W.A. Monty & Tex Moncrief Field Dedication Set
9/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 18, 2003
The W.A. "Monty & Tex" Moncrief Field at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth will officially be dedicated during halftime of the TCU-Vanderbilt contest on Saturday, September 20.
The naming of the field comes following a $3 million donation by "Tex" Moncrief to the TCU football program. The field is named in honor of the legendary oil family and one of Texas' first families of philanthropy.
"TCU is indebted to the Moncrief family for their generous giving throughout the years," said TCU Athletics Director Eric Hyman. "They have stepped up to the plate time and time again, not only for athletics, but for the entire university. TCU wouldn't be where it is today without their tremendous support."
"I've been a Frog fan since I was a little kid, maybe 8 or 9 years old," said the 83-year-old Moncrief. "We lived over on Ryan Place, which is not far from TCU and I started going to TCU games then. My favorite player of all time was Red Oliver. I guess he was a halfback in those days and I think his number was 33. He was some player. Even when I went to the University of Texas in 1937, I remained a Frog fan."
Tex's father, "Monty" Moncrief, the legendary Texas oilman, instilled the rewards of philanthropy and much more into his son at an early age.
"I owe everything to my dad," said "Tex" Moncrief. "He taught me the oil business, how to live and how to do right and I've always tried to do that. Live right, think right, do right, be God-fearing - that's a pretty good way to live.
"Everything the Moncriefs had was started by my dad. I followed my dad and we were together, always, from 1945 to the day he died in '86. I continued everything (he was doing) and added to it. I literally adored my dad and listened to him. Still do."
A generous donation to TCU is nothing new to the Moncrief family. They have long been supporters of the university, not only in athletics, but on the academic side as well.
"(Former TCU chancellor) Dr. Bill Tucker talked my dad and me into giving several things to TCU," said Moncrief. "I've given some chairs in physics, geology and engineering and we built Moncrief Hall (to house student-athletes). "I remember telling coach (Jim) Wacker that if he didn't produce a winner, we were going to put physics and geology students in there instead of football players," Moncrief chuckled.
"It gives me a lot of pleasure and a warm feeling to make this donation. It's nice to have a field named after us. There are still a few people left who still know us."
Tickets still remain for the TCU-Vanderbilt contest, which is slated for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Fans wishing to purchase tickets to that or any remaining home game on the Horned Frogs' home schedule should call the TCU ticket office at 817-257-FROG or order on line at www.gofrogs.com.
