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¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ dedicated its imposing new Pete Hanna Center with a salute to the past and present, pausing during Homecoming Weekend to reflect on the generosity that made the project possible.

"We come to give thanks to Pete and Barbara Hanna and to the many men and women who have turned a vision into something greater than our dreams," said ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ President Andrew Westmoreland during Oct. 19 dedication ceremonies for the $32-million facility.

"Lectures have been heard here (the previous night's talk by Einstein biographer Walter Isaacson), games will be played here, lives are being changed here, and we give thanks for all of it," he said. "Our gratitude is heartfelt and complete."

The 132,000-square foot multipurpose facility is the largest single construction project in ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ history. A 5,000-seat arena for basketball and volleyball is the centerpiece, and capacity will grow to 6,000 for concerts, graduation ceremonies and other programs with the addition of 1,000 seats on the arena floor.

"Twenty-five words provide the rationale for hundreds of people to gather tonight to celebrate the opening of a magnificent facility on our campus," said Dr. Westmoreland. "Twenty-five words that changed Pete Hanna's life and gave him reason for hope. Twenty-five words that bring humility and inspiration . . .."

Westmoreland referred to Hanna's favorite Bible verse, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Hanna, the Birmingham businessman and ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ trustee for whom the center is named, said the completion of the structure was proof that dreams come true.

"I have three best days in my life," he said, "the day I gave my life to Christ, the day I married Barbara and today."

Following the dedication in the building's east plaza, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ unveiled the arena in grand fashion with its traditional candlelight dinner. More than 500 alumni, donors and other friends of the university attended the gala on a night devoted to "celebrating traditions," said master of ceremonies and board of trustees chairman Bill Stevens.

Noting that 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's Shades Valley campus, Stevens recognized donors that made possible the continuing growth and progress of the campus.

"This has been an extraordinary year for ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ, and we are grateful for each of you and the thousands of others who provided financial support to help ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ achieve so many good things," he said.

At Hanna's request, the arena within the center is named for ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ President Emeritus Thomas E. Corts and his wife, Marla H. Corts. During the gala dinner, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Alumni Association President Mark Davidson of Mobile, Ala., also recognized the Cortses as honorary ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ alumni.

James A. Head of Birmingham, who served as fundraising chairman for the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ campus during the early 1950s and laid the cornerstone for its first building, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Hall, in 1955, was also made an honorary alumnus. Head will turn 103 Saturday, Oct. 20. He was in attendance with his daughter, Virginia Gross of Birmingham, a 1961 graduate.

A high point of the annual Homecoming dinner is the recognition of ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Alumni of the Year. Davidson and Westmoreland presented the annual awards to four graduates-Birmingham insurance executive Walter Barnes, class of 1956; retired ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ religion professor Sigurd Bryan, class of ´46; U.S. Senate aide Carol Guthrie of Washington, D.C., class of ´93; and renowned cardiologist George Irons, Jr., of Charlotte, N.C., class of ´52.

Earlier in the day, Davidson presided over the annual Homecoming meeting of the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Alumni Association, and alumni and others enjoyed an evensong performance by the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ A Cappella choir in A. Gerow Hodges Chapel.

Students, alumni and others capped off the big day with a pep rally, bonfire and fireworks following the gala dinner.