio said, "It has been an emotional year for all involved since we first met a year ago."

"Having played on that field and not knowing who Sim was put me back a little bit," DeMaio said. "We need to honor these three people and make sure the community understands who they were and what they contributed to the school."

The committee discussed several ways of tying the contributions of Sim, Gedansky and Johnson into the curriculum at Amity High School.

"Many students enter this school and have no idea who these men are," said Committee Chairman Phil Grande. He suggested the freshmen writing classes add a requirement to provide a type of biographical report on an Amity legend of their choice.

The Amity Board of Education will vote on the sports complex naming at its October meeting.