Highlands Football Stadium named DAVID CECIL MEMORIAL STADIUM was named after an 11th Grade Student that played Football on a Friday night, back in the early 1950's (I've seen 1951 and 1952), and the next morning he was dead. His name was David Cecil. His helmet was returned to the manufacturer to be examined however; it was returned stating the helmet did not fail. After that it was ascertained that a cleat had pierced his neck right under the helmet. 

He was an outstanding standing student in his own rights playing other sports, his teachers, coaches and friends gathered deciding to name the Stadium after him when it was rebuilt. There is a Plaque across from the Trophy case and in front of the Stands about DAVID CECIL MEMORIAL STADIUM. I cannot seem to find what the name of the Stadium was before that, which was built in 1948. 

What is the Name of Your Stadium?

St. Xavier - Brother Thomas More Page Stadium

St. X's stadium is named after Brother Thomas More Page. He was responsible for planning the new Poplar Level Road campus, conducting negotiations with then Archbishop of Louisville, John A. Floersh, and overseeing both the construction and the move from downtown. More on him in in this link:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82777652/melvin-more-page
 

 

58 minutes ago, Bluebirdbath said:

Highlands Football Stadium named DAVID CECIL MEMORIAL STADIUM was named after an 11th Grade Student that played Football on a Friday night, back in the early 1950's (I've seen 1951 and 1952), and the next morning he was dead. His name was David Cecil. His helmet was returned to the manufacturer to be examined however; it was returned stating the helmet did not fail. After that it was ascertained that a cleat had pierced his neck right under the helmet. 

He was an outstanding standing student in his own rights playing other sports, his teachers, coaches and friends gathered deciding to name the Stadium after him when it was rebuilt. There is a Plaque across from the Trophy case and in front of the Stands about DAVID CECIL MEMORIAL STADIUM. I cannot seem to find what the name of the Stadium was before that, which was built in 1948. 

What is the Name of Your Stadium?

How in the world did no one know a cleat had punctured his neck? 

Frankfort - Sower Field / McChesney Stadium

"Located in the Bellpoint area of downtown, Sower Field was a gift to the City Schools from the Sower family in 1923. McChesney Stadium, named for longtime FIS board member H.V. "Uncle Harry" McChesney, was constructed in 1934.

Legendary Panther coaches like Brad Jones, Rice Mountjoy, Chuck Rice, Red Herndon, Kinky Charles, Ollie Leathers, Raymond Webb and Craig Foley have prowled the sidelines of Sower Field. The list of Panther greats to have played on it's turf is long and distinguished. All American Kavanaugh Rogers, NFL draftee Bill Portwood and 54 other All State players have spent their Friday nights at Sower Field."

https://www.frankfortpanthers.com/facilities

6 hours ago, ChickenWyngz said:

How in the world did no one know a cleat had punctured his neck? 

IDK, seems odd doesn’t it? 

9 hours ago, Bluebirdbath said:

Highlands Football Stadium named DAVID CECIL MEMORIAL STADIUM was named after an 11th Grade Student that played Football on a Friday night, back in the early 1950's (I've seen 1951 and 1952), and the next morning he was dead. His name was David Cecil. His helmet was returned to the manufacturer to be examined however; it was returned stating the helmet did not fail. After that it was ascertained that a cleat had pierced his neck right under the helmet. 

He was an outstanding standing student in his own rights playing other sports, his teachers, coaches and friends gathered deciding to name the Stadium after him when it was rebuilt. There is a Plaque across from the Trophy case and in front of the Stands about DAVID CECIL MEMORIAL STADIUM. I cannot seem to find what the name of the Stadium was before that, which was built in 1948. 

That's weird, and I've had that discussion before with some friends from Highlands.

So I've looked up some info on it before. Ancestry.com lists him as having died on November 12, 1951, which was a Monday. Both the Kentucky Post and Cincinnati Enquirer ran articles about David Cecil being injured in a game against Campbell County on November 9, 1951, and dying three days later on November 12. That all checks out. The Post also has an article about the stadium (which I'm fairly confident was simply called Highlands Football Stadium) being named in his honor in May of 1952, which would have been at the end of the school year when he died.

However, in Highlands' 1952 year book, the page about the baseball team (which played in the spring of 1952) mentions David Cecil as a starting pitcher. Then in Highlands 1953 yearbook, they have an 'in memoriam' picture for David Cecil in the section of the yearbook for all of their seniors, and they list him as having died on November 11, 1952 (a Tuesday). He was not shown in the football team picture in the 1953 yearbook, which played its season in fall of 1952. Additionally in the 1953 yearbook, they state that the stadium was named in his honor at their May Festival that school year.

Weird.

6 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

That's weird, and I've had that discussion before with some friends from Highlands.

So I've looked up some info on it before. Ancestry.com lists him as having died on November 12, 1951, which was a Monday. Both the Kentucky Post and Cincinnati Enquirer ran articles about David Cecil being injured in a game against Campbell County on November 9, 1951, and dying three days later on November 12. That all checks out. The Post also has an article about the stadium (which I'm fairly confident was simply called Highlands Football Stadium) being named in his honor in May of 1952, which would have been at the end of the school year when he died.

However, in Highlands' 1952 year book, the page about the baseball team (which played in the spring of 1952) mentions David Cecil as a starting pitcher. Then in Highlands 1953 yearbook, they have an 'in memoriam' picture for David Cecil in the section of the yearbook for all of their seniors, and they list him as having died on November 11, 1952 (a Tuesday). He was not shown in the football team picture in the 1953 yearbook, which played its season in fall of 1952. Additionally in the 1953 yearbook, they state that the stadium was named in his honor at their May Festival that school year.

Weird.

You are a wealth of knowledge! 

7 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

That's weird, and I've had that discussion before with some friends from Highlands.

So I've looked up some info on it before. Ancestry.com lists him as having died on November 12, 1951, which was a Monday. Both the Kentucky Post and Cincinnati Enquirer ran articles about David Cecil being injured in a game against Campbell County on November 9, 1951, and dying three days later on November 12. That all checks out. The Post also has an article about the stadium (which I'm fairly confident was simply called Highlands Football Stadium) being named in his honor in May of 1952, which would have been at the end of the school year when he died.

However, in Highlands' 1952 year book, the page about the baseball team (which played in the spring of 1952) mentions David Cecil as a starting pitcher. Then in Highlands 1953 yearbook, they have an 'in memoriam' picture for David Cecil in the section of the yearbook for all of their seniors, and they list him as having died on November 11, 1952 (a Tuesday). He was not shown in the football team picture in the 1953 yearbook, which played its season in fall of 1952. Additionally in the 1953 yearbook, they state that the stadium was named in his honor at their May Festival that school year.

Weird.

David Cecil - 1951 Highlands Football Team (from the 1952 HHS Yearbook)



David Cecil 'In Memoriam' (from the 1953 HHS Yearbook)




Kentucky Post: November 12, 1951




Cincinnati Enquirer: November 13, 1951

Ludlow High School - James Rigney Stadium

Ludlow's was named after Panther basketball/football star James Rigney (LHS '32) who had died in a car crash in the month preceding to the school board's construction announcement for the stadium.

13 hours ago, ChickenWyngz said:

How in the world did no one know a cleat had punctured his neck? 

I have no idea, in the article I read and researched about this, there was no mention of this was proven, only that this is what they mentioned. I did not post the whole article because there are still family members alive in Ft. Thomas and I did not want to rehash this entire memory for them, just asking how YOUR High School Football Stadium was Named.....?

Edited September 18, 20215 yr by Bluebirdbath
missed a few words

Covington Catholic High School - Wooton Field at Dennis Griffin Stadium

Covington Catholic's football field was dedicated on Oct 28, 1978 and named "Wooton Field" after restauranteur Olga Wooton and her late husband Carl "Pop" Wooton, who owned the Town & Country Restaurant next to Cov Cath. They donated most of the land needed for the stadium in exchange for a portion of Covington Catholic's property which fronted the highway which the restaurant needed for added parking.

Cov Cath renovated their football stadium, adding field-lighting, a new grandstand and pressbox, and replaced the track and playing field surfaces in 2017, largely thanks to a sizable donation from the Griffin family, and the newly renovated stadium was named for the late Dennis Griffin.

Pop & Olga Wooton




Dennis & Joyce Griffin

On 9/17/2021 at 5:28 PM, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

David Cecil - 1951 Highlands Football Team (from the 1952 HHS Yearbook)



David Cecil 'In Memoriam' (from the 1953 HHS Yearbook)




Kentucky Post: November 12, 1951




Cincinnati Enquirer: November 13, 1951

Let’s add some context to all of this from the standpoint of someone who has extensive work in trauma:

 

First, saying the “helmet didn’t fail” in 1950’s terms is a lot different than saying so in today’s terms. Helmet technology is much more advanced. Helmets are made to industry standards. I would go so far as to say that whatever testing they do on helmets has advanced dramatically in 70 years as well.

The idea of the “blood clot” on his brain is questionable as well. CT scanning is the diagnostic tool of choice in today’s world for diagnosing brain bleeds. The CT scanner did not come into use until the 70’s/80’s. Even with the 40-50 year history of CT scanning, the technology has advanced tremendously in my 20 years in emergency care. So the brain bleed was a clinical diagnosis unless it was confirmed in autopsy.

With all of that said, there are two possibilities that fit the bill. A subdural hematoma is a veinous bleed in the brain. Typically IN THE ELDERLY, it takes days or weeks for symptoms to show. It would be unusual in an otherwise healthy adolescent for symptoms to take that long. An epidural hematoma is an arterial bleed that usually involves a loss of consciousness at the point of impact, then a period of lucidity, followed by significant mental status change. I have never seen one take that many days, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

The idea of the cleat hitting his neck, not puncturing it, and causing the problem is quite legit. Traumatic carotid artery dissection is a real thing and can be caused by blunt force trauma or any accident that involves a violent movement of the head and neck. 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 20215 yr by wrn1979

Simon Kenton High School - Chlorine B. Menefee Stadium

SK's stadium was named in honor of the 1952 Simon Kenton grad, Korean War Veteran, and 14-yr Kenton County School Board member in Sep 1985 after he was stricken with terminal colon cancer.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School - Jon R. Akers Stadium

Dunbar's stadium is named in honor of the school's first principal, Jon Akers, father to NFL kicker (and Tates Creek High school grad) David Akers.

Bardstown High School - Garnis Martin Field

Bardstown's sports field is named for the school's longtime football, basketball and track coach who died in 1998. The KHSADA/KHSCA also named their Outstanding Coach Of The Year Award in Martin's honor.