Are you ready for some football? These words we hear often
now that a new school year has begun and it’s October. Football game nights at my alma mater are
known for community spirit, students, parents, alumni, and just local folks
that gather down in the “holler” to support the football team, renew
friendships, make new friends, and to remember “ole times.”
Football in 1959, at Pontotoc High School, my senior year
was exciting. A school record was set;
the team went undefeated and won the Little Ten Conference Championship.
Homecoming on Warrior Field in the 50’s and 60’s was a
special night for everyone. Color, pageantry, music, participation from the
student body, and, of course, football, all contributed to an evening of
excitement and celebration. Every detail
was planned and coordinated by Mrs. Frances Furr and Mrs. Wayne Leech.
The Homecoming Court that year consisted of Freshman,
Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Maids. These special students were Shirley Mask,
Jennie Laura Witt, Jeanie Hardin, and Linda Ball. The student body would choose the Homecoming
Queen by secret ballot from three senior girls, Jane McCoy, Joan Tutor, and
me. Also, in the court were elementary
students dressed in matching Indian costumes and feather headbands, outfits in
keeping with our football team, the Warriors.
These students were Dianne Dallas, Carole Butler, Scott Stringer, and
Jon David Naugher.
The faculty kept it a secret as to which one of the three
senior girls had received the most votes.
We each had to have identical white dresses, write and memorize a
speech, and practice each day as if we each had won.
The long awaited October night finally arrived. The anticipation, suspense, and excitement
was almost more than I could handle. The
plan was that Miss Ruth Thompson, our school principal, would go to the home of
the one who had received the most votes and escort her to the stadium.
As time approached for my family to leave our house for the
school, my dad said, “It’s time to go.”
Just at that moment, there was a knock on the door. There stood Miss Thompson. I had been chosen to be the Homecoming Queen!
What a surprise and honor!
The ride in the back seat of Miss Thompson’s car with the
long, hooped dress was quite memorable.
As we drove out of the driveway she said to me, “Let me hear
your speech.”
I quickly responded.
When I finished she said, “Let me hear it again.”
She asked me to repeat it over and over all the way to town,
which was a five-mile trip. I lost count
of how many times I quoted it to her.
The football teams were on the field doing their warm-up
drills. The stadium was filled with
students, fans, and alumni for the Homecoming game. As we drove down the hill to the edge of the
field, all the lights were turned off.
Remember, it was still a secret as to who the Queen would be.
On the fifty yard line a seven-foot tall football had been
constructed and erected by Mr. Don Mallard’s shop classes. I made my way across the field (in the dark
and between football players) to this football, where I was to be enclosed until
the program started.
I still had time to say my speech a few more times while
holding on to a metal pole and standing on a narrow platform. At the appointed time the football was
opened, I stepped out and Co-Captains of the team, Herbert Jenkins and Gene
Turner, crowned the 1959-1960 Homecoming Queen, which was a very humbling
experience for me.
Thanks to Miss Thompson and that five-mile ride, I still
remember that speech today. Here it is!
“Sometimes words fail to express our true feelings. I find
that this is true with me tonight.
Anyway, I can say thanks, thanks again for this lovely honor.”
These words still
express my feelings after fifty-nine years.
