Honoring 40 Years of Dwight T. Reed Stadium: A Lincoln Legacy

In 2025, Lincoln University of Missouri celebrates 40 years of Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Photo credit: Lincoln University Picture Collection, Inman E. Page Library, Jefferson City, MO.

As Lincoln University of Missouri celebrates its 100th Homecoming in 2025, the Blue Tiger community also marks another significant milestone — the 40th anniversary of the naming of Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Built in 1971 and officially named in honor of Coach Dwight T. Reed in 1985, the stadium has been a cornerstone of Lincoln athletics and campus life for more than five decades.

The stadium hosted its first football game on September 25, 1971, as the Blue Tigers finished that inaugural season with a 5–5 record. Since then, Dwight T. Reed Stadium has been home to Lincoln’s football, track and field and soccer programs for both men and women. In 2021, the university celebrated the facility’s 50th anniversary during a home game against Northeastern State, commemorating half a century of Blue Tiger history.

Lincoln University Picture Collection, Inman E. Page Library, Jefferson City, MO

With a capacity of 5,500, Dwight T. Reed Stadium has hosted numerous significant athletic events, including multiple Missouri State Track & Field Championship meets as well as the 2013 and 2023 MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The venue’s reputation as one of the top collegiate track and football facilities in the region continues to grow with each passing decade.

In 2017, the stadium underwent major renovations that included the installation of artificial turf, a revamped track, and a state-of-the-art video board. The first game on the new surface was a memorable one — a “Battle of the Lincolns” — as Lincoln (MO) defeated Lincoln (PA), 49–19, on September 9, 2017.

The stadium is a cast-in-place concrete structure with concrete masonry infill construction, featuring two tiers of bleachers with athletic offices, equipment rooms, locker rooms and other facilities beneath. Its design makes it the dominant architectural feature of Lincoln’s south campus, serving as both a symbol of tradition and a hub for student and community pride.

Lincoln University Picture Collection, Inman E. Page Library, Jefferson City, MO

Adjacent to the stadium, the Dr. James Frank Center, located on the first floor of The LINC, houses locker rooms for Lincoln’s football team and its 14-time NCAA Division II champion men’s and women’s track & field teams.

"As we celebrate 100 years of Homecoming traditions, we also reflect on a milestone from 40 years ago, when the stadium was renamed in honor of a legendary athletic director — a man who coached three sports during his remarkable career at the university,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Grant Winrow. “Though he never earned a degree from Lincoln, he has certainly earned the right to be called a ‘True Lincolnite!’ We are especially delighted to welcome back the family of Coach Reed as he posthumously receives the prestigious Sapphire Award at this year’s Masked Ball.”

As Lincoln University celebrates its 100th Homecoming, October 26 through November 1, 2025, and 40 years of Dwight T. Reed Stadium, the legacy of the facility and the man whose name it bears stands as a lasting reminder of Blue Tiger pride, resilience and achievement.

Celebrate Lincoln University's 100th Homecoming!
Join the Blue Tigers on Saturday, November 1, for the Homecoming Football Game vs. Truman State at 2:00 PM in Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Alumni, students and fans are invited to fill the stands and celebrate a century of Homecoming traditions and four decades of the stadium that continues to embody the spirit of Lincoln University.