Have you ever wondered why our football stadium is called Claud Hebert Field? Many students don’t think about the history behind such things, but that history is really quite interesting.
Claud Hebert was the Emperor’s football announcer for 33 years. He not only announced football games but also basketball and baseball games as well. Herbert was one of the most enthusiastic sports boosters in Dinuba High School and he was a very popular member of the Lions Club. Shortly after Herbert passed away in 2000, the Dinuba Lion’s Club and the Hebert Family approached the school board with a proposal to rename the stadium in Herbert’s honor. However, at that time the board replied that from their policy, they had to wait one year after a person’s death before considering naming a school facility in a person’s honor. And so, they waited for the year to pass before approaching the board once more. This time the board agreed and in 2001, Emperor Stadium became Claud Hebert Field. A delegation from the Dinuba Lions Club as well as Herbert’s family was on hand for the board’s action. The Class of 2001 painted a mural on the back of the stadium risers dedicated to Hebert, which is still there today.
If the Hebert name sounds familiar, it could be because the family has had a major presence here at DHS for many years. Claud’s son, Dave Hebert was the DHS band director for many years until his retirement in 2018. His wife, Sandy Hebert, worked for almost three decades in the English department until her retirement in 2022. Both are DHS alumni. Their three children are also DHS graduates.
The Dinuba High School stadium was erected in 1955. It has come a long way in Dinuba High School’s history. The track and the field itself have undergone several renovations, including a total resurfacing in 2016 following a concert on the football field by country star, Kelsea Ballerini. DHS won the concert as part of a food drive competition earlier that year. Ballerini’s tour buses drove onto the field for the concert and set up, significantly damaging the playing surface. Fortunately, it was repaired and has seen many games played on it since.
