Estes-Speight Family Athletic Center and Meredith College Athletic Hall of Fame Open
Meredith College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 5, for the Estes-Speight Family Athletic Center. The new athletic center was made possible by Chris Speight Brown, ’76, along with her siblings Elizabeth Speight Cooley and Bobby Speight, Jr., who made a $1 million lead gift to name the center in memory of their mother, Mary Estes Speight, ’53, and their father, Bobby Speight, NC State All-American basketball player.
The new athletic building includes two large indoor batting cages, a golf simulator (coming soon), locker rooms, a student-athlete lounge, and public restrooms. The building is adjacent to the softball field and tennis courts. Brown also funded the Meredith College Athletics Hall of Fame, named for her daughter Lisa Brown De Armas, ’03. The Hall of Fame is housed in the Cate Student Center.
“Meredith College and Raleigh have meant so much to my entire family,” said Brown. “I wanted to pay tribute to Mom and Dad’s love of sports and Mom’s love of Meredith.”
Rochester Institute of Technology Names New Stadium Thomas Fearey Judson Jr. Stadium
The Rochester Institute of Technology has named its new athletics venue Thomas Fearey Judson Jr. Stadium.
The new stadium name honors the extraordinary legacy of former RIT Trustee Tom Judson, Pike Construction Services, the Judson family, and their century-long impact on the university.
Formerly known as Tiger Stadium, the $30 million, 38,828-square-foot facility broke ground in April 2024 and is slated for completion in January 2026. It will serve as the new home for RIT's men's and women's soccer and lacrosse programs.
The stadium's new name honors a transformative gift from Thomas F. Judson Jr.; his wife, Ebets; their son, Rufus; and their company, Pike Construction Services.
The family's connection to RIT spans generations. When Judson joined the Board of Trustees in 1984, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, John D. Pike, who joined in 1930, and his father, Thomas F. Judson Sr., who joined in 1961. Today, Rufus Judson continues the family legacy as CEO of Pike, marking the fourth generation of leadership, philanthropy, and impact on the RIT community and campus.
Malden Catholic Completes Construction of Academic and Athletics Facility
Timberline Construction Corporation (Timberline) has completed Malden Catholic’s new 80,000 SF academic and athletic facility, a transformative addition to the school’s campus designed to expand offerings to their current student body and support the next generation of students.
Awarded through a competitive bidding process, Timberline was selected for the team’s innovative, cost-effective solutions that maximized space while aligning with Malden Catholic’s budget and schedule goals. Originally planned for a turf field and indoor practice gym, the scope expanded significantly as Timberline collaborated with school leadership to align the facility with the school’s mission and long-term vision. Through this process, Timberline proposed a third floor to the new ground-up building, creating space for the launch of Malden Catholic’s new 7th and 8th-grade division within the existing footprint.
“Timberline proved to be a truly great partner throughout this process,” said John K. Thornburg, President of Malden Catholic. “Their creative design solutions helped us achieve our goals, and their clear communication ensured we always felt aligned and confident at every step. The team not only exceeded our budget expectations but also stayed on schedule so we could welcome students into the facility for the start of this school year.”
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