Home of the Lions: Memorial Stadium Celebrates 75 Years of History, Success
The historic home ground of Lion Football and Lion Track and Field has hosted some of the university's most memorable moments.
East Texas A&M University is celebrating two historic anniversaries during the 2025-26 academic year: the 75th anniversary of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025, and the 75th anniversary of the Field House on Jan. 4, 2026.
In commemoration of the first historic occasion, we are looking back through the decades to reminisce about the moments that make this iconic stadium special. At the end of the year, we'll do the same for the Field House. We hope you enjoy a deep dive into the history of our storied venues!
A Texas Sports Venue Overflowing with History
Throughout Memorial Stadium's history, the Victory Bell has tolled hundreds of times to announce Lion Football wins. In more than 380 games, the team has achieved 240 victories, 138 losses and eight ties, for a winning percentage of more than 63%. This includes 12 seasons where the Lions did not lose a single game at Memorial.
The idea for Memorial Stadium was first conceived as a tribute to the university's war dead in 1945. With this vision, the venue was an answer to two major needs: the need for a new athletic facility to replace the inadequate football field, and the need to properly memorialize the 78 current and former students who lost their lives in proud service to their country during World War II.
With funds raised by the Ex-Students Association, as well as additional state funding, Memorial Stadium was constructed for $300,000 and completed in 1950. The names of the fallen, as well as these words from General Douglas MacArthur, are enshrined on the front façade of the stadium to this day: “Upon the fields of friendly strife, are sown the seeds that, on other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”
Upon opening, Memorial Stadium boasted a capacity of 12,000 fans and featured an eight-lane track that ran around the outside of the football field.
Today, the stadium can hold 11,582 fans and features a FieldTurf surface, the President's suite, a Daktronics video board and sound system installed in 2020, and the “We Are Lions Lounge,” which hosts former letterwinners and Lion Champions Fund donors during games. The football field was named for legendary coach Ernest Hawkins in 2017. The Champions Center, completed in 2020, sits at the northeast end of the stadium and serves as the locker facilities for Lion Football.
The 1950s: A decade of success
During the 1950s, the Lions had several of their most successful campaigns in school history, going undefeated in 1952 and '53, as well as compiling a record of 27-3 from 1957 to '59. The decade also saw ET grab three victories and a tie in the postseason Tangerine Bowl, a game still played today as the Citrus Bowl. The Lions captured at least a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship in all but two seasons during the decade.
Legendary Lions
All-Americans who played for the Lions during this period include Daniel “Bruno” Ashley, Dean Hesse, “Stumblin'” Sam McCord and Norman Roberts. Legendary coaches Bob Berry, M.A. “Catfish” Smith and J.V. Sikes coached the Lions to a record of 33-11-4 in games played at Memorial, achieving a winning percentage of 72% during the decade.
Blazing trails on the track
The Lions were also dominant on the track, which was also hosted at Memorial Stadium. Like the football team, ET's Men's Track and Field teams won the LSC Championship all but two years of the decade. Several individual tracksters took home conference championships, including Jerry Cook, a four-time hurdles champion, Sid “The Jet” Garton, who was named The Dallas Morning News' collegiate freshman of the state and won the 1959 NAIA Championship in the 220-yard dash and the 880-yard run, and Roy “Buddy” McKee, who was undefeated in LSC hurdles competitions in the latter part of the decade.
The 1960s: The arrival of a legendary coach
The 1960s at Memorial Stadium witnessed the passage of numerous world-class athletes through its gates. While the Lions failed to replicate their soaring successes of the previous decade, the building blocks for a championship-winning team were carefully assembled. The first significant event was the arrival of Coach Ernest Hawkins in 1963. Hawkins would go on to amass over 130 victories and a National Title in 22 seasons at the helm, and Memorial Stadium's field would bear his name beginning in 2017.
Legendary Lions
Standout football athletes of the decade who earned All-American honors include Chadwick Brown, Orville Hudson, “King” Arthur James and William “Dub” Lewis. Another noteworthy Lion from this decade is Dwight White, who went on to a 10-year career in the National Football League, during which he won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also suiting up for the Lions in the 60s was Jim Thrower, a Lion Hall of Famer and the namesake of the university's Thrower Center for Student-Athlete Success. Overall, Lion Football posted a winning percentage of 65% in games played at Memorial Stadium during this decade. The Lions won Conference Championships in 1966 and 1969.
Blazing trails on the track
Not to be overlooked, Lion tracksters had serious success during the 60s as well. Distance runners Bridges Ballowe, Morris Kyser, R.L. Lasater and Ronnie McNeil were named All-Americans in 1964, and future Olympian John Carlos set blazing times around the track for the Lions in 1967. ET were LSC Champs in Men's Track and Field five times during the 60s, including four straight seasons from 1964-67.
The 1970s: A Champion Arises
The culmination of years of building a championship roster finally arrived on Dec. 9, 1972, as the victorious Lions lifted the NAIA National Championship trophy in front of the home crowd on a cold, wet afternoon at Memorial Stadium. This marked the football program's first national title.
While the rest of the decade saw less success overall as the Lions battled through fierce competition in the Lone Star Conference, the Lions still made Memorial Stadium one of the toughest places to play in the nation. Despite an overall winning percentage of 60% during the decade, ET won more than 76% of its games in the friendly confines of Memorial, its highest home winning percentage of any decade since the stadium opened in 1950.
Significant changes occurred at the stadium during this decade. In 1973, the press box was renovated, leading to the creation of the President's Suite. In 1978, the original visitor-side grandstands were removed and replaced with tennis courts.
Legendary Lions
All-Americans who took the field for the Lions in the 70s include Autry Beamon, Tim Collier, Harvey Martin, Kenneth Parks, Curtis Wester and Wade Wilson. Martin went on to a stellar decade-long NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys that saw him win league Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1977, as well as Co-MVP of Super Bowl XII. Wilson went on to a 17-year pro career, which included a Pro Bowl selection in 1988 and a championship victory in Super Bowl XXX.
Blazing trails on the track
On the track, a highlight of the decade was Dennis Dyce, who was a Lone Star Conference Champion in the 440-yard dash and competed for Jamaica at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
The 1980s: The end of an era
ET kicked off the 80s with a trip to the NAIA National Semifinals, led by All-American quarterback Wade Wilson in his senior season. While the Lions couldn't move on to the championship game, it still signaled a strong start to the decade. The Lions would add another LSC Championship to the trophy case in 1983 under future NFL quarterback Kyle Mackey. However, these successes wouldn't last much longer as the Lions and the rest of the LSC transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
Legendary coach Ernest Hawkins would retire following the 1985 season, leaving an indelible mark on Lion Football as the winningest coach in program history. His 132 victories still stand as the all-time mark to this day. While the next few years would see the Lions endure several losing seasons, the foundation was laid for a resurgence to prominence in the Lone Star Conference the following decade.
Legendary Lions
ET won 58% of its games at Memorial Stadium during the 1980s, which was its lowest percentage out of any decade to that point. However, stars like Mackey, Gary Compton and All-Americans Cary Noiel and Alan Veingrad wowed crowds in Commerce through many a fall semester.
Blazing trails on the track
On the track, the Lions dominated the 80s, especially in distance running. Men's Track All-Americans from this decade include Bobby Bankston, Spiro Kokkinos, Donald Rolle and Wes Smith in the 4x400m relay, Bankston in the 100m dash and 110m hurdles, Samson Obwocha in the 1,500m run, 5,000m run and 3,000m steeplechase, and Agapius Amo in the 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m run and 10,000m run.
The decade also saw the advent of Women's Track and Field at ET. Women's Track All Americans during the decade include Maria Mitchell in the 100m hurdles and Jackie Alford in the Heptathlon.
The 1990s: Back in contention
The early 90s saw a return to prominence for Lion Football under the leadership of Eddie Vowell, which began with a Lone Star Conference Championship and the program's first trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 1990. The Lions also reached the postseason in 1991 and 1995.
The year 1996 brought significant changes university-wide, as ET joined The Texas A&M University System and was renamed Texas A&M University-Commerce. Following a winning season in the first year of the A&M-Commerce era, the Lions struggled in the latter half of the decade. Regardless, the football program still held a strong record of success at home, with a 67%-win rate in games played at Memorial Stadium in the last decade before the turn of the millennium.
Legendary Lions
Lion All-Americans during this era include Terry Bagsby, Kevin Mathis, Dwayne Phorne, Eric Turner, Billy Watkins, Antonio Wilson and Fred Woods. Other notable stars include Anthony Brooks, Cole Cayce, Bobby Bounds, and current Lion Head Coach Clint Dolezel, who went on to a 13-year career in the Arena Football League, winning ArenaBowl Championships as both a player and head coach.
Blazing trails on the track
The lone All-American in track for the Lions this decade was Chris Barnes, who received the honor in the Men's 200m dash in 1990.
The 2000s: Stumbling into the new millennium
While the first half of the new millennium saw Lion Football struggle to lead the pack in the LSC, the team rebounded to a more respectable record in the second half. The Lions didn't come away with a Lone Star Conference title during a decade for the first time, but with the split of the conference into divisions in 1997, A&M-Commerce had another chance to win some hardware. The Lions were LSC North Division Champions in 2007 and 2009.
Despite some rough campaigns, Lion Football still managed to put on a good show at home. The team finished the decade with a 25-25 record at Memorial Stadium, the first decade in which the Lions did not post a winning home record but still avoided a losing decade.
Legendary Lions
All-Americans who starred for the Lions after the turn of the millennium include Chris Miller, J.D. Hearn, Darvin Peterson, Ricky Hope and William Green.
Blazing trails on the track
On the track, the Lions saw great success. All-American Men's runners include Tommie Jemerson, Cornelius Price, Delrick Taylor, Joel Tudman, DeMarques Price, Greg Strickland and Danny Cobbin in relays, and decathlete Ben Botello. Kari Jefferson received All-American honors in the Women's 100m dash in 2004.
Facility-wise, Memorial Stadium's long-removed visitor stands were rebuilt at the very end of the decade, giving the stadium its current appearance.
The 2010s: Lions take it to the top
The resurgence of Lion Football was in full force in the 2010s. After a tumultuous start to the decade with back-to-back 1-9 seasons, the hiring of coach Colby Carthel in 2013 breathed new life into the program, and the turnaround was almost instant, going from 1-9 to 7-5 in one season. The period was marked by three consecutive LSC Championships from 2014 to 2016, and a return to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since 1995.
The rise in success culminated in what Lion fans had been hoping for since 1972: a championship-winning squad. With the arrival of quarterback Luis Perez in 2016, the stage was set for the team to make a deep playoff run. Memorial Stadium saw its biggest game since the 1972 championship on Dec. 9, 2017, the 45th anniversary of the Lions' lone national title. In front of more than 10,000 fans, the Lions earned a trip to the NCAA Division II title game the following week in Kansas City, which they won, making Lion Football only the second program ever to win both an NAIA and NCAA Division II National Championship.
On top of All-American honors, Perez was named the 2017 Harlon Hill Award winner as the best player in all of Division II. He has since gone on to a decorated career in numerous spring football leagues and won an XFL Championship in 2023 with the Arlington Renegades.
Legendary Lions
Other All-Americans from the decade include Charlie Tuaau, Vernon Johnson, Richard Cooper, Hector Dominguez, Jared Machorro, Dominique Ramsey, Michael Onuoha and Kristov Martinez. Overall, the Lions amassed a winning percentage of 68% in games played at Memorial Stadium in the 2010s.
Blazing trails on the track
The Lions also dominated on the track in the 2010s. Men's All-Americans in Lion Track include distance runner Luis “Ricky” Romero, decathletes Matt Rich and Florian Obst, David Rollins, Malcolm Woods, Dionte Taylor, Reggie Kincaide and Devon Sanders, and Rashard Clark in relays, DJ Richardson in the 400m hurdles, and Clark in the 200m and 400m.
Women's Track All-Americans include Minna Svaerd, Joy Spann, Ro'Nisha Simpson and Kamryn McKee in the relays, Svaerd in the 400m hurdles, McKee in the 400m, and Eboni Coby in the 100m and 200m.
The 2020s: The beginning of the D1 era
For the first time in 70 years, Lion Football did not set foot in Memorial Stadium to play, as the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 return would be a historic one, as it would mark the Lions' last campaign as part of NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference, of which it was a founding member. The year 2022 saw the Lions make the move to Division I and the Football Championship Subdivision in the Southland Conference, reuniting the program with several old foes, some of whom the Lions hadn't welcomed to Memorial in many years.
While the decade is only half over, plenty of memories have already been made at the venerable old stomping grounds. The first homecoming game as a Division I program in 2022 saw the Lions trounce the visiting Houston Christian Huskies. In 2024, the university returned to its roots with a name change to East Texas A&M University. The name change took effect on Nov. 7, 2024, and just two days later, the Lions welcomed their old rival, SFA, to Memorial and defeated the Lumberjacks, making an emphatic announcement that “ET is Back.”
Legendary Lions
The Lions have managed just a 40%-win rate at home in the few seasons of the 2020s but look to finish the decade strong. All-Americans of the 2020s include Dominique Ramsey and Brandon Tucker.
Blazing trails on the track
On the track, the Lions continue the success of the last decade. In May 2023, Memorial Stadium hosted the Southland Conference Track and Field Championships for the first time, during which the Lions won six gold medals.
Men's track All-Americans include Malcolm Woods, J.T. Smith, Delan Edwin, Andre Norman, and Cameron Macon. While the Lions weren't eligible for All-American awards during their Division I transition period, which ended in Summer 2025, other standout athletes and conference champions from that time include Ibrahim Fuseini, Enoch Fosuhene, Philip Krenek, Oguz Uyar and Tyke Owens.
Women's track All-Americans include Minna Svaerd, Ro'Nisha Simspon, Danielle Nicholson, Atiana Alexander, Mariana Shostak, Sofia Khenfar and Naomi Ndukwe. Other standouts during the transition period include Leah Pettis and Kiara Brown.
In Summer 2024, Fuseini, Shostak and thrower Joe Brown showcased the university on an international stage at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, representing Ghana, Ukraine and the United States, respectively.
Looking toward the future
With the move to NCAA Division I, the future of Memorial Stadium looks bright as the games are bigger and the stakes are higher. Looking forward, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Field House in January 2026. To learn more about Lion Athletics at East Texas A&M, visit etamu.edu/LionsAthletics.