Since 1919, WLHS football games had been played at the fairgrounds. That changed in 1950.
Memorial Athletic Field, named in honor of those men and women who served in World Wars I and II, came about as the result of a lot of hard work and donations from the people of West Liberty and others. With the help of community chair and then mayor Harold Keele, the project began after the war. The land at the corner of Maxson and Elm, previously a cornfield, was purchased in October 1947 by the school district. Waldo Myers, West Liberty city manager at the time, did the surveying.
After the six acre site was purchased, a construction company from Clinton did the initial grading. Several local farmers and businessmen helped with this. Approximately 17,000 cubic yards of dirt had to be moved.
Volunteers helped with a house to house and farm to farm canvas to raise funds. A significant contribution was made by our West Liberty American Legion Post #509.
The project also included installation of drain tile under the field, reseeding, installing lights and a scoreboard.
Hubert Cline, a school board member then, went around to other athletic fields in the state, looking for the best lights for West Liberty’s field.
The West Liberty Booster Club played a vital role in the project, and the bleachers from the old softball association were used at the new football field.
The dedication ceremony was held Sept. 15, 1950, with the high school band and Officers Reserve Corps leading the procession onto the field. Also participating in the ceremony was our American Legion, and Thorne Henderson gave a brief dedication address and the bugler sounded Assembly. As the flag was raised over the field, the band played ‘The Star Spangled Banner’.
Between the third and fourth quarters of the West Liberty-Winfield game, the flag was lowered as the bugler sounded Retreat Call.
Almost 2,000 attendees were present that night, who watched the West Liberty Comets defeat the Winfield Wolves 12-7. After years of playing in daylight hours at the fairgrounds, West Liberty players could finally look forward to playing on a field without cow pies and under the illumination of bright lights.
In the mid-1980s, an effort began in part by Dr. John Carey, which ultimately resulted in a sign bearing the field’s name. Up to this point, there had been no signage. An appeal was made to local service organizations, with WL Boosters and Lions Club becoming involved.
Thirty-nine years after the field’s dedication, in August 1989, the sign went up. The Lions Club painted the crow’s nest and the Booster Club put up blue letters reading “Memorial Athletic Field” on the back.
Decades ago, softball tourneys were held at Memorial Athletic Field on the Fourth of July, along with the annual free fireworks display.
Soon, West Liberty will have a brand new football arena across the street by the high school.