Canyon ISD board president Bruce Cobb, left, elbow bumps Happy State Bank chairman and president J. Pat Hickman after Hickman and Happy State Bank donated $2 million dollars to CISD. The donation includes naming Kimbrough Stadium to Happy State Bank Stadium. [Kale Steed/ Press Pass Sports]
A new era will be ushered in at the historic Buffalo Bowl when high school football kicks off in late August.
After 49 years, the stadium will now be called Happy Bank State Stadium, taking the place of its former name Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
The announcement came Monday night when the new name was unanimously passed during a Canyon ISD board meeting. Happy State Bank, which has been a longtime parter of CISD, donated $2 million dollars to the stadium for sponsorship.
“As a graduate of Canyon High School, this is a neat opportunity,” Happy State Bank chairman and president J. Pat Hickman said. “Canyon ISD represents excellence in so many ways. Happy State Bank is a community bank. We are built around community, and the best way to make adults happy is taking care of their kids. Then when you do things for education you’re helping the community at large. This was a no brainer to us.”
Canyon ISD is currently in the middle of renovations to update the stadium that opened in 1959. Thanks to a bond passed in 2018, the south end of the stadium will be getting state of the art locker rooms, a new restroom facility, a conference center along with new concessions.
“Today is a giant day for CISD,” said board president Bruce Cobb. “You think about the heritage of this stadium, and what it has meant to this community is unbelievable. With this gift from Happy State, and the current construction, this facility will be second to none.”
Canyon ISD plans to honor the late former West Texas A&M athletic director and head football coach Frank Kimbrough, who’s name stood on the stadium since 1971 with a memorial grove area at the front entrance of the new facility on the south end of the stadium.