HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 10-07-2025; 8-r - Resolution Naming the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field”
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:October 7, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No.8-r
SUBJECT: Resolution Naming the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie
Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field”
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners,
Environment, Agriculture, Parks
& Recreation, & County
Manager (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board, 919-
245-2130
Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR, 919-245-2517
David Stancil, DEAPR Director, 919-245-
2510
PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution naming the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach
Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field”.
BACKGROUND: At its Business meeting on September 16, 2025, and in accordance with the
Orange County Property Naming Policy, the Board of Commissioners stated its intent to adopt a
resolution naming Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook
Athletic Field”. The Board also directed staff to prepare a resolution codifying this intent for
consideration at the Board’s October 7, 2025 Business meeting.
Willie Lawrence Vanhook (born July 16, 1932) is widely known and respected as a civic leader,
successful tobacco farmer, Civil Rights advocate and church trustee, both in his beloved Cedar
Grove community and throughout Orange County. Mr. Vanhook achieved a major integration
breakthrough by becoming one of the first African American tobacco buyers in the country. One
of his proudest achievements came as a result of his recognition of the importance of athletics
and sports as an avenue to reach and lift the young members of his community. This awareness
inspired Mr. Vanhook to take a leading role in the formation of the Cedar Grove Recreation
Association, with a goal of helping to shape athletes, both youth and adults, into better players
and citizens of their community. Through his work with the Association, Mr. Vanhook harnessed
the game of softball to help hundreds of athletes learn the sport and compete successfully in his
community and beyond. Athletic Field #1 at the former Cedar Grove School served as the home
for his long-standing career as a softball coach and mentor.
In appreciation of Willie Lawrence Vanhook’s dedication and commitment to his community, the
Cedar Grove Recreation Association has requested the naming of the Cedar Grove Park Athletic
Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field.” As part of this recognition,
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DEAPR proposes purchasing and installing an appropriate ground-mounted interpretive marker
that presents highlights of the history of Coach Vanhook, his athletes and the Athletic Field.
In keeping with the County’s Naming Policy, a resolution is required to approve the naming of the
Athletic Field #1. The attached resolution for Board consideration approves the naming in
preparation for the possibility of a naming event to occur later in 2025 or early 2026.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of a professionally designed and fabricated ground-mounted
interpretive marker naming Athletic Field #1 is approximately $3,800 to $4,000. The Department
of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation will use currently budgeted funds to acquire
and install the marker.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
VISION STATEMENT: We are a diverse, inclusive, and healthy county working together
to strengthen our community and enhance the quality of life for all residents.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the attached resolution approving the naming of Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1
as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field.”
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RES-2025-052
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Resolution Naming Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the
“Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field”
WHEREAS, Willie Lawrence Vanhook (born 1932) is widely known and respected as a
civic leader, Civil Rights advocate, successful tobacco farmer, volunteer 4-H leader and
church trustee, both in his beloved Cedar Grove community and throughout Orange
County; and
WHEREAS, Willie Lawrence Vanhook achieved success as a leading tobacco farmer in
Cedar Grove, starting out as a sharecropper and finally attaining the ownership of his own
farm; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Vanhook achieved a major integration breakthrough by becoming one of
the first African American tobacco graders and buyers in the country, starting as a grader
for the burley tobacco markets in Tennessee and Kentucky, and later working as a buyer
for the Universal Leaf Tobacco Company and Phillip Morris, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, through his leadership, Mr. Vanhook played a leading role in the formation
of the Cedar Grove Recreation Association and started a softball league for youth and
adults, serving as a coach and mentor to whole a generation of athletes; and
WHEREAS, in appreciation of Mr. Vanhook’s dedication and commitment to his
community, the Cedar Grove Recreation Association has proposed naming the Cedar
Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field;” and
WHEREAS, at its Business meeting on September 16, 2025, the Board of County
Commissioners stated its intent to name the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 to honor
Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook and provide an appropriate sign and interpretive marker;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners does hereby name the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 to be the
“Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field.”
This the 7th day of October, 2025.
____________________________________
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners.
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board
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