A. B. Morris Stadium

 (1937 - 1958)

The Wildcat Band marches in front of the stands of A. B. Morris Stadium in 1937. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

The stadium was named in honor of A. B. Morris, the first director of athletics from 1924 to 1969, head football coach from 1924-42, a faculty member and head basketball coach.

Design and Construction

A football stadium had been discussed off and on since moving to the new campus.  A fund raising campaign for a stadium was finally begun, and on November 5, 1936, the board instructed the stadium committee to let the contract.

On December 13, 1936, Mosher Steel Company of Dallas received the contract for the steel, and Abilene Machine Company received the contract to erect the stadium.  Work began that very afternoon to prepare the ground.

The stadium was located east of Bennett Gymnasium, across Avenue F (where the Mabee Business Building and parking lot are now located).  The stadium was 70 yards long and 16 rows high with a small pressbox on top.

The steel for the stadium arrived on January 6, 1937 and construction began.  By the September 30, 1937 issue of The Optimist, the stadium was nearing completion.  On October 14, 1937, administrators announced that the stadium would honor long-time coach and the first athletic director of Abilene Christian, A. B. "Bugs" Morris.

The dedication ceremony was October 23, 1937, and afterwards, the Wildcats played their first football game in their own stadium.

The stadium was erected at a cost of $7,319.45.  Gifts received for the stadium's construction totaled $5,507.29.

Stadium Diagram

The stadium contained:

• Bleachers
• Pressbox
• Football Field
• Track

Students help raise the goal posts of A. B. Morris Stadium in 1937. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

This photo shows A. B. Morris Stadium with its pressbox in 1937. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

A. B. Morris Stadium can be seen behind the tennis courts in this early 1940s photo, courtesy of Brown Library Special Collections.