El Paso Extreme Makeover

Extreme makeover underway at Hanson Field

Right now, Hanson Field is a little bit country and a little bit rocks and rolling: the constant rolling in and out, and back and forth, of bulldozers, dump trucks and cranes.

The home of Western Illinois University's Leathernecks football team is in the early stages of its summer renovation project, a $1.3 million endeavor which is part of the Target: Western Forward Facility Initiative, which began back in 2001.

The "country" part of Hanson Field – besides its pastoral setting in the heart of Western's grassy, picturesque Macomb campus – is the artificial field turf that is being installed, turf that can also be found deep in the heart of Texas.

The natural grass field at Hanson is being replaced by a Matrix Turf brand synthetic surface, the same Matrix Turf that was installed at the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and can also be found at the in San Antonio, Texas; Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas, home of the Baylor University Bears; and Sun Bowl Stadium, home to the University of Texas El Paso Miners.

The target date for completion of the Hanson Field renovations is late August.  Funds for the Matrix Turf were paid for with student enhancement fees that were approved by the University's Student Government Association.

The Leathernecks' first home game on the new surface will be on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 . against the Jacksonville (Fla.) University Dolphins.

In addition to the installation of Matrix Turf on the football field, the Hanson Field renovations will also include improvements to track and field events areas, including new pits for long jump and triple jump, a new javelin runway, and a redesigned discus/shot put area.

On tap for the future: a new scoreboard with video display replay capabilities and interactive fan media elements; new west side seating; and a new press box facility, coaches' offices and campus classrooms.

Fence Slats

I grew up in El Paso, Texas so for me this story has deep heartfelt meaning in many ways. A dear family friend, whose nephew Randy O’Leary owns Desert View Homes, together with a team of volunteers and sponsors in El Paso, gave their hearts, their time, and their resources to help an extraordinary Mexican family for Ty Pennington’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition that will air on Sunday March 15 (ABC 8/7 C).

In an email from my friend Cliff who volunteered for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition El Paso, he writes: “Ty is as good natured off camera as he is when being filmed. The entire production staff (over 100) was as concerned for the charity as El Paso was for having them here.” Volunteers and spectators who participated in the Extreme Makeover Home Edition El Paso episode were asked to bring one or more canned good products. Here’s why.

Since 1996, the Ruiz family in El Paso travels every day across the border to Mexico and gives food, clothing, and supplies to thousands of needy people in Juarez shantytowns on the border. Maria and Jesus Ruiz, along with their two children, use their unfinished El Paso home to collect and prepare charitable donations as part of their foundation that supports a 100-bed orphanage in Juarez, Mexico. The Ruiz family living room, with unfinished plywood floors and exposed drywall, is where the family stores and prepares canned good donations.

Maria and Jesus Ruiz work multiple jobs to keep their charitable foundation operating, despite leaving their home unfinished for 12 years. The home has no heat and after severe water damage, the home is caving in on itself. Thanks to Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Desert View Homes, and countless other volunteers and sponsors in El Paso, the Ruiz family will have a new home after they “Move That Bus” on March 15th.

The design team for the Ruiz home will feature Extreme Makeover Home team leader Ty Pennington, Paul DiMeo, Eduardo Xol, Paige Hemmis, and Rib Hillis. If you wonder what it takes to build an Extreme Makeover Home, visit the Desert View Homes Extreme Makeover showcase on their web site. The showcase has photos from the planning stage through “Move That Bus!” Photos and stories of the Ruiz family home before the makeover are shocking and one can’t imagine how a family could survive for 12 years in this home while focusing their lives on giving to others.

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