Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Feb. 14, the night of the UF baseball team's season opener, five grandchildren of the late Alfred A. McKethan participated in the first-pitch ceremony to mark the final opener at the stadium bearing their grandfather's name.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of the season in mid-March, it turned out to be the last game at McKethan Stadium for some of his family members in attendance that night.

"That was the final event, but it was a special event,'' said Robert A. Buckner, one of McKethan's grandchildren. "He had a special admiration of baseball in general, and especially of Gator Baseball."

The next time McKethan's descendants watch the Gators play, they will see them on Alfred A. McKethan Field at Florida Ballpark, a proposal approved Friday afternoon by the UF Board of Trustees, University Athletic Association and in conjunction with the continued generosity of the McKethan family.

The longstanding relationship between the McKethan family and Florida's home ballpark dates to 1987 when the bleachers surrounding Perry Field were torn down and replaced by a modernized stadium named after McKethan, a $2.4 million venue that opened in 1988 thanks in large part to McKethan's financial contributions and fundraising efforts.

A native of Brooksville, Fla., who headed Hernando State Bank and later sold it to Sun Trust Banks, McKethan modernized the state's banking industry as head of the Florida Bankers Association. That was just one of McKethan's many life accomplishments as a citrus magnate, chairman of the State Road Board, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
 
In between his business endeavors, McKethan made time for trips to the ballpark, often to Gators games or big-league diamonds around the country.

"We were very fortunate to have gone on a lot of trips with our grandfather. All over the United States and Canada,'' Buckner said.  "We would often schedule a professional baseball game in some of the major cities we would travel to. He had great knowledge of baseball and the history of baseball. He would love to tell the stories of great players of the past and experiences he had at various baseball venues. He did have a special place in his heart for baseball."

McKethan, who died in April 2002 at the age of 93, graduated from UF in 1931 and became a lifelong financial supporter of the school on the academic and athletic sides.

Jimmy Kimbrough, another of McKethan's grandsons, is grateful his grandfather's name will remain attached to the Gators baseball team's home. There's no doubt in his mind that his grandfather would be pleased.

"My grandfather believed in the University of Florida and was appreciative of its impact upon his life,'' Kimbrough said. "He also thought his many academic and athletic gifts to UF would be recognized in perpetuity. And that certainly included Alfred A. McKethan Stadium. But he was a visionary and truly embraced progress, thus our entire family greatly valued an opportunity to participate in this exciting project to further support Gator Baseball, and is extremely pleased UF has decided Alfred McKethan's commitment to his alma mater and Gator Baseball will not be forgotten."

In days gone by, Buckner said his grandfather would host weekly luncheons at what the family called "The Big House," a part of the family's history in Brooksville dating to the late 19th Century. Oftentimes at those luncheons, politicians, college football coaches, athletic directors and other notables would stop by for a presentation.

Buckner didn't always know what was on the menu, but he had a good idea of what would be discussed.

"The topic of conversation almost always had something to do with the University of Florida athletics,'' he said. "The family is very appreciative and proud the University Board of Trustees, combined with support of Scott Stricklin of the UAA and the Gator Boosters team, will continue to honor the legacy of Mr. McKethan with the naming of the baseball field in his honor at Florida Ballpark."

After all these years, the name fits like a glove.

"The McKethan family name has been synonymous with Gators Baseball for decades, and it is only fitting that the name will continue to have a presence at our new ballpark,'' Stricklin said. "We are very appreciative of their longtime generosity and support of the program, and we look forward to the next chapter of Gators Baseball."

Work on the estimated $65-million Florida Ballpark is expected to conclude later this month, and demolition of McKethan Stadium is tentatively scheduled for July.