The History Of Bill
Sauer Field
Constructed in 1925 by the Logan Kiwanis Club, the LHS Athletic Field
was established between Spring and Market Streets behind the high school
and was used through the 2007 football season. During its 83 year history,
the stadium hosted 426 games and saw the Chieftains play to a record of
270-131-14 and win 23 SEOAL Championships. The stadium originally
consisted of only wooden bleachers built into the hillside between the
field and the high school. The first game was played against Athens
in 1925, and the field was dedicated against Columbus East High School,
a 9-0 victory for the purple and white.
In the early 1930s a scoreboard and press box were added to the stadium,
and lights were first erected in 1935. In the first game of the 1935
season, Logan hosted Lancaster High School and the first night football
game was played in Logan on a Friday night. A then record crowd of
over 1200 people saw the game. That same season the visiting team
was moved to the north sideline, along with the addition of a visitors
bleacher section on the same side.
In 1937 the WPA built a new concrete stadium on the south (home) side
of the field, upping the capacity on the home side to 2000 people.
The first game was played against McArthur in 1937 and the field was dedicated
against Gallia Academy that same season. The powerful Blue Devils
topped LHS 20-19 in the dedication game.
The LHS Band Booster's concession stand was built in 1949, as well as
the addition of the flag pole that still stands in the west endzone.
In 1969 the current press box was built with increased space and visbility.
In 1975 the field was re-dedicated and re-named for Logan's #1 Sports Fan
Bill Sauer.
In 1985 a $383,632 facelift made Bill Sauer Field one of the finest
facilities in Southeastern Ohio. The playing surface was replaced,
new lights, new visitors bleachers, and repair of the home stadium were
all completed. The current scoreboard was erected that season in
time for the opening game of 1985.
The 2007 Chieftains concluded the final season at Bill Sauer Field with
a playoff loss to Tri-Valley in a hard fought 31-26 game. The team
captured the school's 23rd football championship with a 7-0 SEOAL mark
and a 9-2 mark overall.
