Miami Establishes Ron Fraser Wizard Fund
CORAL GABLES, Fla. —In recognition of his lifetime accomplishments and a distinguished legacy ofhelping others, the University of Miami has created the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund tohonor the Hall of Fame coach with a bronze statue to be placed at Alex RodriguezPark.
Fraser coached the Hurricanes for 30 years from 1963-92. Whilenever posting a losing season, his teams won 1,271 games and captured the 1982and 1985 national titles. More than a hundred of Fraser’s ballplayers went onto professional baseball and many more started successful careers.
“Our entire family is deeply touched and excited aboutthe plans for a Ron Fraser statue,” said Coach Fraser’s wife Karen and hisdaughters Cynthia Fraser Beahn, Lynda Fraser Poorman and Elizabeth Fraser Krauton behalf of the Fraser family, “and that it will stand at the stadium thatalways represented his dedication, determination, pride and his deep love fornot only the game, but for his players, the University of Miami, the fans andthe entire South Florida community. This season will mark the 50th year that webecame a part of the U Family, so the timing could not be more perfect.”
The RonFraser statue will be located at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
“Coach Fraser’s love for the South Florida community is immeasurable, whichmakes the establishment of a community fund even more special,” said InterimDirector of Athletics Blake James. “There is no doubt in my mind that – when weunveil this statue – hundreds, if not thousands, of Fraser supporters will beresponsible for making this monument a reality.”
Friends and fans of the man nicknamed “The Wizard of CollegeBaseball” can make a contribution to the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund by clicking onthis link: DONATETO THE RON FRASER WIZARD FUND. All contributions are tax-deductible.
“Personally, I am very excited about this because CoachFraser is the most influential person in my career and the man who put collegebaseball on the map,” said University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris.”He is like a father to me, and I encourage Hurricane fans and college baseballfans to join me in making a contribution.”
Championship baseball aside, Fraser’s program was celebrated as much for its success at the box office and becoming the standard by whichother programs were judged. Aggressively promoting his Hurricanes and collegebaseball in lockstep, Fraser’s teams broke every school and national record forseason tickets sold, attendance and revenue, while college baseball grewexponentially in UM’s wake.
Following his retirement as a college baseball coach in1992, Fraser coached the U.S. national baseball team at the 1992 Summer Olympicsin Barcelona, chaired countless community and charity organizations, played apivotal role in bringing Major League Baseball to South Florida, and reveled inquality time with his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
“On the field and off, Ron Fraser showed how one man canmake a difference,” said James. “The University of Miami, South Florida andcollege baseball are all better because of him, and we invite his friends andfans to join us in thanking Coach Ron Fraser by supporting this magnificenttribute.”
Secure online contributions can be made by clicking here DONATETO THE RON FRASER WIZARD FUND. For more information, contact Rick Remmert,UM’s Director of Alumni Programs, at 305-284-9517, or by e-mail at r.remmert@miami.edu.
After all Ron Fraser did for the University of Miami, forSouth Florida and for college baseball, it is now time to thank him by helpingmake the Ron Fraser statue a reality.
