J.P. Cain Stadium will be 50 years old Sept. 11, 1964.

We are unaware of any special program being planned to commemorate the occasion; therefore, it seems fitting to reach back in time and take a look at how the stadium, then known as Tiger Stadium, got started and what happened at the first game played there a half-century ago.

“One Man’s Opinion,” an editorial column published in the Hartselle Enquirer had this to say about the stadium project May 7, 1964:

“Hartselle’s effort to build a new football stadium this year has cleared the top of the hill and is on the downgrade but still needs the solid support of civic and community groups and school-minded citizens to assure its success.”

In that same edition, the newly formed Hartselle Lions Club announced a mop and broom sale as a stadium fundraiser. Jerry Wilson was pictured selling the late Paul Lee the first broom.

In the end, it was the determination and hard work of a handful of Athletic Booster Club members and other volunteers who pitched in and kept the project moving forward.

The late Karl Prince engineered the grading, leveling and drainage of the playing field and machines and operators furnished by the county and the late Harry Newman did the work. The late Charlie Oden took care of plumbing and electrical work. County dynamite expert Charlie Goodwin blew open holes for the light towers and Hartselle Electric Department installed them. The late head coach J.P. Cain and his football players had big hand in sodding the field and the late Billy Don Mitchell spearheaded the sale of 800 reserve seat passes for five years to help pay for the bleachers.

The anticipation and excitement of playing the first game in the new stadium was rewarded as Hartselle’s Tigers dominated Athens 21-12.

The Tigers scored on drives of 23 and 93 yards in the first half and sealed the win with a 43-yard drive in the fourth quarter.

Halfback Charlie Yarbrough carried a big load in the win. He collected 75 yards rushing on 14 carries, scored on a 12-yard pass and set up another score with a 37-yard kickoff return. He also blocked a PAT attempt played safety on defense.

Fullback Jerry Thompson gained 61 yards on 15 carries and scored twice. QB Frank Parker competed the touchdown pass to Yarbrough and had 31 yards rushing.

Even thought many of the community-spirited men and women who worked hard and long to make their dream of a new football stadium come true are no longer with us, their legacy continues. Happy birthday J.P. Cain Stadium.

Clif Knight is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.