INDUSTRY NEWS
Murray Cook inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Murray Cook, president of Bright- View’ s Sports Turf division, was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2025 in a ceremony on April 26 in Virginia Beach. A native of Salem, Va., Cook’ s career in sports field design, construction and management has left an indelible mark on fields worldwide.
“ I’ ve been fortunate to work with amazing teams and organizations that have allowed me to build fields in some of the most unique and historic locations,” Cook said.“ This honor is not just mine, but it also belongs to everyone who has supported my dreams and has worked alongside me throughout my career.”
Cook began his journey into sports turf and field management at the age of 13 as a bat boy for the single-A Salem Pirates. He went on to become the head groundskeeper in 1975. In 1991, he was appointed as Major League
Baseball’ s Official Field Consultant, a role in which he has overseen the development of playing surfaces in more than 60 countries. His expertise has been instrumental in high-profile projects such as the MLB at Field of Dreams games in Iowa, the London Series at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the recent renovations at historic Rickwood Field in Alabama, and the upcoming MLB Speedway Classic in Tennessee.
In recognition of his numerous contributions and astounding work, Cook was inducted into the Salem- Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, and in 2021 the Salem City Council proclaimed every September 27 as“ Murray Cook Day.” He has also previously been named as the 1991 SportsTurf Man of the Year, and served as the president of the Sports Turf Managers Association( now known as the Sports Field Management Association).
“ It’ s truly an honor to be recognized by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame,” said Cook.“ Growing up here in the Roanoke Valley, I never imagined shagging baseballs as a kid would take me around the world as it has. I want to thank my family, friends, colleagues and mentors who have helped me throughout my career. Without them, I wouldn’ t be standing here today. Their support is everything.”
The 2025 class also included basketball player and current NBA referee Brandon Adair, broadcaster Dan Bonner, former NFL and Canadian Football League player Ed George, former professional soccer player Ali Krieger, sportswriter Harry Minium Jr., former NBA player Joe Smith, high school football coach Mike Smith, and former MLB player Lou Whitaker.
2025 Bill Rose Scholarship recipients announced
The Bill Rose Foundation— formed in memory and honor of Bill Rose, the founder of Pure Seed, Roselawn and Pure-Seed Testing— is determined to continue innovation in the turfgrass industry through support of students and academic research programs across the United States. The Foundation recently announced its 2025 Travel Scholarship winners.
BRYNNA BRUXELLAS, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY Brynna Bruxellas grew up in Falls City, Nebraska and earned her B. A. in Geography from Concordia University-Nebraska, with minors in Geospatial Technology and Environmental Studies. She graduated with honors while also playing for the women’ s basketball team and serving as the Rotaract Club president. Her interests in agriculture and technology, paired with her passion for knowledge led her to N. C. State University in the summer of 2023. Brynna is currently pursuing her master’ s in Crop Science and is conducting research on the use of artificial intelligence and drones to help measure and characterize turfgrass quality. At NC-State, Brynna has engaged with the academic community, presenting her research at conferences including the 2024 Carolinas Golf Superintendent Association Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC. Brynna will be graduating in the spring of 2025 with a degree in Crop Science, a Data Science Certificate, and GIS Minor.
40 SportsField Management | June 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com