Encinal Alumni Statement on the Naming of Sid Lane Field
The Encinal Alumni voted to name the new field Sid Lane Field because no name better represents the spirit, history, and future of Encinal High School than Sid Lane.
Sid Lane is a trailblazer—one of the first collegiate African American coaches in the country—who broke barriers at a time when doing so required courage, discipline, and unwavering belief in opportunity. His impact on athletics helped change not just the game, but who was allowed to fully participate in it.
Just as important, this honor is deeply personal and profoundly local. Sid Lane lives in Alameda. He walked the halls of Encinal as a student. He has remained committed to the school long after graduation, serving as President of the Encinal Alumni Association and dedicating years of leadership to strengthening the alumni community and preserving Encinal’s legacy.
Naming the field after Sid Lane is fitting because his story is Encinal’s story—rooted in Alameda, shaped on this campus, and carried forward through service, mentorship, and leadership. This field is not being named for someone distant or abstract, but for someone who has continuously given back to the school and community that helped shape him.
Every athlete who steps onto Sid Lane Field will do so on ground that represents perseverance, progress, and pride. The name serves as a living reminder that Encinal honors those who lead with integrity, break barriers with purpose, and stay committed to lifting the next generation.
This decision is more than recognition—it is alignment. Sid Lane Field stands as a permanent statement of Encinal’s values and the legacy of one of its own who truly changed the game.