BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – (January 11, 2010) ─ Turface Athletics™ is pleased to award the Terry Mellor Continuing Education Grant, sponsored by SAFE, to Eddie Atherton, grounds manager for the city of Owensboro, Ky.

In partnership with The SAFE Foundation, Turface Athletics awarded a $1,000 grant to help fund a portion of the attendance to the 21st annual STMA Conference and Exhibition held January 12-16, 2010, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. In addition to a complimentary conference registration, Mr. Atherton will be recognized at the STMA’s annual Awards Banquet held on January 15, 2010.

“I feel very honored to be chosen as the recipient of this grant and what it stands for, “said Atherton. He continued, “…any time an individual in our industry can participate in a program like this that puts you in the company of so many other professionals, you stand to gain. We have a duty to take what we learn from these programs and share that information with others. We are all in this game together, and if I can help someone avoid or correct a challenge, then I have made a positive contribution to someone else and they can pass it on.”

This award serves as a remembrance of Terry Mellor, brother of long time professional groundskeeper David R. Mellor, current director of grounds with the Boston Red Sox. This scholarship continues the commitment to professional development through continuing education, a philosophy shared by the Mellor brothers and Turface Athletics.

“We are delighted to again participate,” said Jeff Langner, Turface’s brand manager. “Turface Athletics has long been a presenting sponsor of this award supporting continued education in the area of field maintenance.”

Atherton oversees all the parks and public grounds for the city of Owensboro including athletic fields, general use areas, right-of-ways, basins, and playgrounds. In total, he is responsible for mowing more than 520 acres weekly with an additional 250 acres monthly, as well as responsibility for tree and snow removal throughout the city.

The University of Kentucky’s Assistant Sports Turf Manager Marcus Dean, CSFM, nominated Atherton. Dean’s letter of recommendation included the following, “He has taught me how to do more with less on numerous horticultural items. I have so much confidence in his knowledge that I call on him if I have any horticulture questions. His (Atherton) athletic fields are still the best Parks and Recreation fields in the state.” STMA Chief Executive Officer Kim Heck added, “The SAFE Foundation is very pleased to award this grant for continuing education and to honor the memory of Terry Mellor. This is the first award of this type offered through SAFE, and Eddie Atherton is a very deserving winner.”

About Profile Products

Based in Buffalo Grove, Ill., PROFILE Products LLC produces a comprehensive line of products for soil modification, erosion control and plant establishment. Profile’s industry-leading products and knowledge resources are housed in three primary businesses. The Turface Athletics™ line of products and services maximize sports field safety and performance. Profile Golf™ products and resources help golf course architects, builders and superintendents find the most effective solutions for both maintenance and construction. Profile Erosion Control Solutions (PECS™) encompasses a wide range of products to prevent erosion and establish vegetation for the golf course, transportation, landfill and commercial and residential markets. For more information about Profile Products, call (800) 207-6457 or visit www.profileproducts.com.

About SAFE

The SAFE Foundation (The Foundation for Safer Athletic Field Environments) is the charitable arm of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA). It was formed to provide funds for research, scholarship, and education to help sports turf managers with the challenges they face in managing athletic fields.