Editorial #3: Canyon ISD takes 'excellence to highest level with happy state bank stadium celebration

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CANYON ISD TAKES ‘EXCELLENCE’ TO HIGHEST LEVEL WITH HAPPY STATE BANK STADIUM

hillside. Also, included in the bond, Canyon ISD added LED stadium lights and stadium seats. Canyon ISD, before the start of the 2019 football season, installed a video scoreboard at the north end of the field, and on May 11, 2020, the Board of Trustees approved Happy State Bank’s $2 million donation. The approval included the renaming rights of the stadium to Happy State Bank Stadium.

Flusche admitted at the time he was concerned because Canyon ISD needed classroom space first and foremost. “The community said this stadium is a big icon and a big part of the value system, as well as the day to day life in our community,” Flusche said during the celebration ceremony. “They asked that we put some things to enhance this stadium. With the generosity of Happy State Bank, we were able to enhance this stadium.” Over the years, beginning July 25, 2011, Canyon ISD Board of Trustees approved a contract with Happy State Bank to replace the field turf and rename the field Happy State Bank Field. In the fall of 2017, Canyon ISD purchased Kimbrough Memorial Stadium from WTAMU, and then in the Fall of 2018, Canyon ISD voters approved the $196.7 million dollar bond issue, which included renovations to the stadium, as well as a new fieldhouse complex with concessions, restrooms, ADA accessibility and the lowering of the south

City of Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson noted during the ceremony that residents and Canyon ISD supporters are “investing in your own children and the experiences they are going to have out here (Happy State Bank Stadium). “You’re also investing in kids, who are coming from all across the Panhandle to this historic stadium and their experiences because we are the capital of the Texas Panhandle and those small town experiences feed into the experiences that we have here in the Canyon/Amarillo community.” J. Pat Hickman, a member of the board of directors for Happy State Bank and the bank’s former chairman and chief executive officer, “Wow, I try not to get emotional, but it always happens. I grew up 2 miles that way, I live about a ½ a mile over there

“This is an opportunity for us to do our part, help them (students) be excellent and be their best.” Flusche said that Happy State Bank Stadium had not seen updates for a long time with the first taking place under the care and ownership of West Texas A&M University, who leased the stadium facilities to Canyon ISD. Following the transfer of ownership from WT to Canyon ISD after the newly constructed Buffalo Stadium on Russell Long Blvd., many from the community voiced their concerns that it was time to renovate Happy State Bank Stadium.

“The usefulness of this facility to enhance this overall stadium is outstanding. The opportunity to open this facility up for the community, for the community to use at some time and certainly for so many school events like proms and awards assemblies makes this just a useful venue we’re real excited about,” Flusche said. The conference center, located on the second floor in the south end zone, is nearly 10,000 square feet and can seat over 500 people at round tables. According to Flusche, “The facility will be used for special events, district training, and in the future will be available for rental for community events.

He showed me what hard work and dedication to Canyon meant through becoming a member of Kiwanis and now, as a member of the Canyon Lions Club. It’s through serving in leadership roles as the past president of the Kiwanis Club and being the Kiwanian of the Year many years ago that I developed an even deeper appreciation for Canyon.

Home

The 20,000-seat stadium, now home of the Canyon Eagles, Randall Raiders and West Plains High School Wolves, was the place to be in April as many proud Canyon ISD supporters toured the brand new facilities and saw the amenities that were made possible through the passing of the $196.7 bond election and the $2 million donation from Happy State Bank.

According to Cobb, “People want to look at it as a facility and I do too, but to me, it’s about the experience. You’re going to have great halftime performances here, those kids love this place, you’re going to have soccer, football, kiddos that cheer … I mean, how many kiddos think about this place growing up.

Another exciting feature, Flusche added, is businesses, families and organizations have the opportunity to reserve the indoor and outdoor dining areas for a VIP game nnight experience. “This space provides a unique view of historic Happy State Bank Stadium from the most sought after seats in the stadium,” Flusche said. “Our VIP guests will receive game tickets, a catered meal, indoor climate and access to outdoor seating on the landing.” Inside the conference center, on the first floor, Canyon ISD will have four locker rooms – Canyon HS, Randall HS, West Plains HS, Visitor’s Locker Room – as well as an Official’s Locker Room; four training rooms; two concession stands with big-screen televisions, four coaches offices, two ticket booths and plenty of storage rooms. Also, the conference center has elevator access on the west side (home) and the ambulance area will be located on the east side (visitors). Cobb said, “So many people had doubts, and understandably so, this place was built in 1959…

it had issues. We believed that we could come in here, give it a facelift and apply our culture and our excellent thinking to it. (We wanted to) make it into what it use to be … the jewel of the Panhandle and just spruce it up a bit". “Think about it, it’s not just about Canyon ISD, how many kiddos play here, participate in activities here that are not even CISD kiddos. This is a Panhandle facility.” Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders, who noted that he and wife, Linda, shared their first date at WTSU students inside Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, commended the Canyon ISD Administration and the Board of Trustees for their combined vision on this project, making Happy State Bank Stadium one of the premiere high school facilities in Texas. With the newly renovated Happy State Bank Stadium, Buffalo Stadium at WTAMU and Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, the quality of facilities in the Texas Panhandle – within a short distance from Canyon – stands head and shoulders above the rest in the state.

today, played here, my two boys played here, one daughter played soccer, one daughter was a cheerleader … this was an easy ask and an easy gift.” Hickman added that Happy State Bank is in every town that plays in the Canyon stadium. “We like it when Hereford comes to town, when Tulia comes to town, when Pampa, Borger, Stratford, Canadian (come to town),” Hickman said. “We are in all those towns so when they come to play here, they are seeing their bank here. It made it really easy for us.” Canyon ISD Athletic Director Toby Tucker agreed with Cobb and many others, saying that Happy State Bank Stadium is “the Stadium of the Panhandle. There’s no place like it.”

Former Canyon Independent School District Board of Trustees President Bruce Cobb believed in the vision of Superintendent Dr. Darryl Flusche and the leadership involved in making Canyon ISD among the best school district’s in the state of Texas. In April 2021, Cobb and other trustees, as well as officials from Happy State Bank, the City of Canyon and the City of Amarillo, and the Canyon Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on the Happy State Bank Stadium renovation project.

“My thoughts today revolve around one thing … Excellence,” Cobb said. “Just another example of CISD being excellent, our kiddos are excellent and they deserve us to behave the same way, whether it’s the school district or the community. They (kiddos) deserve excellence from us and this is it.” Happy State Bank Stadium, originally known as Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, officially opened in 1959 as the former home of the West Texas State University Buffaloes.