Thrash Wellness Center opened in 1939, built to replace a previous wooden gymnasium that burned in 1936. In 1974, the gymnasium was named for Joseph M. Thrash, who had been a professor at Second District A&M, the original name for ABAC’s campus.
Thrash was the home court of the Stallions basketball team until February 18, 1967, when Gressette Gymnasium opened. Though no longer hosting college basketball, Thrash has kept busy over the years. The building was renovated in 2017 and reopened as Thrash Wellness Center on March 29 of that year.
Besides men’s basketball, ABAC volleyball played its home games at Thrash Gymnasium from 1995-98 when it was a varsity program. A competitive ABAC women’s basketball team, known as the Dears, competed in the 1950s, mostly playing area high schools and a few nearby junior colleges. Thrash also hosted several concerts and performances.
