Valley City State names football field after donor

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) — Valley City State is naming its football field Shelly Ellig Field in honor of a late Fargo-area philanthropist who contributed to the field's new artificial turf.

College President Steve Shirley says the new surface would not have been possible without contributions from donors, and that Ellig's contribution was "essential." The school did not state the amount.

Ellig founded the Fargo-based Stop-N-Go convenience stories and several other businesses. He died last October at the age of 81.

The university's stadium will retain the name Lokken Stadium in honor of the school's seventh president, Roscoe Lokken. The full name of the field will be Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium.

Installation of the artificial turf is expected to be done in time for the Vikings season opener against Morningside on Sept. 1.

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