The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Frank Denius Veterans Memorial Plaza
General Information
- Physical address: 403 DeLoss Dodds Way, Austin TX, 78712
- Bill Little commentary: The memorial in the stadium
- Legends and landmarks: Frank Denius
- UT Athletics unveils 'The Doughboy' statue
- Rededication and commissioning of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
- Bill Little commentary: A memorial for the ages
The Frank Denius Veterans Memorial Plaza was dedicated on Veterans Day 2009 at the northwest corner of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, a venue named in honor of Texans who fought and died in World War I. The plaza showcases the stadium's original bronze tablature displaying the names of all students and faculty who sacrificed their lives during World War I, as well as a bronze "Doughboy" statue commissioned by Frank Denius.
Frank Denius was one of the 10 most decorated veterans from the European Theater during World War II and a recipient of the National Patriots Award as given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. He also served as chairman of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Veterans Committee, which oversees the relationship between the veterans and the stadium to maintain appropriate recognition for the original stated purpose of the stadium. Denius was a board member of The University of Texas Foundation and served on several other committees for the Texas Exes before his passing in July 2018.
"The plaza confirms the spirit I have for our university and its relationship to the sacrifices that its students and faculty have made over the many years," Denius says. "I'm just extremely proud to have the plaza named after me, and it will forever memorialize the stadium that we now call Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium."
Each year as part of its Veterans Recognition Day, Texas Athletics pays special tribute to those who have served our country by scheduling a number of events with the help and support of the university and the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Veterans Committee.
The stadium was originally dedicated as Texas Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day in 1924, after the UT student body decided to name the stadium in honor of the 198,520 Texans, who fought in World War I -- and the 5,280 who lost their lives doing so.
In 1977, the stadium was rededicated to veterans of all wars.
During the 1990s, University officials approached Darrell K Royal with the idea of adding his name to the stadium. Royal, a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, was honored at the suggestion but agreed only as long as the original stadium name -- Texas Memorial Stadium -- remained as well.
When the north end was demolished in 2007 to enable stadium renovations, the stadium's original bronze tablature was removed, and the stadium at that time was de-commissioned.
After renovations were completed in 2008, the commission was re-instated.
