Notable People, Lost Tales, and Forgotten Facts of Oil City, Louisiana: Oil City Football Field

For over 50 years, Oil City's football field was the site of many athletic competitions. The first team was fielded in 1924, when the brick high school building (later became elementary) was opened. It is not known if earlier stands existed, but in 1936 bleachers seating approximately 500 persons were constructed as part of a Caddo Parish School Board WPA project.

Shreveport Times 19-Jul-1936, Page 9

The school board voted to purchase the 3.5 acre property used as a football field, apparently leased previously, for $1,250.

Shreveport Times 05-Dec-1940, Page 18

1945 Homecoming court and crowd.

L-R: Diane Player, Betty Player, Billie Jean Purdy (Queen), Bonnie Sue
Cantley, Bobbie Jean Blizzard

1946 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)

A rare east-side view looking west during the 1946 football season.

Cheerleaders getting the crowd into the action.

L-R: Mary Lou Bunting, Loraine Norman, Rosemary Chumley, Joan Chumley, Naomi Rape,
Marguerite Bozeman

1947 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)

Scenes from the 1948 season.

Looking east

Looking northeast

Crowd view

1948 Bengal

Lights were added in 1949.

Shreveport Times 06-Oct-1949 Page 3

Team captain Jackie Wingo (35) races for a score under the lights in 1949.

1950 Bengal

Ticket booth from 1954-55 school year. (L-R): Mr. Jim Creighton, Mrs. Margaret Nolan, Mrs. Edna Gaines, Mrs. Marguerite Bozeman.

1954 Bengal

The Tiger's Den concession stand was a gift from the 1953 senior class.

1953 Bengal

1954 seniors: L-R: Sarah Woodell, Eual Ray Price, Mrs. Edna Gaines, Patsy Elmore, Marilyn Parker,

Don Batts, Murlean Weaver, Bessie Abbitt

1954 Bengal

This photo of the 1954-1955 OCHS Band (which must have been comprised of every high school student that year) shows the northwest corner of the field.

1955 OC Bengal

When the high school was consolidated with others to form North Caddo in 1955, the field continued to be used by the remaining junior high. In addition to football, the field was frequently used in the spring for speedball, basically baseball using a slightly larger rubber coated ball. It was also the site of the school's annual Field Day, that featured various athletic competitions, games, and performances.

1961 Bengal

1963 Homecoming action:

Unknown Tiger ball carrier (white helmet), Jim Sermons (55), Charles Warren (50)

Jerry Taylor (46) about to take out opponent in pursuit of Eddie Burns (40)

L-R: James Vaughn, Eddie Burns, Betty Wingo, John King, Nora Batts, Billy Allen, Cynthia Aiken,
Layne Alexander, Dottie Shafer, Doug Self, Susan Martin, Richard Woodell
Back: Mr. William F. Bozeman, Principal

Majorettes (L-R): Kathy Sanders, Diane Robison, Leslie Dickey, Debbie Durham, Dona White
Drum Major: Doug Self

1964 Bengal

In this view looking north, taken for inclusion in the yearbook, the goal post is visible on the left, and speedball backstop is shown in the background on the right. Notice the oil tank across the fence and several derricks that dotted the landscape at that time.

By the 1960s the wood bleachers had deteriorated considerably and were replaced by smaller stands constructed of steel. In this photo of Coach Nolan and members of the speedball team, those are shown in the background. Later, when football was discontinued, they were removed. Between Coach and the first boy, the top of the "Tiger's Den" (appears as thin white line) is also visible.

1969 Bengal

The school, which closed in 2016, was in its last years an elementary and magnet school. During that time the field was used for sports such as soccer and archery. Later a walking path was added to its perimeter.