South Side in Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Turkey Day Classic
Photographed by Brian Anderson, October 24, 2025
1. The Turkey Day Classic Marker
Inscription.
The Turkey Day Classic. . Houston's first secondary school for African Americans opened in 1893 as Colored High, later becoming Booker T. Washington High School. Two more black high schools, Yates and Phillis Wheatley, followed in 1926 and 1927, respectively. The schools shared values, customs, and traditions, like football games. Beginning in 1927, the three schools originally played each other on a rotation. The Wheatley-Yates game occurred on Armistice Day, the Wheatley-Washington game on Thanksgiving, and the Yates-Washington game on Christmas Day. When the Prairie View Interscholastic League ended Christmas Day games in 1939, all three games were moved to Thanksgiving. The Wheatley-Yates game drew the largest crowds, and the school district ended the three game rotation in 1946. The Wheatley-Yates game, one of the state's biggest high school competitions and rivalries, became known as the Turkey Day Classic., Game week brought plenty of activities, such as breakfasts, pep rallies, parades and famous halftime shows. The Turkey Day Classic generated enough funds to run athletic programs for years as the average number of tickets sold annually was 20,000. It also generated significant revenue for local businesses because out-of-town alumni returned and fans often bought new clothing as it was tradition to wear one's nicest attire. Among the players in the Classic were hundreds who had successful college football careers and several who played professional football. In 1942, Public School (later Jeppensen) Stadium opened. Wheatley and Yates were the first black high schools to play on the field which was also used by the Houston Oilers and Texas Southern University. Because of integration, the last Turkey Day Classic was on November 24, 1966, and won by Yates. Over the decades, the Turkey Day Classic brought pride and unity to generations of black Houstonians.
Houston's first secondary school for African Americans opened in 1893 as Colored High, later becoming Booker T. Washington High School. Two more black high schools, Yates and Phillis Wheatley, followed in 1926 and 1927, respectively. The schools shared values, customs, and traditions, like football games. Beginning in 1927, the three schools originally played each other on a rotation. The Wheatley-Yates game occurred on Armistice Day, the Wheatley-Washington game on Thanksgiving, and the Yates-Washington game on Christmas Day. When the Prairie View Interscholastic League ended Christmas Day games in 1939, all
three games were moved to Thanksgiving. The Wheatley-Yates game drew the largest crowds, and the school district ended the three game rotation in 1946. The Wheatley-Yates game, one of the state's biggest high school competitions and rivalries, became known as the Turkey Day Classic.
Game week brought plenty of activities, such as breakfasts, pep rallies, parades and famous halftime shows. The Turkey Day Classic generated enough funds to run athletic programs for years as the average number of tickets sold annually was 20,000. It also generated significant revenue for local businesses because out-of-town alumni returned and fans often bought new clothing as it was tradition to wear one's nicest attire. Among the players
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in the Classic were hundreds who had successful college football careers and several who played professional football. In 1942, Public School (later Jeppensen) Stadium opened. Wheatley and Yates were the first black high schools to play on the field which was also used by the Houston Oilers and Texas Southern University. Because of integration, the last Turkey Day Classic was on November 24, 1966, and won by Yates. Over the decades, the Turkey Day Classic brought pride and unity to generations of black Houstonians.
Erected 2021 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23325.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is November 24, 1966.
Location. 29° 43.236′ N, 95° 20.886′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in the South Side. It is at the intersection of Cougar Place and Cullen Boulevard, on the right when traveling west on Cougar Place. Marker is located at the southeast corner of the TDECU Stadium grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3700 Cullen Boulevard, Houston TX 77004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.
