Bruce Field

The man the field honors spent most of his career elsewhere. Tarleton State's library history says William Herschal Bruce began teaching at nineteen, earned a mathematics degree at Alabama A and M, came to Texas in 1885 and led Blanco High School for nine years. He ran the public schools at Marble Falls from 1893 and Athens from 1896, where a new school was to bear his name until he became first president of John Tarleton College in 1898. He later taught at the Denton teachers college, led it from 1922 to 1923 and published five textbooks.

What the plaque says

Bruce Field As the focal point of Athens schools and athletics, Bruce Field has served the community since 1922. Bruce Academy, a leading educational institution at the turn of the 20th century, was established in 1898. Both the school and sports field on the site were named for Dr. William Herschel Bruce, a prominent educator who served as superintendent of Athens ISD and principal of the private preparatory school. He later served as president of Tarleton State University and the University of North Texas. Open only for four years, Bruce Academy alumni include prominent businessmen and politicians such as Clint Murchison, Sid Richardson and Wofford Cain. In 1901, the Athens ISD purchased the grounds to accommodate enrollment growth with a second high school campus until 1913. In 1922, Bruce donated additional land for athletics and the Athens ISD trustees named the field in his honor. Prior to this date, the field was used for sporting events, including baseball and football. In 1935 during the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration matched local funds to update the field with electric lights, fencing and additional seating. In addition to sports, the stadium hosted marching band events and competitions, patriotic rallies during World War II for soldiers and civic organizations and hosted segregated team sporting events. More recently, the site hosted community events and concerts. In the heart of Athens, Bruce Field functioned as an integral part of the community. Through the generations of athletes, musicians, dancers, students and fans, the venue created a lifetime of memories and a heritage that continues into the 21st century. (2016)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center — 5.1 mi
  A Texas Parks and Wildlife hatchery and visitor center in Athens where visitors can borrow tackle and fish a stocked pond, watch native species in gallery tanks and ride a tram around the hatchery.
• Purtis Creek State Park — 13 mi
  A 1,582-acre park straddling the Henderson and Van Zandt county line, built around a 355-acre lake with no-wake fishing, borrowed tackle, a 4.1-mile hike-and-bike trail and a nature path.

More markers nearby

• First United Presbyterian Church of Athens — 0.2 mi
• Courts Under the Oaks — 0.4 mi
• Jess Sweeten — 0.4 mi
• Dulcinea Ann Holland Thompson Avriett — 0.5 mi