As a dedicated Gamecock fan, I can proudly say that in my three years here I have never missed a Carolina Gamecock football game. Whenever I hear the name Williams Brice I think of Sandstorm and 2001, the band, and the Head Ball Coach. But in all the times I have cheered on my boys in the beloved Willy B, I have never really wondered who this iconic stadium was named after. I always figured that Williams Brice was a famous Gamecock football player from back in the day. I would never think that the stadium is actually named after Martha Williams-Brice, the financial reason behind Willy B's most recent renovation.
The Carolina Gamecock stadium was originally built in 1943 under the name Columbia Municipal Stadium with a capacity of only 17,600 people. In 1941, the stadium was renamed Carolina Stadium. The stadium eventually was turned into a bowl, increasing the seating to around 43,000. The next major renovation replaced the grass with AstroTurf, rebuilt the grandstand, and added the upper deck. This whole renovation project was funded Martha Williams-Brice
Martha Williams-Brice and her husband Thomas lived at the Williams Brice House in Sumter, South Carolina. Martha originally was from North Carolina, but her father, Owell Williams, moved his furniture business to Sumter. Once the family was settled, Owell opened a furniture store, and at one time was one of the largest employers in Sumter. Martha eventually married Thomas Brice, who played football for Gamecocks in the 1920's.
After Martha passed away, she wanted to give most of her estate to the University of South Carolina. But, Rickie Good, a Sumter County Museum representative noted that "The problem was the amount of money involved was so large that they literally had to go to the United States Congress and get them to pass an act for the IRS to take the charitable deduction." Once the renovations were complete, the stadium was named Williams Brice Stadium in honor of Martha. Williams Brice is one of the few college football stadiums in the nation that is named after a woman.
So there you go Gamecock fans, a little history on our old beloved Willy B!
