Fordyce Redbug

The Fordyce Redbugs have a long and proud history dating back to the early 1900's. Fordyce's first football field was located behind the high school at the corner of East 4th and Moro Streets. In the mid 1920's, Moro Street was widened to become a part of Highway 167. This highway construction ran through the football field. The football field was relocated to its present location on land obtained from the Fordyce Lumber Company. It is generally believed that the Fordyce Lumber Company donated the land. At that time, Highway 79, going to Pine Bluff, ran beside the new and present field on what is now Cleveland and Atkinson Streets.

The football team and men from the community cleared the land and built the new field, which was named Walton Field after the Fordyce coach of the mid-twenties. While building the field, everyone was eaten up by chiggers or "redbugs." Willard Clary, a reporter for the Arkansas Gazette who covered all of Fordyce's games from the wheel chair he was confined to, decided "Redbugs" would be an excellent nickname for the team. As far as anyone has been able to find out, Fordyce is the only team with this nickname.

The first field house was built in 1948 and was located very close to where the bandstand is now located. Alvin McMurry, Travey Hillman, and Richard Holt helped the football team build the fieldhouse. The three men obtained the material for the fieldhouse by traveling to Little Rock and tearing down an old Army barracks at Camp Robinson. The names of the men and the football players who build the field house can be seen etched in the concrete slab still occupying its original place.

Additional changes have occurred over the years. Public restrooms are located in the present field house which was built in 1987. Displayed over the doors are marble plates taken from the old Fordyce High School building located at the corner of Moro and East 4th Streets which read "Boys" and "Girls." The bandstand was also built in 1987. For years the only concession stand was located under the home stands. This structure was torn down and the present one built in 1983. An upper deck was added to the press box in the early 1990's. The present stands on the visitors' side were built in 1992 just in time for Fordyce's 20-0 victory over Rison in a game involving the two-time defending Class AA and Class A champions. These teams had a tied score the previous year.

The Fordyce Redbugs continue their proud heritage of character, scholarship, and championship in the 21st century.

"I stumbled across your website tonight and thought you might want to see an old Redbug Football photograph. My grandfather was Olin "Nunny" Hardman and he is the fifth from the left kneeling in front, and his friend "Bear" is standing behind him (fifth from left standing in back).

I have been searching for tidbits of pictures and information about my grandfather's football years in Fordyce, but haven't come up with much. He went to Henderson Brown College after high school and played football for them until graduation in '34. My uncle has the old '29-'30 Fordyce yearbook though and it is a family treasure."

Sincerely,
V.L. Cox