By: Tara Henry San Saba High School Mrs. Colleen Womack San Saba County San Saba, Texas Rogan Field

Rogan Field From Cemetery ….. To Football Field Rogan Field is a well known football field to the surrounding towns and communities of San Saba, Texas. However, few know its origins. What we know as Rogan Field, home of the “Golden Armadillos”, started out as a cemetery.

San Saba County was organized in Not long afterward, the need for a cemetery was realized.

A plot of ground in the north west part of town owned by Dr. J.C. Rogan was selected and put in use. Burials were made there until August 24, 1878, a period of twenty years, when the Commissioners court passed an order prohibiting the further use of the graveyard.

On February 16, 1898, twenty years after it had been discontinued, the first cemetery land was re-deeded by Dr. J.C. Rogan to the Trustees of the Methodist Church with the understanding that they would be responsible for erecting a good fence, keeping stock out and taking care of it. If, however, they failed to do this, the plot would revert to Dr. Rogan or his heirs. METHODIST CHURCH and entrance to Rogan field

In April 1910, Mrs. J.B. Longley, daughter of Dr. Rogan brought suit against the Trustees of the Methodist Church for not taking proper care of the old cemetery.

On April 22, 1910 judgment was rendered in favor of Mrs. Longley, who recommended it to be used as a recreational place at some future time.

In 1935, that “future time” came and people were asked to exhume the remains of their loved ones from this first city cemetery and have them placed elsewhere, since this sacred spot was soon to become a football field. It was named Rogan Field in memory Dr. J.C. Rogan and given by his descendents.

Many graves were removed but many were not and a green turf is now a coverlet for the unmoved graves. Although some of the bodies were not moved, several of the families had new headstones made and put in different cemeteries. “HERE IN SPIRIT BUT REMAINS INTERRED AT ROGAN FIELD.” As written on headstone.

Rogan Field is still going strong today. It has seen wins and losses; victories and defeats. Through it all, that field will always stand. Rogan Field will live forever.

References Loraine Roberds’ The Death of the First City Cemetery The Cemeteries of San Saba County, Texas complied by: Joyce Capp

CREDITS San Saba News & Star San Saba, Texas Thursday, April 11, 1935