Falcons cut ribbon on new nest

DARLINGTON — Thursday night’s football game between the Darlington Falcons and the McBee Panthers is set to be a historic game – it marks the first played at the new Darlington Stadium.

School officials cut the ribbon on the new field on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The new field sits directly behind the school and has new seating and a new track. The Falcons were scheduled to take the field for the first time Thursday night in their home opener against McBee.

The old stadium was known from 1927 until the early 1970s as the Williamson Athletic Field. It was named the James E. Welch Field after the legendary St. John’s High football coach retired in 1973. He began coaching at St. John’s in 1945 after two years at Kingstree High School.

The field was first named after the late Bright Williamson, who donated the land that borders Swift Creek.

A story in the Dec. 20, 1926, edition of the St. John’s “Bulletin” said the students were eagerly anticipating the “new athletic field.”

“There has been unusual enthusiasm this year concerning athletics because of our fine football showing,” the story reads, “and although Mr. Williamson says he thinks it’s not much of a gift, all St. John’s disagrees with him there. The school has never been more thankful for anything and we’re sure that all Darlington joins with us in thanking Mr. Williamson most heartily.”

The land also included room for a baseball field adjacent to the football field.

“As to the construction of the field, all is not yet known,” the story continues. “An interview with Mr. Williamson assures us that it will be leveled in time for practice. Mr. Williamson expects to have a road going down behind the grammar school building and a bridge crossing the creek, but he is not yet sure when that will be built.”

Darlington attorney Albert L. “Juny” James Jr. played quarterback for St. John’s his senior year in 1932-33.

“Things were a lot different in those days,” he said. “The players used to mark the field themselves before games. Ralph Barbare was the coach and Henry Mills, the center, was the best player on the team. He received the Kollock Medal that year for his expertise.”

Gene “Pee Wee” Stokes coached under and succeeded Jimmy Welch in 1973. He was a linebacker and fullback for St. John’s before graduating in 1956.

“The field brings back a lot of memories for me as a player as well as a coach,” Stokes said.

“Coach Welch was tough on us but at the same time gave us a lot of freedom. He talked to us about life and things we would face in life. I thought he was a great motivator.”

Stokes started teaching and coaching at St. John’s in 1966. He took over from Welch in 1974 and retired himself in 1994.

Williamson died in 1927. He was a charter trustee for St. John’s and among a group of “ambitious, far-seeing men who desire the best for the younger generation and endeavor to give the children of Darlington all the advantages within their power.”

The school’s first football team was organized in 1908.