Artwork of Lyle Couch Stadium by Mulvane graduate Gavin Snider.
Mulvane's Lyle Couch stadium has been the site for victories, defeats, tears, and championships for 65 years.

December 28, 2019 By Kasey McDowell


The Mulvane Football and Track teams have competed at Lyle Couch Stadium for the last 65 years and soccer for the last 19 years, and throughout that time it has gone through several transformations. The Old Mulvane High School building on second street was completed in 1954 and the first football game played at the current Lyle Couch field location was vs Derby on September 23, 1955. Derby edged out the Wildcats 6-0 in front of a record breaking crowd.

Up until 1955, Mulvane's football field was located just north of the old Jr High/High School (the current location of the Mulvane Rec Center/USD263 Central Office) on Mulvane Street. That building was the high school at that time until the new high school on second street was completed in 1954. At that time there was only one building of classrooms and one building with the gymnasium. The rest of the buildings were added on at a later time.



The above is a satellite image of the current Mulvane Rec Center. The "approximate" location of the old field is layered in (see the green field just north of the parking lot). The field ran east-west and was one of the few fields in the state that ran east-west. Most fields run north and south.

The new football stadium was named after Lyle Couch around 1972.

Lyle Couch was born on Sept 9, 1928 in Helena Oklahoma. He graduated from Helena High School in 1946. Lyle received his bachelor's degree from Northwestern State College of Alva Oklahoma in 1952. He received his Master's degree from Wichita State University in 1962. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Marines.

Lyle Couch was the Principal of the Mulvane High School for 8 years, joining the staff in 1963. He was highly regarded by his peers, students, and the community. He played a vital part in the administration of Mulvane High School where his knowledge, his capability, and his interest in education and the community helped provide the outstanding educational program in Mulvane. He encouraged all students to practice good study habits and to be impatient to learn.His interest in the students and the school gained him respect and admiration not only from the students and faculty but also from the Mulvane community. He loved sports, especially football, and he was tougher on the athletes and cheerleaders more than anyone else…it was drilled in the athletes that they were representing MHS and they should be held to a high standard. He is remembered by friends and family as tough with a soft heart.

During the fall of 1970 Lyle was diagnosed with a brain tumor. During his sick leave, Jerry Webster (a former Mulvane student and star athlete) took over the duties of Principal. Lyle passed away on November 23, 1971. The football community, faculty, and students held several fundraisers to help the family and the school board led by Superintendent Dean Parks honored Lyle Couch by naming the football stadium after him.

Throughout the years there were some superficial changes like some upgrades to the stands and buildings but in 2012 the field and stadium received a major update with new stands and a turf field. Even though the old stands and grass are no longer there, the stadium still holds the memory of Lyle Couch and shall remain that way for a long time.













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