Davis High Schools football field was named Halden Field in 1961 after Davis High School’s first football coach W. Dewey Halden. Coach Halden was born in 1897 and played for and coached at Simpson College in Iowa for two years before moving to California. Davis High School (DHS) hired him as a teacher in 1928 when the high school was still located on Russell Blvd., site of the current City Hall. At this time, he served as the school’s first football, track, tennis, baseball, and basketball coach. During his tenure, Coach Halden had eleven undefeated football teams in the Yolo County Athletic League. Coach Halden coached at DHS for 28 years until his retirement in 1955, with his local career record estimated at 111-19-10. Having fought in World War I as a pilot, Coach Halden and a Davis High School student, Bill Young, created the DHS Blue Devil mascot based upon a World War I French fighting Corps.

Englishman Herbert Ward, a Lieutenant published the following description of the French Blue Devils

The Corps to whom our convoy is attached are popularly known as the “Blue Devils.” The Devil part of their nickname is in flattering allusion to, their valor; the adjective refers to the dark blue color of their uniforms. They display an almost religious observance in the fulfillment of their vow, indicated by the motto of their corps, “Never to be taken alive!”

Information obtained from the Blue and White Foundation