A Brief History of War Memorial Stadium
Copyright © 2000-2006 by Keith Dover

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Historical Signage

As we have entered into the new millennium, many veterans and their loved ones would like to help the citizens of the Great State of Arkansas remember the many sacrifices made so that we may enjoy our freedoms and liberties today. Fifty-six years ago, Arkansas celebrated our nation’s victories in World War I and World War II by erecting a monument of lasting proportions to honor those who gave the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country.

War Memorial Stadium was dedicated on September 18, 1948, honoring the 4,634 Arkansans that lost their lives during World War I and World War II. Former Marine Corps Maj. Gen., and then Governor-designate Sid McMath and Mrs. Sid McMath, as well as Gov. and Mrs. Ben Laney were in the stands along with some 27,000 football fans. Forty area high school bands also performed music during the event. Fort Smith businessman and World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Maurice L. “Footsie” Britt delivered the dedication speech on that day as the Arkansas Razorbacks went on to defeat the Abilene Christian College Wildcats 40-6. McMath later noted in an interview that he had purchased the “first” bond that was issued to help build the War Memorial.

He, along with many other Armed Forces personnel including the 154th Fighter Squadron of the Arkansas Air National Guard, and an Honor Guard from M. M. Eberts American Legion Post #1 were on hand to dedicate one of the most, if not the most, important structures in the State of Arkansas erected in the memory of those Arkansans killed during the Great Wars of World War I and World War II.

The stadium was originally built for 31,000 fans, but has been expanded three different times to hold 53,727 fans. In recent years, construction projects have restored the first 10 rows (seven rows of bleachers and three rows of chair back seats) on both the east and west sides of the stadium. The north end zone concourse has also been totally renovated. Around War Memorial Stadium proudly fly multiple United States Flags donated by the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society of Little Rock in the fall of 2000.

A tradition began after that first game in 1948 where at least three (3) games were to be played in War Memorial Stadium annually, and the Razorbacks have done so every year except 1954, when they played only five (5) home games total. A television-quality lighting system and Astroturf were added to the stadium in 1969, along with new layers of artificial grass installed in both 1974 and 1984, however, the stadium returned to natural grass prior to the 1994 football season. The War Memorial Stadium press box was voted as “the best in the nation” by the Football Writer’s Association in 1974, an honor for both the facility and its services.

Currently, Arkansas has a record of 136 wins, 52 losses, and 3 tied games played at the bowl-shaped facility. The Hogs played their final Southwest Conference game at War Memorial Stadium on November 23, 1991, defeating Rice 20-0 before a crowd of 40,436 football fans. A stadium-record crowd of 55,912 was on hand to see eventual national champion Alabama defeat Arkansas 38-11, September 19, 1992.

An annual football contest known as “The Battle of the Boot,” denoting the geographic outline of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana, is held annually between the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers. The contest is traditionally held every other year at War Memorial Stadium, alternating with the LSU Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The contest began in 1996 and LSU leads the annual match up 7-3 as of the end of the 2005 regular season.

There have been many events in War Memorial Stadium to include a performance of the Battle Color Detachment of the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and Silent Drill Platoon. In May of 2004, amidst rows of hand-held U.S. Flags, American Legion and VFW caps, sharply dressed Boy Scouts and military service personnel, Arkansans came together to pay tribute to the “Greatest Generation,” the Arkansas Veterans of World War II. In a huge showing of gratitude, a gathering of several hundred Arkansas citizens were on hand to give thanks to these World War II Heroes. The event was sponsored by American Legion Post #1 in Little Rock (the same Veterans Organization whose Honor Guard and Drill Team are shown in the 1948 photos above), in cooperation with the Arkansas Veterans Coalition and the Boy Scouts of America, to coincide with the WWII Memorial Dedication in Washington, DC.

The most notable recent event was the “Welcome Home Arkansas Heroes,” held May 21, 2005, honoring citizen-soldiers from the guard and reserve including soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. This ceremony included members of the 39th Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard, following their 18-month tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Another recent event was held in November of 2005 as a War Memorial Stadium record was set when some 25,000+ people attended the Class AAAAA State Football Championship Game between the Springdale Bulldogs and the West Memphis Blue Devils. Springdale won the game and Class AAAAA State Football Championship title by defeating their opponent 54-20, the highest-ever State Football Championship Game point total of that classification at the time.

Other past events include the Rev. Billy Graham Crusade, music groups such as the Eagles, George Strait, and the Rolling Stones. Other collegiate sporting events held year-round include football games from other Arkansas colleges and universities, as well as the Arkansas State High School Football Championships. Many special events have also been held on the stadium grounds and parking areas to benefit such charities as the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Easter Seals, Little Rock Civitans and many more.

In June of 1997, the War Memorial Stadium Commission began selling memorial bricks to be placed on the east and west sidewalk entrances, and will eventually surround the facility. These bricks both immortalize and honor those veterans who have made the sacrifices of serving their country, and help make the stadium fill the requirement of being an “honored” monument, thus making it an actual War Memorial. The stadium will continue to be treated as other such War Memorials, Military Cemeteries or monuments in the State of Arkansas and in the United States of America.

The historic signage on the east and west sides of War Memorial Stadium began restorations in 2004 (see photo) as an initiative from the Little Rock Civitan Club, a local volunteer community-service and civic organization with members that work the concessions on the southwest corner of the stadium at all home Razorback Games. The actual restoration was completed by Randal Hall of Little Rock in the summer of 2006.

Through the years, War Memorial Stadium has been visited by thousands of people, fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the founders responsible for its existence, to not only be a place to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices made by the men and women of the Great Wars, World War I (1917-1918), and World War II (1941-1945), but to provide a sense of loyalty and patriotism to younger generations for years to come by giving them a place to do so…in or on the Honored Grounds of War Memorial Stadium.

A more lengthy written history of War Memorial Stadium is being prepared by Keith Dover of Little Rock. If you have any War Memorial Stadium information, photographs, memorabilia or souvenirs that will help preserve this important part of Arkansas History, or if you know someone that does, please contact Keith Dover at KDover@SPP.org or War Memorial Stadium at 501-663-6385.

* Note - Some of the information contained herein was obtained from the War Memorial Stadium Staff, the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, old newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, programs and photographs stored in historical archives.

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