79-year-old fought to keep Texas home that district wanted for new stadium — and won

Travis Upchurch has lived in his Texas home for almost 50 years and wasn’t about to lose it to a new school football stadium.

For months, the 79-year-old man and his family, which has owned the property for over 100 years, fought against the Aldine Independent School District board after it was announced officials were trying to take his home as part of a $50 million football stadium construction project, KPRC reported.

Upchurch told KTRK the district planned to use the land for a parking lot.

But on Oct. 17, the board voted unanimously to drop the pursuit of the family’s home, 7-0, finally giving Upchurch some peace, news outlets reported.

“This will allow Travis Upchurch to retain ownership and landowner responsibilities for these properties,” Aldine ISD said in a statement to Houston Public Media. “To this end, this matter is concluded and all negotiations have ceased. Aldine ISD looks forward to the opening of the new W.W. Thorne Stadium in August 2024.”

Upchurch had turned down the district’s offer to buy his 1-acre property, which then caused the board members to vote to acquire the home in April, the outlet reported.

“There’s no way we would be here without the efforts of so many who showed up and stood up for our dad,” Upchurch’s daughter, Tara Upchurch, wrote on Facebook post. “This is a win for everyone tonight. Let’s keep holding our school board accountable and hope that this never happens again in Aldine.”

The board heard from members of the community before voting, video of the meeting shared by KPRC shows.

“This never should have never been an issue in the first place,” one community member said in the video.

Aldine is about 10 miles north of Houston.

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