Vandals Play Final Game At Van Memorial Stadium

The Van Vandals played their final game in Van Memorial Stadium last Friday night. The team will move into their new home for the 2009 season.

Van ISD is constructing an athletic complex just north of the high school as part of a school bond package that was passed by district voters in 2006.

Van Memorial Stadium was built in 1946 and was the site of many Vandal victories.

Several past coaches, who were a part of those victories, were on hand for the event Friday night and were honored prior to the game.

Wiley Warren was introduced and was the senior member of the group. At 86, he is the oldest living football coach that coached on the field at Van Memorial Stadium.

Malvin Fowler was an all-state running back for the Vandals and played in the first game that was played on the field. He went on to play college football at TCU and returned to Van in the spring of 1957 to assume the title of head football coach. He left Van for two years in the early 1960’s to become the head track coach and assistant football coach at TCU.

During this time, another outstanding Vandal football player, all-state running back Bobby Peters, came back to coach.

Fowler then returned to Van as head coach in 1964 where he coached for 28 years. The highlight of his coaching career was the state championship won by the Vandals in 1979. Coaching with Fowler at that time were Johnny Thompson, David Whiting and Mike Hill.

Following Fowler as head coach was David Goff. Goff also served as athletic director.

Current head coach Brady Pennington, came to Van as an assistant coach under Fowler in 1984. In 2002, he became head coach and athletic director.

Other key employees who played a major part of the success of the Vandals were Jerry Percifield, who coached in junior high school and prepared the players to be competitive in high school; Al Rholes, who served as athletic director for many years and Pete Piercefield, who faithfully led the chain gang. Piercefield was known for waving his cap to let all the Vandal fans know when the team had a first down.

In the 62-year history of the stadium, there have only been a few voices heard from the press box.

Superintendent J.E. Rhodes became the first announcer and held that position until his death in 1967. Tom Sherbert followed Rholes and Terry Waters has been calling the games since 1982.