Mercer Athletic Foundation Announces The 1892 Fund
8/6/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
The fund was established by the Abbott family.
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Athletic Foundation is proud to announce the creation of The 1892 Fund, established by a quartet of key individuals to commemorate the first college football game in the deep south featuring the Mercer Bears and the Georgia Bulldogs.
"The Abbott Family has helped Mercer's football program become positioned for long-term success by establishing The 1892 Fund," said Deputy AD and Director of the Mercer Athletic Foundation Brian Gerrity. "This endowment will become an important asset for Coach Cronic to continue to elevate the program."
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"Our program is incredibly thankful for the Abbott Family and their work to establish The 1892 Fund," said head football coach Drew Cronic, who will begin year two at the helm when the Bears host Point on Sept. 2. "They are truly helping raise the bar for our student-athletes. We appreciate their support and look forward to continuing to take positive strides on and off the field as we develop a championship program."
The fund was established by The Rev. Dr. Gary L. Abbott, Sr. (CLA '69), his wife, Billie Abbott (CLA '69), Louis Abbott, Jr (CLA '99) and his wife, Jana Abercrombie-Abbott. The fund enhances the football team's operating budget and the use of the funds are determined by both the head football coach and director of athletics.
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Louis is a 1999 Mercer graduate, and he and his wife, Jana have supported Mercer University and the Mercer Athletic Foundation for 20 years. They have been men's basketball courtside season ticket holders since 2011 and held football season tickets since the revival of the program in 2013. Louis is a founding partner of Roland Abbott & DeZoort Insurance, an independent insurance agency that offers a complete range of products for all insurance and financial needs.
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"Being a part of the Mercer athletic program while in school and now as an alumnus and fan, I wanted to give back to the program that invested in me," noted Louis. "Establishing The 1892 Fund for football is a great way to achieve this. Jana and I are excited about the fund and hope it brings momentum for other donors to help support our football team and the Mercer Athletic Foundation."
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Dr. Gary and Mrs. Billie Abbott are both 1969 graduates of the University. For more than 30 years, Dr. Abbott served as both pastor and interim pastor of nine congregations in Macon and surrounding areas. He retired in 2015 after 47 years of ordained ministry in the Baptist and Episcopal Churches. Billie served as an elementary school teacher for 15 years before serving as an elementary school counselor for 14 years. She retired from the Houston County School system in 2008. The Abbotts have supported Mercer University for nearly 40 years, making their first contribution in 1982. They began supporting the Mercer Athletic Foundation in 2016 and have had season tickets for both football and men's basketball since that time.
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"Since we are very much among the Mercer sports fan base, we thought something to strengthen the athletic program would be a good thing," said Dr. Abbott. "The rebirth of football at Mercer breathed new life into the athletic program, as well as the overall life of the University. The 1892 Fund for football is a great opportunity for us, and also for others to be able to join us and help support the athletic program."
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A celebration event that kicks off the 2021 Mercer Bears football season and celebrates the establishment of The 1892 Fund will take place at the Drake Fieldhouse on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. Coach Cronic will make remarks and a barbecue dinner will be served. Admission is free to all guests, and anyone who makes a gift to The 1892 Fund during the event, regardless of size, will be entered to win a special prize. Attendees must RSVP to Assistant Director of Development Bryan Hirt at (478) 301-4017 or hirt_bt@mercer.edu by Aug. 20.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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"The Abbott Family has helped Mercer's football program become positioned for long-term success by establishing The 1892 Fund," said Deputy AD and Director of the Mercer Athletic Foundation Brian Gerrity. "This endowment will become an important asset for Coach Cronic to continue to elevate the program."
Â
"Our program is incredibly thankful for the Abbott Family and their work to establish The 1892 Fund," said head football coach Drew Cronic, who will begin year two at the helm when the Bears host Point on Sept. 2. "They are truly helping raise the bar for our student-athletes. We appreciate their support and look forward to continuing to take positive strides on and off the field as we develop a championship program."
The fund was established by The Rev. Dr. Gary L. Abbott, Sr. (CLA '69), his wife, Billie Abbott (CLA '69), Louis Abbott, Jr (CLA '99) and his wife, Jana Abercrombie-Abbott. The fund enhances the football team's operating budget and the use of the funds are determined by both the head football coach and director of athletics.
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Louis is a 1999 Mercer graduate, and he and his wife, Jana have supported Mercer University and the Mercer Athletic Foundation for 20 years. They have been men's basketball courtside season ticket holders since 2011 and held football season tickets since the revival of the program in 2013. Louis is a founding partner of Roland Abbott & DeZoort Insurance, an independent insurance agency that offers a complete range of products for all insurance and financial needs.
Â
"Being a part of the Mercer athletic program while in school and now as an alumnus and fan, I wanted to give back to the program that invested in me," noted Louis. "Establishing The 1892 Fund for football is a great way to achieve this. Jana and I are excited about the fund and hope it brings momentum for other donors to help support our football team and the Mercer Athletic Foundation."
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Dr. Gary and Mrs. Billie Abbott are both 1969 graduates of the University. For more than 30 years, Dr. Abbott served as both pastor and interim pastor of nine congregations in Macon and surrounding areas. He retired in 2015 after 47 years of ordained ministry in the Baptist and Episcopal Churches. Billie served as an elementary school teacher for 15 years before serving as an elementary school counselor for 14 years. She retired from the Houston County School system in 2008. The Abbotts have supported Mercer University for nearly 40 years, making their first contribution in 1982. They began supporting the Mercer Athletic Foundation in 2016 and have had season tickets for both football and men's basketball since that time.
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"Since we are very much among the Mercer sports fan base, we thought something to strengthen the athletic program would be a good thing," said Dr. Abbott. "The rebirth of football at Mercer breathed new life into the athletic program, as well as the overall life of the University. The 1892 Fund for football is a great opportunity for us, and also for others to be able to join us and help support the athletic program."
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A celebration event that kicks off the 2021 Mercer Bears football season and celebrates the establishment of The 1892 Fund will take place at the Drake Fieldhouse on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. Coach Cronic will make remarks and a barbecue dinner will be served. Admission is free to all guests, and anyone who makes a gift to The 1892 Fund during the event, regardless of size, will be entered to win a special prize. Attendees must RSVP to Assistant Director of Development Bryan Hirt at (478) 301-4017 or hirt_bt@mercer.edu by Aug. 20.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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