Other Names

Namesake - Edgar Allen Diddle was born at Gradyville, Kentucky March 12, 1895 to John A. and Mary Elizabeth Hughes Diddle. After his early education at Columbia, Kentucky, Diddle entered Centre College at Danville in 1915 where he excelled in football and basketball. He served in the Naval Aviation program during WWI, returning to Centre in 1918. He left again in 1920 to begin his coaching career at Monticello High School. In 1921 he coached at Greenville High School. On September 7, 1922, he joined the staff at Western as athletic director and coach of all sports. He relinquished his duties as head football coach in 1929 and of baseball in 1956.

Diddle married Margaret Louise Monin December 27, 1923 and they had two children, Edgar Allen Diddle Jr. and Mary Jo Diddle Phillips. He died January 2, 1970.

Edgar Stansbury, E.A. Diddle & Ted Hornback ca. 1938

Col. Edgar B. Stansbury (1906- ). The Diddle Arena lobby was named for Col. Stansbury in 1998 after he pledged $1 million for scholarships. Stansbury came to Western in 1926 and played football, basketball and baseball under Coach Diddle. He later returned as an assistant coach for football and baseball and served three seasons as tennis coach going on to serve as director of athletics and head of the Health & Physical Education Department. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

History - Discussion and planning for this building began as early as 1956. By December 1960 plans had been drawn. Between 65 to 70 percent of the construction was funded through the sale of bonds with the remaining capital coming from the state. When the building was first designed, it included the basketball arena, a swimming pool approximately 72 x 42 ft., an auxiliary gym, 30 classrooms, offices, shower, locker and equipment rooms. The building was 3 stories high and was equipped with 3,344 theater-type seats and 3796 permanent bleachers. However, the seating capacity was 13,000. At the time, Diddle was the 3rd largest building on campus behind Cherry and the Science Building.

A bulldozer was used for the groundbreaking on November 15, 1961 and the arena was dedicated on December 7, 1963. The Hilltoppers lost to Vanderbilt 82-60 in the opening game. In 1991 an electrical fire broke out. Several students attempted to douse the blaze. Seventeen students, firemen and WKU employees were checked for possible asbestos contamination.

When it was first constructed the arena housed the departments of Foreign Languages, Military Science and Physical Education.

Additions - 1980 - new scoreboard donated by American National Bank and Pepsi Cola

1987 - reroofed, $250,000

1992 - new seating, painting, weight room renovated, women’s locker room upgraded, $90,000 from Hilltopper Athletic Foundation

1993 - digital scoreboard installed, $200,000 in corporate sponsorship; computerized ticket office, $57,000

1995 - new sound system

2000- “Topper Town Basketball” added

2001 - 2003 renovations: new parking spots; elevator added; a new floor; new air-conditioning; 8,000 new seats; 30,000 square foot addition that included offices and a practice gym; swimming pool converted into a convention center; new suites added, approximately $32.5 million from Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, sales of luxury suite, bond issue and donations

Sources - Board of Regents Meetings - 1960 December 13; 1961 March 1, August 25, December 15; 1962 October 27

College Heights Herald - 1961 Jan. 20, p. 1; May 26, p. 9; Sept. 27, p. 10; Nov. 8, p. 3; Nov. 15, p. 1; Dec. 6, p. 1
1962 January 10, p. 4; October 24, p. 13;
1963 May 1, p. 7; July 3, p. 1; Nov. 13, p. 9; Nov. 20, p. 2; Dec. 7, pp. 1-3 & 9; Dec. 11, p. 1
1964 April 1, p. 5
1974 August 27, p. 8A; December 10, p. 1B
1987 November 3, p. 7; December 8, p. 13
1989 March 2, p. 1; April 4, p. 1; April 20, p. 1; August 24, p. 11
1990 April 12, p. 15
1991 October 22, p. 1; November 12, p. 15; December 3, p. 14
1992 October 20, p. 19; December 3, p. 13
1993 August 26, p. 26
1994 November 3, p. 6
1996 January 9, p. 10; January 11, p. 4; September 10, p. 6
1997 September 11, p. 9
1998 Feb. 24, p. 10; April 2, p. 4; Sept. 1, p. 1; Sept. 17, p. 4, Oct. 1, p. 1
1999 February 22, p. 1 March 4, p. 3
2000 Jan. 11, pp. 1 & 19; Feb. 1, p. 3; Mar. 30, p. 19; Apr. 13, p. 7; Apr. 18, pp. 1 & 5; Apr. 20, p. 5; Aug. 22, p. 23; Aug. 31, p. 4; Sept. 21, p. 3; Oct. 3, p. 1; Nov. 30, p. 1; Dec. 7, p. 13
2001 Jan. 30, p. 5; Feb. 27, p. 6; Apr. 12, p. 5; Apr. 17, p. 3; Aug. 21, p. 5; Aug. 23, p. 1 & 5; Sept. 6, p. 8; Sept. 11, p. 1; Oct. 18, p. 10, Dec. 6, pp. 3 & 13

Vertical File - available in Harrison-Baird Reading Room.

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008