A Field of Dreams Honors Dr. Sam Newell
Those who knew Dr. Samuel W. Newell Jr. remember him as a noted theologian and intellectual, a caring and compassionate minister, and a kind, gentle, and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Many remember his involvement in the life of Collegiate that began in 1961 when he became pastor of River Road Presbyterian Church just next door. Many also remember him as a huge baseball fan.
Combine those facets of his exemplary life, and it makes perfect sense that the words SAM NEWELL FIELD appear in large letters on the leftfield wall of the new, state-of-the-art, aesthetically-pleasing baseball complex on Collegiate’s Robins Campus in Goochland County.
Combine those facets of his exemplary life, and it makes perfect sense that the words SAM NEWELL FIELD appear in large letters on the leftfield wall of the new, state-of-the-art, aesthetically-pleasing baseball complex on Collegiate’s Robins Campus in Goochland County.
“We have an exceptionally high-quality individual named Sam Newell, as
outstanding a person and fine a human being as there is,” said his
son-in-law John Gottwald. “He was a wonderful guy. He had all the right
ethics, and he loved baseball. I hope that his name associated with a
high-quality facility will be inspirational as Collegiate moves
forward.”
Dr. Newell developed his passion for baseball at an early age. His father starred at first base for Ole Miss in the early 1900s and later took him to games in their hometown, Jackson, MS, in an era when the sport was an integral part of the culture of many communities.
Though he never competed on school teams, Dr. Newell continued his interest in baseball through his undergraduate days at Davidson College. While studying at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond in the late ‘40s, he spent a summer at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston taking a course in ministering to the sick. When time allowed, he attended games at Fenway Park and became a Red Sox fan for life.
Dr. Newell and his wife Martha, whom he married in 1943, raised three daughters. Pattie Williams ’66, Scottie Slater ’69, and Meg Gottwald ’74 are Collegiate graduates. Over the years, Dr. Newell served on Collegiate’s Board of Trustees, spoke at numerous baccalaureate and chapel services, and attended more campus events than he could count.
He moved from River Road to Salisbury Presbyterian in 1976 and retired in 1982, then began to pursue his hobbies – sailing, woodworking, and travel – in earnest. He passed away in 2001.
Despite the demands of his professional calling and well into his later years, Dr. Newell maintained his love for baseball, often to the amusement of his family. He attended an occasional Richmond Braves game, watched plenty of Collegiate contests, sometimes from his office window, and made many a trip to the little league park with his wife to see their six grandsons play.
“He was a baseball nut,” recalls Mrs. Newell with a hearty laugh. “Baseball was his thing. I guess he needed a release. But there was a funny side to him that a lot of people didn’t know. His family didn’t always want to go to games with him because he yelled at the umpires about being blind. We pretended like we didn’t know him sometimes.”
This afternoon before the Cougars’ Prep League game with Trinity Episcopal, Dr. Newell’s family, whose generosity along with that of a host of other donors made the dream a reality, will assemble with many friends for the ribbon cutting.
Mrs. Newell, spry and engaging at 86, will deliver the ceremonial first pitch. No doubt, memories will flow, and she can only think about how honored her husband would be by the richly-deserved tribute.
“He’d be thrilled just to know his name is on the stadium,” she said. “I think he’d say, ‘Wow!’ He’d be joyous to know he’d been remembered in such a special way.” — Weldon Bradshaw
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Dr. Newell developed his passion for baseball at an early age. His father starred at first base for Ole Miss in the early 1900s and later took him to games in their hometown, Jackson, MS, in an era when the sport was an integral part of the culture of many communities.
Though he never competed on school teams, Dr. Newell continued his interest in baseball through his undergraduate days at Davidson College. While studying at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond in the late ‘40s, he spent a summer at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston taking a course in ministering to the sick. When time allowed, he attended games at Fenway Park and became a Red Sox fan for life.
Dr. Newell and his wife Martha, whom he married in 1943, raised three daughters. Pattie Williams ’66, Scottie Slater ’69, and Meg Gottwald ’74 are Collegiate graduates. Over the years, Dr. Newell served on Collegiate’s Board of Trustees, spoke at numerous baccalaureate and chapel services, and attended more campus events than he could count.
He moved from River Road to Salisbury Presbyterian in 1976 and retired in 1982, then began to pursue his hobbies – sailing, woodworking, and travel – in earnest. He passed away in 2001.
Despite the demands of his professional calling and well into his later years, Dr. Newell maintained his love for baseball, often to the amusement of his family. He attended an occasional Richmond Braves game, watched plenty of Collegiate contests, sometimes from his office window, and made many a trip to the little league park with his wife to see their six grandsons play.
“He was a baseball nut,” recalls Mrs. Newell with a hearty laugh. “Baseball was his thing. I guess he needed a release. But there was a funny side to him that a lot of people didn’t know. His family didn’t always want to go to games with him because he yelled at the umpires about being blind. We pretended like we didn’t know him sometimes.”
This afternoon before the Cougars’ Prep League game with Trinity Episcopal, Dr. Newell’s family, whose generosity along with that of a host of other donors made the dream a reality, will assemble with many friends for the ribbon cutting.
Mrs. Newell, spry and engaging at 86, will deliver the ceremonial first pitch. No doubt, memories will flow, and she can only think about how honored her husband would be by the richly-deserved tribute.
“He’d be thrilled just to know his name is on the stadium,” she said. “I think he’d say, ‘Wow!’ He’d be joyous to know he’d been remembered in such a special way.” — Weldon Bradshaw
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