15-year-old dream comes true with opening of WT's Bain Athletic Center

CANYON - A dream of local philanthropists, Ray and wife, Barbara Bain, came true Tuesday morning at the West Texas A&M University campus west of Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. The $12.5 million, state-of-the-art athletic facility is more than 14,000 square feet of meeting spaces, locker rooms, showers and administrative offices.

“Ray and I wanted to provide student-athletics at WT the best facilities possible because these young people work so hard to compete and keep up their studies,” Dr. Barbara Bain said of her late husband and their vision. “The grand opening of the Bain Athletics Complex means a great deal to my family. Ray would be so proud that his children have worked to fulfill his vision and dream for WT Athletics.”

Ray Bain attended WT and then became president of First State Bank of Dimmitt in 1985. In 1987, he joined with Stanley Schaeffer and a group of investors to purchase the bank, which became First United Bank in 1994. The bank has since expanded to 17 locations across 13 West Texas cities. Bain died in 2013; Schaeffer currently serves as director emeritus.

Tuesday's event for the Bain Athletic Complex opened with Dr. Todd Raspberry, Vice President of Philanthropy for WTAMU, giving the welcome and introductions. WT President Walter Wendler spoke about the Bain Family legacy and how much their generosity has given to the university, making it the top facility in Division II college athletics. He first introduced members of the Bain family, including Dr. Barbara Bain, wife of Ray Bain, and her children. Raspberry said he believed the Bain Athletic Center would be recognized as the “Best Division 2 athletic/student support center in the nation. Two generations of the Bain family have been involved in projects across the WT campus.”

Dr. Wendler added, “The Bain family has created a transformative legacy through their engagement, persistence, and support through the past 30 years. There are few institutions that have a donor legacy like we do here. There are a group of families that continue to support us and act as a model and encouragement to others to support this great institution. It makes it better than it was.”

Wendler said the building integrates the academic and educational aspects of students. He said that on the following day, Wednesday, in the Fairly Group Club of the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Doug Lipinski would be introduced as the new Vice President for Athletics at WTAMU and that he knows what it takes to build a great athletic conference and how to build championship teams and programs. “Our coaches are central to our success and are providing outstanding leadership,” Wendler said in closing.

Student body president Kyal Brown then told the crowd that the Bain Center was a lasting testament to the Bain family and their enduring commitment to the campus. She said that the building was an unwavering testament to the holistic development of its students. “It serves as a hub for the immense talent of our athletes and provides a balanced opportunity for students at WTAMU. Students can sharpen their skills, hone their minds, develop life-long friendships, and cultivate character that remains strong in victory and defeat,” she said.

Mike Bain, son of Ray and Barbara Bain, gave an emotional talk about his mother and father’s devotion to giving back. In 2008 and 2009, his dream was being put together. He said this project was the first time his father stepped up to the lead of the project to make the dream a reality. He said there was a third generation who would be involved in believing in the growth of the campus. He said the ribbon in the ribbon cutting signified the finish line and he wished his father was there to see it but he believed he was looking down and watching it. “I know buildings don’t bring in wins and losses, but they help make it possible to bring in the athletes we need to make that happen,” he said.

Thompson Mayberry spoke on the impact for athletes and coaches and his life growing up from Dimmitt. J.T. Cavender, WT linebacker, spoke from the perspective of an athletic member being able to use such a facility. He outlined the extra minutes athletes would now have to listen to coaches and how that could impact their learning in the future. “Since my arrival at WT, I was told the state-of-art meeting places, locker room facilities, coaches offices, nutrition and study spaces were coming. Let me assure you, all WT athletes are excited and grateful for today’s grand opening,” he said.

A full crowd stood outside for the ceremony and then toured the attractive facility as well as a separate training center and gym behind the building.

Self-guided tours were encouraged, and people enjoyed the spacious Piehl Family Hall, which will be used for team meetings while enjoying comfortable chairs. Other amenities include a student/athlete nutrition center, an outdoor Buffalo pavilion, executive conference room, study rooms, coach’s offices, film room, track locker rooms for men and women and track coach’s offices.

According to a WT news release, construction on the first phase of the athletic complex was completed in 2012 with a 3,900 square-foot locker room for the football team. Phase II, which was finished in 2016, included a 7,600-square-foot weight room with capacity for 500 student-athletes. In 2018, phase III provided an athletic training room and locker rooms for the women’s and men’s soccer teams. The final phase includes more modern office space for administrators and coaches, the track & field locker rooms and the Piehl Family Hall.

The families' contributions to WT go well beyond the athletic complex celebrated this week. The Bain family joined with the Schaeffer family for a $5 million gift in 2022 for the renamed Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. And the First United Bank Center, named for the bank founded by Ray Bain with Stanley Schaeffer, opened in January 2002. Other campus locations named for the Bain family include the Bain Events Center in the Agricultural Sciences Complex; Dr. Barbara Bain English, Language Arts and Social Studies Classroom in Old Main; and the Ray Bain Media Room in the Classroom Center.

The Barbara Bain Education Scholarship was established in 2014 in honor of her 35 years of elementary school teaching. Ray Bain was awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration in 2013, and Barbara Bain was awarded an honorary doctorate in education in 2019.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bain Athletic Center opening marks 15-year-old dream coming true