Audie Murphy Arena Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony

While the location might seem an unlikely spot, Bush said the area – now a hub of resident population and school traffic – was once a sprawling ranch that stretched from Dale to Lingleville Highway. It was there, behind a ranch house that the arena was located.

Sifting through the tomes of history and calling on individuals with ties to the arena and its history, Bush compiled a narrative of little known facts associated with the arena and presented it to the Texas Historical Commission for marker consideration. 

The story, according to Bush, goes something like this…

Audie Murphy was a war hero. He became one of the nation’s most decorated soldiers serving during World War II. He earned 28 medals, including a Medal of Honor, three citations from France and one from Belgium.

Following his military service, Murphy returned home and was featured on the cover of “Life Magazine.” He then starred in more than 40 motion pictures, including several westerns, and retired after about 20 years in the film industry.

While a failed business venture led to post-stardom bankruptcy, he made friends that would give rise to the rodeo arena named in his honor.

Working as salesman, Murphy called on Ray Woods, a fellow horseman and businessman, in the Dallas area and the two men quickly forged a friendship.

At some point, Woods constructed a rodeo arena on his property near Euless and it after his new friend Audie Murphy. The facility attracted cowboys and spectators to regular rodeo performances where Murphy made regular appearances.

Woods eventually bought the sprawling ranch, the current site of residential developments adjacent to three Stephenville ISD campuses from local rancher, nurseryman and entrepreneur Hugh Wolfe.

Woods moved the Audie Murphy Arena to Stephenville in 1952, where it hosted local rodeos and saw the origination of the Erath County Trailblazers and Professional Rodeo Association.

The historical designation was approved in December 2016, and Bush told the council that the marker was delivered from the foundry earlier this month. It will be unveiled at the April 23 ceremony, that will welcome several participants and be open to the public.

In addition to providing a glimpse at the past and a fun story to tell school kids who pass the area daily, Bush’s presentation to narrative speaks to the designation’s true significance.

“Throughout Texas there are dozens if not hundreds of rodeo arenas, many named for individuals who have played significant roles in the western culture of the area where the area located,” she wrote to the Texas Historical Commission. “But, Stephenville, Texas, has the honor of being home to an arena named for the most decorated soldier of the second World War. Even though it no longer exists, the site needs to be recognized because of the generations of professional and championship cowboys and cowgirls it spawned. Erath County citizens can reacquaint themselves with an important part of their culture and at the same time honor a great American hero.”