On a crisp Thursday, Marietta College football players and community volunteers gathered at Oak Grove Cemetery to tackle a pressing infrastructure problem after recent rainstorms had shifted soil and scattered debris across the historic grounds.
A Legacy of Service
Roger Kalter, a lifelong Marietta resident, has been volunteering in the cemetery since 1991, most recently leading a cleanup 15 years ago that reset over 330 headstones.
The effort brought together 112 players and 13 coaches and staff, among them Austin Cordova and Andrew Puckett, who cleared a 230‑foot strip of brick sidewalk and repaired the drainage systems that protect the cemetery’s historic bricks.
Local businesses contributed tools and equipment, with donations from Bridgeport Equipment, Greenleaf Landscapes, Miller Memorials and Marietta College Facilities, highlighting a collaborative community response.
Coach’s Vision
Head Coach Tom Hinkle, who once served as a student volunteer, emphasized that the project teaches life‑skill lessons and reinforces the team’s commitment to community stewardship.
Kalter described his motivation as a simple love for the community and a desire to make it a better place, while Hinkle hopes the players’ service will inspire future generations to connect with their hometown through similar acts.