Sponsors announced for '04 State Games

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 7, 2004
On a sun-soaked Tuesday morning, the State Games of Mississippi Board of Directors and staff introduced the sponsors for the 2004 games at the Meridian Community College track and field complex, as the statewide event gets ready for its 13th year.
Thirty-nine sponsors have donated money for the running of the amateur sportsfest, which is patterned after the Olympics for athletes of all ages.
Rush Foundation Hospital and Meridian Coca Cola Bottling Company return to lend a fiscal helping hand for the 2004 games. The two organizations are founding gold sponsors for the game. Gold sponsors donated a minimum of $15,000. Rush provides on-sight medical care for the games.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, BellSouth and The Partnership For a Healthy Mississippi return as gold sponsors this year, and Meridian Airport Authority is a first-time gold sponsor.
Silver sponsors, which donate a minimum of $7,500, include AmSouth National Bank, Amtrak Crescent, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cingular Wireless, City of Meridian, Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, Meridian Community College, Mississippi Power Company and Structural Steel Services, Inc.
Eight business are bronze sponsors, which donate a minimum of $3,000, for this year's games. A&B Electric, Trustmark National Bank, Holiday Inn Express/Quality Inn, Crescent City Grill, Insurance Solutions and Southern Link return as supporters of the games. UBS Paine Webber and Southern Sportsman are first-time sponsors in the bronze category.
Meridian Kiwanis Club, Meridian Rotary Club, Mississippi Valley Gas, Ralph Morgan Logging, Inc., Rush Medical Group, Union Planters Bank, Community Bank, Lockheed Martin, Mitchell Companies, and ABL Management return as torchbearer sponsors, with a minimum donation of $1,000. First-time torchbearer sponsors include Specialty Roll Products, Jameson Inn, Judge Little Co., Bruister and Associates, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Great Southern National Bank.
State Games of Mississippi public relations and marketing director Leah Reed said many of the sponsors donate more than the minimum amount in each level.
Of the 39 sponsors, eight new businesses have contributed funds for this year's games.
The State Games will offer 28 events in 2004, with competitions being held on June 18-20 and June 24-27. Opening Ceremonies, which are also sponsored by Rush Hospital, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on June 18 at Ray Stadium.
In its 13 years of existence, the State Games have grown from having 11 events that drew 1,800 athletes to 28 events that bring in 5,200 athletes.