GOLDEN, Colo. - April 11 was Marv Kay Day in Colorado as the Colorado School of Mines honored Hall of Fame coach and administrator Marv Kay.

Both Colorado Governor Jared Polis and and Golden Mayor Marjorie Sloan declared April 11 as "Marv Kay Day" in the state of Colorado and the city of Golden; Kay was presented with proclamations in honor of both at a ceremony in the Student Recreation Center on Thursday. Joined by a packed crowd of staff, coaches, student-athletes, alumni, family, and friends, Mines also officially dedicated the pedestrian walkway that runs through campus as "Marv Kay Way." 

"I am really honored and pleased," Kay said. "There is a special place in my heart for all of you and there always will be here in the city and on campus."

Kay reflected on his career at Mines, which is notable for many reasons but perhaps none more significant than his role in the rise of the success of Mines' athletic program. "Today Mines athletics is by far the best program in the state, and one of the very best in the country," Kay said. "And it's because of all of us working together and pulling together."

Marv Kay Day was brought about by Mines and the Mines Foundation as a way to honor Kay for his decades of service to the school and community. It coincided with Kay's induction to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame last week. Kay has spent parts of six decades on campus, first as a student-athlete, and then as a coach, administrator, and fundraiser.

As a student-athlete, Kay competed in both football and wrestling, and was an all-American lineman in football. After graduating with a degree in engineering in 1963, Kay served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for two years before returning to Mines to coach swimming and football, and eventually became the head football coach in 1969. Over the next 26 years, he won a then-school-record 84 games (he still ranks second) and was the RMAC Coach of the Year in 1975 and 1979.

In 1995, Kay became Director of Athletics at Mines, a position he held until 2004. Under his guidance, the department began its journey to becoming one of the most successful in NCAA Division II as he laid the groundwork for the program's successes of the 2000's and 2010's, including transformative facility improvements. Since retiring as athletic director, Kay has continued to serve Mines as a fundraiser with the Mines Foundation, where he has been instrumental in helping Mines construct the Clear Creek Athletic Complex and increase scholarship funding. He received the Mines Medal for distinguished service in 2003 and was named the Faculty's Distinguished Lecturer in 2004.

Kay has also been influential in the community; he served as the mayor of Golden for eight years and on City Council for 12, and has been involved in many civic organizations over the years.

Perhaps the most enduring symbol of Kay's influence is the stadium that bears his name. Marv Kay Stadium opened in the fall of 2015 as the playing home of Mines football, and its strength and condition and athletic training centers have positively impacted all 18 Oredigger teams. The approximately $21 million stadium rebuild was funded through alumni donations in honor of Kay's legacy as a coach and educator. Since opening, Mines football holds a 20-3 record at home, one of the best home-field advantages in college football.