The Jeff Davis Parish School Board’s Building and Grounds Committee has rejected a proposal to rename the Jennings High School football stadium to Bulldog Stadium.

Committee Chairman David Doise and committee members Greg Bordelon and Russell Walker unanimously voted against changing the name from Jerry Simmons Stadium to Bulldog Stadium during a meeting earlier this week despite a petition signed by 58 registered voters requesting the name change.

The stadium was named Jerry Simmons Stadium in 1994 to honor the former Jennings High School football coach and principal for his significant contributions to the school’s football program.

“I think when you name it after somebody like that it’s kind of a slap in the face to go back and rename it,” Bordelon said, explaining his vote against the name change.

He said Lake Arthur had a similar situation about 10 year ago when someone wanted to change the name of the Lake Arthur stadium from Jack Doland Stadium to Tiger Stadium, but it never went any further than a group discussing it on social media.

“I feel change is not where we need to go,” Walker added, while acknowledging Simmons’ successful career record and describing him as an outstanding individual with great accomplishments.

Doise said he recently had two individuals recount their efforts to have the stadium named after Simmons, which included traveling to Baton Rouge to obtain the governor’s signature because Simmons was still alive at the time.

“Apparently he was still an important guy,” Doise said.

Superintendent John Hall said Jennings High School Principal Selena Gomes received multiple inquiries regarding the potential stadium name change, including the reasons behind the change, the district’s policy for renaming existing structures and whether such a request could be denied.

Gomes has not expressed a personal opinion for or against the renaming, according to Hall.

Local resident Chad Edmonson, who initiated the petition for the name change, chose not to speak at the meeting.

Jimmy Segura, a former school board member and original advocate for renaming the stadium back to Bulldog Stadium, has reconsidered his position. He stated that after speaking with community members, he realized that the stadium’s name holds generational significance. Those who grew up with it called Bulldog Stadium wish to return to that name, while those who know it as Jerry Simmons Stadium prefer to keep the current name, regardless of their familiarity with Simmons, he said..

“It doesn’t matter to me anymore because I feel like there are probably more people that want it to be Jerry Simmons Stadium,” Segura said. “All I’m going to ask is that it at least say “Home of the Jennings Bulldogs.

Local resident Ken Cormier expressed opposition to the proposed name change.

“I think taking the name away would be a disgrace to him, and I am against it,” Cormier said.

He said Coach Simmons put Jennings on the map in football, won a lot of games and was a great teacher and principal and had a positive impact on the community.

Local sports broadcaster Charlie Williams said Simmons left a remarkable legacy at Jennings High School with an influence that extended beyond the football field.

“He’s the person that set the standard and followed it with what is pretty much a revered 20-year term as principal of Jennings High School,” Williams said. “He was more than a football coach. He was a great football coach. An innovative coach and apparently, a really good person… I think naming the stadium after him several years ago was the right thing to do.”

He said under Simmon’s leadership, the Jennings Bulldogs football program became the envy of many across the state. He said Simmons instilled high expectations and led the team to four state championship appearances, securing one victory.