I don't see why this subject finds its way on this board so often. Yes, I am among those who thinks that the stadium should have been named after someone who history has looked kindly on (my choice was Coach Smith). However, there are a few truths that I think most of us who speak to this issue have. First, I am not nor have I ever been a resident of the Beaumont ISD. I have never voted in a board election there nor have I ever paid school district property taxes. If it were different, I might feel entitled to gripe, but I don't. Second, the current name of the stadium was given to it by a duly elected board of trustees which, at the time anyway, was recognized as the right and lawful board by the State of Texas. Third, a lawful Board of Managers appointed by the State of Texas has, and rightfully so, determined that there are more pressing matters within the BISD than the name of the district's football stadium.
Look folks, I know that the issues that have plagued the BISD are fresh in our minds, but in a generation or so, no one in this area will have any more of an idea who Butch Thomas was than folks in Baytown now have as to who Bill Stallworth was, folks in Katy now have who Jack Rhodes was or folks in Conroe have now who Buddy Moorhead was.