BEAUMONT — Beaumont city council member Mike Getz says that Thomas’ name on the stadium is a reminder of bad times in Beaumont ISD.
He also thinks the name of the old French High School needs to be brought back.
"Carrol Thomas is synonymous with a failed school district. It is because of Carroll Thomas' actions that the TEA had to come in and take over the school district," Getz said.
Getz will propose changing the name of the stadium and change the name of Willie Ray Smith Middle School.
Getz wants the Smith name moved to the football stadium. He also wants to rename Smith Middle School to French Middle School.
Smith was a successful football coach for Orange Wallace, Lufkin Dunbar, and Charlton-Pollard High Schools.
Getz says Smith’s wife was also a teacher at French High School.
"They deserve to be recognized, but not at the expense of the French name, so my proposal is going to be to move the Willie Ray Smith name to the football stadium,” Getz said.
“It's more appropriate because he's a football coach, and put the French name back on the building that is on land donated by the French family," Getz said.
Getz says he’s gained support from many French High School alumni. He claims that $25,000 was raised to make the name change possible.
"Willie Ray Smith was a great coach, he was beloved by generations of Beaumonters,” Getz said.
“French alumni are ecstatic about it, they feel like the name of their alma mater was trampled, and they want their name back on the building they graduated from," Getz said.
Getz will make the proposal at the Beaumont ISD board meeting on May 17 at 6 p.m.