I worked with Richard during his time as Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Newberry, Florida and continue to work with him as a board member of the Gainesville Sports Commission. His ability to bring various organizations together to create common ground serves us well in the events we host and the visitors those events bring to our community.

Bruce Cribbs
President, Gainesville Sports Commission

The sports facility and program successes initiated by Richard Blalock were the major impetus to economic success in Newberry, Florida. The United States Olympic Committees recognition of the Easton/ Newberry Archery Center as an international training facility and the creation of the Nations (Champions) 16 field baseball facility led to multiple state and federal grants amounting to eleven million dollars in economic development incentives. Vision and commitment led to success.

Keith Ashby
City Manager, Retired, City of Newberry

Richard Blalock played an integral role in creating the public / private partnership between the City of Newberry and the Easton Sports Development Foundation. The agreement was to construct an international archery training facility and a public recreation center that became the Easton – Newberry Sports Complex. Since the facility opened Olympic teams from around the world have traveled to Newberry, Florida to train and the United States Olympic Committee has awarded the Community Olympic Development Program for Archery to the facility.

Robert Romero
Director of Coaching and Programs, Easton Sports Development Foundation