What's in a name? Many Section 2 football fields are named after prominent local figures.

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The press box at the Arthur E. Walker Athletic Field is shown during the Colonie Cup on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Shaker High School. (Jim Franco/Times Union)

This past week, Gary VanDerzee, who coached the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk varsity football team for 41 years, had the school's turf football field named after him during a ceremony prior a home game against Chatham/Ichabod Crane.

That football field became the latest one in Section 2 to bear the name of a prominent community member. 

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Ravena head football coach Gary VanDerzee during a game against Green Tech at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Ravena, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)

Here's a look at who other area football fields are named after.

Christian Brothers Academy

  • Field: Evelyn J. Puleo Stadium
  • About: Puleo worked in the health care field in the area, including as a researcher at the Sterling Winthrop Labs, and died at the age of 69 in 2003. The school named the field after her in 2001.

Colonie High School

  • Field: Mike Ambrosio Field
  • About:He coached the varsity football field to 66 victories and three Super Bowl appearance during his time coaching the team from 1997 through 2011. Ambrosio, who was a physical education teacher at the school, died from a heart attack in 2019 at the age of 64.

Columbia High School

  • Field: Nicholas Budnowski Field
  • About: A member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, Budnowski spent 33 years at the school and coached football and track and field. He died in 1997 and the football field had turf installed in 2007, the same year the field was dedicated in Budnowski's honor.

Fonda-Fultonville

  • Field:John G. Boshart Field
  • About:   Boshart served as principal and superintendent from 1956 through 1979. He not only was vital in getting the school district to consolidate to one main school, he was instrumental in getting the sports programs going.

Glens Falls High School

  • Field: Bernard "Putt" LaMay Football Field
  • About: Name a sport at Glens Falls and there's a good chance LaMay coached it to incredible success. LaMay, who died in 2007, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He coached the football team for 33 years and compiled a 112-28-6 record with 10 titles from 1953 to 1972 during a time without sectional or state playoffs. He also coached Glens Falls to 16 golf championships, nine baseball titles and three track and field crowns during his distinguished coaching career.

Gloversville High School

  • Field: Robert E. Gould Stadium at Husky Field
  • About: Gould led Gloversville to an undefeated football season in 1987 with a squad that won the Section 2 Class B championship and featured quarterback Tom Ciaccio and receiver Matt Shell. Gould won 190 games during a career that ended in 2003. He was inducted into the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Johnstown

  • Field:   Knox Field
  • About:   The athletic complex is named for Charles B. Knox and Rose M. Knox, who were the founders of the Knox Gelatine Company. Charles Knox built the plant in 1890 and ran it until his death in 1909. Rose Knox took over and became one of the nation's first successful businesswomen. She paid for the development of the school's athletic complex and dedicated to the school on Oct. 1, 1930.

Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk

  • Field: Gary VanDerzee Field
  • About: VanDerzee coached a variety of sports at R-C-S, but had a 41-year tenure as varsity football coach. That run included 261 victories, 14 league titles, seven sectional championships, seven state semifinal berths and an appearance in the 1996 Class B state final. In addition to his teaching duties, coaching stints and time served as athletic director at R-C-S, VanDerzee also worked as the Section 2 football chairman from 1997 to 2013. He has been the state football chairman since 2014.

Shaker High School

  • Field:Arthur E. Walker Field
  • About: Served at the school in various capacities over 35 years, including as a physical education teacher, coach for football, basketball and baseball and as the principal from 1979 to 1991. A graduate of Colgate University, Walker died in 2020 at the age of 89.

Schenectady High School

  • Field: Larry Mulvaney Field
  • About: Elected into the Schenectady City Schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, Mulvaney had the football field named after him 2001. He coached football (107 wins, 64 losses and four ties) and wrestling (209-58-6) at Mont Pleasant. Mulvaney, who died in 2019, was inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Springfield College Hall of Fame in 2008.

Shenendehowa High School

  • Field: Brent T. Steuerwald Stadium
  • About: Named for the legendary football coach who guided the varsity program from its inception in 1968 through 2011. Steuerwald amassed 318 victories that included three state championships. He also served as the school's athletic director and helped implement the state football playoff system.

Voorheesville High School

  • Field: Buckley Field
  • About: The field is named for legendary football coach Tom Buckley. He helped transition the program from eight-man football level to 11-man football. He died in 1984 and was elected to the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Know of a Section 2 football field missing from this list? Let us know.

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This article originally published at What's in a name? Many Section 2 football fields are named after prominent local figures..

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