Samford dedicates Pete Hanna Center, largest structure in school’s history

Samford University in Birmingham dedicated its imposing new Pete Hanna Center Oct. 19 with a salute to the generosity that made the project possible.

“We come to give thanks to Pete and Barbara Hanna and to the many men and women who have turned a vision into something greater than our dreams,” said Samford President Andrew Westmoreland during dedication ceremonies for the $32-million facility.

‘Lives will be changed’
“Lectures have been heard here (the previous night’s talk by Einstein biographer Walter Isaacson), games will be played here, lives are being changed here and we give thanks for all of it,” Westmoreland said.
A 5,000-seat arena for basketball and volleyball is the centerpiece of the new facility. It will seat 6,000 for concerts, graduation programs and other events with the addition of 1,000 seats on the arena floor. In addition to athletic offices and facilities, it houses a 12,000-square-foot fitness/wellness center.
Pete Hanna is a former Samford football player. The Hannas are members of Liberty Park Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, in Birmingham Baptist Association. Their pastor, Scott Guffin, offered the dedicatory prayer during the ceremony.

Hanna, the Birmingham businessman and Samford trustee for whom the center is named, said the completion of the structure is proof that dreams come true.

“I have three best days in my life,” he said. “The day I gave my life to Christ, the day I married Barbara and today.”
At Hanna’s request, the arena within the center is named for Samford president emeritus Thomas Corts and his wife, Marla Haas Corts. (SU)