Community invited to homecoming reunion
Staff writer
Do you remember when Roger Foote was the quarterback of Warrior football? Do you recall the names of Bruce Snelling, Jeff Moore, Jeff Mellott, Brad Nightengale, and Mark Maples called over the loud speaker at the Peabody park? Can you still see Warrior football coach Dennis Franchione, now head coach at Texas A&M, on our sidelines 30 years ago?
The cheerleaders at PBHS and their sponsor, Lisa Hodges have planned a homecoming reunion for next weekend to help all of us in the Peabody-Burns communities remember and celebrate those state bound Warriors and their football team of 1977-78.
The idea for the homecoming reunion came from a conversation between Hodges and her husband, Preston. Both she and her husband grew up in Peabody and are graduates of PHS. They now make their home on Olive Street and their children, Embry, Brooks, and Sydney all attend school in the USD 398 system.
"Preston thought we should do something to draw attention to the team that went to state in 1977. I thought it was a great idea but, well, I was only five at the time. My only real memory of that year was that I was a cupid at the homecoming game. On the other hand, Preston was in the fourth grade and his memories are more vivid than mine. He remembers what a great group of athletes they had. He really looked up to them because as a young kid, it was a pretty big deal.
"I didn't know where to start, so I resourced a yearbook from that year and wrote letters to the team members and coaching staff, asking them to come to our homecoming game on Sept. 21. At first the response was slow, but in the last week, we've received more RSVPs and it looks like we will have a good turnout."
The returning lettermen will receive T-shirts and they will be recognized at halftime of the game.
To help the community get in the spirit for the event, Peabody Main Street is planning a downtown tailgate party Sept. 20, the Thursday night of homecoming week. It will be held at Santa Fe Park. There will be food for 200 and the fun will start at 6 p.m.
Rick Turner at Peabody market is cooking and donating pulled pork for sandwiches and baked beans. Sharon's Korner Kitchen is making sure every sandwich has a bun and there will be other tailgate fair to tempt hungry PBHS fans.
Donations for the meal will be accepted and Peabody Main Street hopes this event will turn into a tradition for the community.
Also during the evening, senior 2008 Warrior athletes will be on hand to sign autographs on souvenir photo cards. For a donation, Warrior athletes will sign the photos that can be tucked away in scrapbooks.
Current PBHS coaches also will be available to visit with all the armchair quarterbacks in the crowd, so plan now to attend all homecoming festivities and be part of the 2007 Warrior tailgate party.
