The Roy E. Davis Field

On September 12, 1947, at halftime during the opening game of the season, the Tomcat community gathered on the football field at East High to honor Roy E. Davis, who at the time was East Aurora’s athletic director. On this date the field was officially dedicated in his name.

Davis at the time was beginning his 35th year at the school, was revered by students, well-liked by people on both sides of the river, and highly respected by educators throughout the state. It was Davis who organized a fundraiser to build the field, and it was Roy E. Davis who introduced “football under the lights” to East Aurora—a first in all of northern Illinois.

Roy E. Davis (1889-1979) was the athletic director and coach of East Aurora High School for 43 years. He joined East Aurora in 1913 as a science teacher and later co-authored a high school biology textbook with his brother Ira.

Ellsworth Hill Stadium

In 2017, a new stadium was dedicated at East Aurora High School. The stadium was upgraded to include a new concession building, new scoreboard and lights, an artificial turf field, an eight-lane track, and new bleacher seats.

In 2018, the District 131 Board of Education accepted a generous donation from Mr. Ellsworth J. Hill, Jr. Mr. Hill wanted to honor his late father, Ellsworth Hill, by making a gift of $750,000 to the District 131. To recognize the gift, the Board of Education agreed to name the stadium “Ellsworth Hill Stadium.” When referring to the entire complex, it will be known as “Roy E. Davis Field at Ellsworth Hill Stadium.”

Elsworth J. Hill (1912-2012) was a Tomcat and East High graduate, class of ’29. He attended Aurora College and North Central College. Mr. Hill worked for 38 years with Merchants National Bank before retiring as senior vice president in 1965.

Ellsworth was a member of the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of the New England Congregational Church, the YMCA, the Boy Scouts, the Cosmopolitan Club of Aurora, and member of the Elks Club and Moose Lodge 400.