By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The Edward J. Okray Faith, Arts & Community Center in Pacelli High School was dedicated Thursday, March 6, during a ceremony preceding a performance of "Godspell" by Pacelli students.
Bishop Raymond Burke of the La Crosse Diocese blessed the center named for the late Edward J. Okray, a potato farmer from Plover who donated more than $500,000 to Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools (SPACS). The money was used to help transform the old gymnasium off the school's main lobby into an auditorium.
Bishop Burke called the dedication an historic event for Pacelli. "Tonight is an historic event for the community and the growth of the Catholic faith in the appreciation of the arts and development of the artistic skills of our students.
"We thank the generous donors who have made it possible. The education of young people is a task that has been put in our hands. It is important that we educate them well and give them a complete education," he said. "Everything that takes place in this center will be for the glory of God."
Chris Okray, Edward's nephew, said he was wearing his uncle's tweed coat for the dedication, one his uncle dressed up in to go to dinner but didn't wear often.
"Ed was the kind of person people remember because of his actions," Chris said. "He could speak softly, or raise his voice if he needed to. He was a thrifty person, content to let his money grow.
"He enjoyed friendships around the world," Chris said, "and he enjoyed his brothers Joe, Al, Ralph and Walter, and his sisters, Agnes and Grace. He enjoyed cards and fishing. Tonight we remember him for his giving and knowledge."
Gregg Hansel, president of SPACS, said Okray came to the district in November 2001 and said he wanted to make a gift to the school during the Renewing the Commitment Campaign. "He chuckled and said, 'I thought you could use it,'" Hansel said.
The gift allowed Catholic schools to renovate the old gymnasium in a way it had hoped to back in 1990 when a new school was built in Plover and the fieldhouse area was added to Pacelli.
"Ed's gift will also allow us to put more money into the endowment fund for teachers to help boost their salaries," Hansel said.
Students won't be the only beneficiaries of Okray's gift, Hansel said. "The community as a whole will use it, and it's been used already for dances and plays.
Bishop Burke expressed his gratitude to the Okray family and other generous donors to the campaign.
"I want to express heartfelt congratulations and the deepest gratitude to all who have participated so strongly in the assistance of Stevens Point Catholic Schools," he said. "The contributions, the sacrifices you make will bear fruit in the lives of the children who go to school here and their children."