MARIETTA – When a tornado swept through Hattiesburg, Miss., in 2013, the destruction included the athletic facilities at Oak Grove High School.

But through a partnership between football star Bret Favre and Grimm Scientific of Marietta, new top-notch equipment has now been installed.

Grimm Scientific has been working with school officials and Favre, who played for the Green Bay Packers, in Hattiesburg is Favre’s hometown.

Grimm Scientific serves the sports medicine/athletic training market, said President Joe Grimm. The company provides cryo-compression, paraffin baths and hydrotherapy devices, like the one that was installed at Oak Grove High School.

In addition, Grimm said a second company, Ready Ref produces play clocks and timers for referees. Grimm said knowing the head athletic trainer with the Packers gave the company an opportunity to help.

“One day (Pepper Burruss) called me up and said, ‘You’re going to get a call from Brett Favre. It’ll really be him, so take the call,'” said Grimm. “We worked with (Favre) to get this done. I thought it was such a great thing that he did.”

Not only was Favre ready to champion his hometown in its time of need, he set up a foundation to help raise funds to pay for a new facility.

“Football is awesome down there in Mississippi,” Grimm said. “It was a fun experience; there’s a big contrast with Southeastern Ohio football. We don’t hold it in such high esteem.”

Oak Grove’s Head Athletic Trainer Kevin Mauldin said the process ran very smoothly.

“It was a big deal,” he remarked. “Joe was great to come down to look at the facility. He’s a super guy to work with, very personable…It is neat for the high school to have something like this; Joe did a good job helping us put it in this facility.”

Not only has Grimm Scientific helped out at high schools like Oak Grove, the company has provided equipment for schools like Marietta College, Florida State University, University of California Berkeley and The Ohio State University.

Grimm got to spend about an hour with Favre.

“He’s down to earth; he doesn’t put on any airs,” said Grimm. “What a great guy.”

This is the first project like this Grimm Scientific has participated in, and Grimm said it was eye opening.

“I was just very impressed that the young people, athletic trainers (and others) were first class people; they just worked together,” he said. “When Pepper called and I found out what they were doing and what the situation was, it moved me.”

While the first part of the facility is complete, Mauldin said another phase will include other sports.

“Phase Two will be cross country, soccer and a film room,” he said. “We’re still waiting on that; we’re trying to raise the money for that. We’ve got some of it started. Hopefully by next year, it will be accomplished.”

Mauldin said it’s been rough going for some time, but things are looking up with the first phase completion at the facility.