Arkansas Tech University dedicated the Clary Pickleball Courts on its Russellville campus with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 27.
A project to expand the existing on-campus pickleball option from one court to two courts and to add fencing was made possible through a gift by the Clary family, which has been associated with Arkansas Tech since Dr. Eldon Clary joined the faculty in 1967. His son, Bill Clary of Conway, is the chairman of the ATU Board of Trustees during the 2025 calendar year.
“ATU wants to offer everything to its students, not just academics,” said Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president. “We have great academic programs, but there’s more to being a university than just offering programs in the classroom. We want to offer recreational activities and health and wellness initiatives, and this is part of that. Pickleball is really growing in popularity. More and more people are playing it every day. We appreciate the Clary family for their donation. They have been very supportive of our campus, and it’s because of people like the Clarys that we’re able to offer facilities like this.”
Chairman Clary was joined at the dedication by his father, his wife, Lorie, their daughters, Lizzy Clary Proctor and Emma Clary, and their son-in-law, Bailey Proctor.
“We’re glad to be a part of the Tech campus and the ATU community,” said Chairman Clary. “Going to college is part of the experience of growing up and developing as a person. We believe in higher education as a family and what it means for social mobility, for family structure…for everything. We’re proud to be a part of the ongoing enjoyment of the Arkansas Tech experience.”
