Mr. Jon Bowerbank, Assistant Principal David Bostic, and Principal Tony Bush.
The Lebanon News | Anthony Stevens | Photo Credit: Betty Davis
HONAKER — There was a time when Fuller Field in Honaker, Virginia was rough, to say the least.
However, on Aug. 27, 2007, it became Fuller Field at EMATS Stadium with updates that made it one
of the top high school fields in the region.
It was a long process with a lot of preparation done before turf could be put down.
“We started in the spring [of 2007],” retired Honaker football coach Doug Hubbard said. “We
were putting up a fence the day of our first game (against Richlands, on August 31, 2007). They
had to bust and chip so much rock to get it level and get the drainage system put in. We practiced
at [Southwest Virginia Community] College, and the kids always wanted to come by every day
after practice and see the progress on the field.”
It was just a dream, and it became a reality thanks to Jon Bowerbank, the President, CEO, and
Founder of EMATS, Inc.
“Jon was a big sports fan, and we got to be good friends,” declared Hubbard. “After a game,
Jon said, ‘How would you like to have a turf field?’ He sat down and we looked at some fields
and drew up a plan to do this field.
“It’s probably the best thing that ever happened to the program, to get a football field that we
could use. It was a great gesture and such a wonderful thing Jon did.”
Perhaps it was appreciated even more by the players that had played on the old and new field.
In 2006, junior Logan Ball was toting the football on the rocky terrain of Fuller Field.
“I still have scars on my hands and elbows from the old field,” said Ball, a star for the Tigers.
“In August, the field would look good, but we didn’t have a place to practice, so we practiced on
the main field. It didn’t take long for the grass in the middle to be worn off. It felt like concrete
come late September and October. I always wore thick elbow pads, trying to protect as much
skin as I could.
Things changed for Ball and the other players with the transition to the new field.
“It [the new field] was exceptionally cushioned,” Ball said. “I would dread getting tackled on
the old field knowing I would leave some skin behind. That went away with the new field.”
“To go from the old field to the new one was night and day,” stated Ball. “It was my senior
year. I was injured in the first game at Lebanon. We played Richlands the second game of the
year, the opener at the new field, but I was stuck on the sideline and could only punt. It was
disappointing not to get on it a lot that first game.”
Improvements have continued at EMATS. The Field House was remodeled in 2006, and a new
Press Box installed in 2021. Bowerbank donated new Play Clocks for each end zone last week.
“We are very grateful for the vision that Mr. Jon Bowerbank had in the planning and
construction of the artificial playing surface of Fuller Field at EMATS Stadium,” Honaker
principal Tony Bush said. “It has served the youth of the Honaker Community since the
inaugural game played there on August 31, 2007. I would confidently say that it is one of the
best football/soccer facilities in Southwest Virginia and one that we are extremely grateful for.”
New lights were also added before this season at EMATS by the Russell County School Board.
With all the upgrades, it’s easily one of the top fields in the area.