The new Charles A. Harding Memorial Stadium and Robert Shaker / Class of 1972 Press Box were formally dedicated on the evening of September 2, 2005, preceding the first game of the 2005 Bulldog football season, in front of a capacity crowd. On hand for the special dedication ceremony were the generous donors who made possible the renovation of the stadium facility without the use of any taxpayer dollars. These donors included Amelia and Clara Harding, Fred Shaker and his family, the Olmsted Falls Athletic Boosters, and the Olmsted Falls Alumni Association.

Stadium renovations include an archway at the entrance, new bleachers for the home fans, and a state-of-the-art press box and sound system. The new facility also features a stone wall in the flag court, located just beyond the stadium entrance, which is adorned with commemorative plaques dedicated to preserving the memory of those after which the facility is named and to acknowledging the generous donors who made the renovations possible.

The evening’s festivities also included a special appearance by Sergeant First Class Dana Bowman, a former member of the U.S. Army’s elite parachute team The Golden Knights, who lost his legs in a mid-air collision during an annual training mission in 1994. Sergeant Bowman dazzled the crowd as he parachuted in with the official game ball – just one of more than 1,000 jumps he has made since the accident.

Other special guests in attendance for the dedication ceremony included Olmsted Falls Mayor Robert Blomquist, City Councilmembers Ann Marie Donegan, Kathleen Fenderbosch and Garry Thompson, and Olmsted Township Trustee Ted Fink.