Bobby Halford had no idea that William Carey's groundbreaking ceremony on its new baseball/softball fieldhouse would be named after him.
"I'm blessed, and it's an honor," Halford said. "I came down here in 1971 to play two sports, and I never dreamed I'd be here this long and have as much comradery with the people we have met.
"It was really special. I'm very humbled and blessed."
Halford earned his 1,300th career win this past baseball season as he led the Crusaders to the program's fourth-ever trip to the NAIA World Series. In attendance for the day's ceremony were dozens of former players and colleagues Halford has known throughout his 38-year tenure at William Carey.
"I was," said Halford when asked if he was surprised by the honor. "I couldn't figure out why all of these people were coming.
"That was really special. It's just a real humbling experience to the connections and to the people that have impacted your life."
William Carey President Dr. Ben Burnett and Athletic Director DJ Pulley said it was a quick conversation to name the facility after Halford.
"It was not much discussion to name it after him," Pulley said. "He probably has more wins than anybody in Mississippi. He's just deserving. The Bobby Halford fieldhouse seemed pretty fitting.
"With somebody who has been here since the 1970s and 38 years as a head coach, there really is no conversation on who you name it after," Burnett added.
The project itself has been in discussion for the last two years. According to Bennett, the new facility is projected to cost William Carey roughly $1.9 million, with the goal for the building to be completed by this coming February.
"We have about a third of that ($1.9 million) in the bank," Burnett said. "We have some left to raise because we don't want to go into debt and use university direct funds. We feel confident we'll be able to do that.
"We feel like this year's success will encourage our former players and alumni to go to the next level and support the project so that it will be debt free. That enables us to do that and go to the next project because there are other things at this park that we would like to do."
During William Carey's baseball season, the Crusaders hosted the SSAC tournament, and NAIA Regional had roughly a $2.6 million economic impact for the Hattiesburg area.
The new fieldhouse will be built between the baseball and softball fields and will include separate locker rooms for each program.
"It will be a two locker room set up for baseball and softball; it will include showers and storage room and things like," Pulley said. "It just gives them a home. Right now, our baseball and softball teams have limited space. With recruiting and how challenging it is to sign kids these days, it'll be another to add to our two great facilities."
Since 2017, the baseball and softball programs at William Carey have won a combined 492 wins. This past year, the baseball team finished 49-11, while the softball team posted a 39-14 mark.
"It's long overdue for us to provide a facility for our players because it's recognizing the success that we have had the last couple of decades and especially this year," Burnett said. "We felt that it was the time to step and do something that they needed. It's not just a gift. It's something that the players deserve. We also think it's something that will get us to the next level.
"We need to strike while the iron is hot. People know how good both teams have been in the past years, and support is at an all-time. We just think we should move forward."
