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Board postpones naming decisions for Stallworth Stadium field house and Professional Development Center after public nominations
Summary
Multiple community members nominated local educators and civic leaders for naming of the new Stallworth Stadium field house and the professional development/event center. The board voted to postpone both naming decisions to allow full review of nominations and to consider facility‑naming policy.
The Goose Creek CISD Board of Trustees heard multiple public nominations Thursday night asking the district to name new facilities for local educators, coaches and civic leaders, and the board voted to postpone decisions on two facility‑naming items so trustees could review nominations and related policy.
At the start of the public comment period eight speakers — many of them former students, athletes and family members — asked the board to consider specific names for the new field house at Stallworth Stadium and for the district’s Professional Development and Event Center. Nominees included longtime trainers and team physicians, coaches, administrators and a local educator active in personnel and hiring over decades.
Who spoke and the nominations - Brandon Terry (Baytonian) nominated George Crowe, a certified athletic trainer who he said served Baytown high schools for decades and “put Baytown on the map.” - Keith Marshall and Wade Hicks spoke in support of nominating Coach Al Dennis, describing his coaching career and mentoring of students and athletes dating to the 1970s. - David Isaac urged the board to name the Professional Development Building for Susan Morfantno, citing her long district service and role in hiring and personnel. - Wibra Holland, Maxwell Rice and Van Duke urged naming the Stallworth Stadium field house for the late Dr. Herbert H. Duke Sr., noting his roles as the first Goose Creek High coach, longtime team physician and local medical leader; Van Duke spoke on behalf of his family.
Board action and votes - Motion to postpone the Stallworth Stadium field‑house naming (to allow more time for all trustees to review nominations submitted by the deadline and for committee consideration): motion amended for specificity and passed. Motion: postpone to a future agenda so all board members have a fair review of nominations. Vote recorded by the board as 7 yes, 4 no, 0 abstentions; outcome: motion approved. - Motion to postpone consideration of naming the Professional Development and Event Center pending review of nominations: motion passed with 5 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions (two trustees abstained). Outcome: motion approved.
Policy and next steps - Trustee discussion referenced CW Local (the district’s facility‑naming policy). A trustee asked that CW Local be revisited so the board has time to consider nominations and ensure consistent application of naming criteria. The board indicated the naming policy will be reviewed and that the facility‑naming committee’s work and communications would be considered before substantive votes on names are taken.
What speakers emphasized - Supporters of each nominee stressed lifetime ties to Baytown and Goose Creek CISD (coaching histories, decades of service, community leadership). Van Duke called the naming request “not just about honoring one man, it’s about recognizing a legacy of service.” Brandon Terry and others said honoring living nominees would show appreciation while they can still see recognition.
Ending note The board’s postponements leave both facility‑naming items pending; trustees asked staff to ensure committee materials, the CW Local policy language and all timely nominations are provided to the full board before the items return to a public agenda.
