Owensboro High School will celebrate 100 years of football at Rash Stadium this Friday when they take on Henderson County in the regular season finale. Peoples Bank is sponsoring the evening’s celebrations — which include the game, a check presentation, cheer and dance performances, and a one-of-a-kind drone show.
OHS Athletic Director Todd Harper said the school wanted to etch a memory in the students’ minds that they couldn’t forget. Sky Element Drones from Texas – which often performs at professional sporting events – has a custom show prepared for the home team, featuring a Red Devil, football actions, and more.
“One hundred years of football in one stadium is a big deal,” Harper said. “We wanted to create a memorable experience for players, coaches, students, and fans to remember for a lifetime.”
Owensboro Senior High School opened its doors in 1871. They began playing football in 1895, moving from site to site, often hosting their home games near Legion Park or the former fairgrounds of Southside Park.
Dr. O.W. Rash began a campaign to raise money for a football stadium during the early 1920s, eventually opening the west side of Rash Stadium in 1923. The Red Devils have called Rash home for a century, never succumbing to the “newer-is-always-better” mentality.
“This is something that we are very proud of and just another part of the Tradition of Excellence that is Owensboro High School,” Harper said. “We are unaware of any other school in the country that has been playing football at the same site for 100 years.”
To put this accolade in perspective, the Red Devils took their first snap at Rash as the Statue of Liberty was declared a National Monument. The stadium has withstood the Great Depression, a World War, the Civil Rights era, the Cold War, 17 presidents, and more.
It’s survived several high-magnitude tornadoes and several other natural disasters, yet it stands firm, composed in a manner rarely rivaled by modern architecture. And while Rash has had its fair share of upgrades throughout the years, including installing a turf field, it still possesses an unparalleled charm.
It’s like a trip back in time — only the sodas from the concessions stand now cost $2 instead of $.10, and admission is $5 instead of $.25 like it was a century ago.
As many as 6 generations have graced the historic gridiron, including countless NFL, collegiate, and all-state players. The program is just two wins away from 800 victories, several regional titles, and between 2 and 4 state championships, depending on who is asked.
Rash never wanted any recognition for his efforts in raising the funds. In fact, he declined any form of dedication ceremony. Instead, the community consistently referred to the structure as Rash Stadium because, as an anonymous citizen wrote to the Messenger-Inquirer in 1993, “Rash Stadium. No other name will satisfy merit or the public.”
The Red Devils played their first home contest in front of a substantial fan base that grew increasingly with each game. Still unsatisfied, Rash began yet another fundraising campaign to add stands to the east side.
The initial construction cost $10,000, while the expansion was $30,000 — leaning on FDR’s Works Progress Administration, an arm of his post-Great Depression New Deal. Seventy-two years later, Owensboro installed synthetic turf for the playing surface, and 80 years later, added a metal grandstand for students and the band in the north endzone.
Rash also hosted the Owensboro Catholic Aces and the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers for several seasons before the construction of Steele Stadium on Wesleyan’s campus.
Harper expects the celebration on Friday to be a monumental homecoming for Red Devils from near and far. The game should also be an exciting one, an homage to the glory days of the Owensboro Senior vs. Henderson City rivalry.
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
“Be sure you are here for this final regular season home game,” Harper said. “This celebration will be unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed. Many thanks to Peoples Bank for making this happen.”
Editor’s note: Some portions of this story are from an article that first appeared in the June 2023 issue of Owensboro Living.
