Like many booster clubs across the state, the leadership behind the athletic booster club at Mexia High School often changes from year to year, as parents volunteer when their kids are in school and move on after graduation.

But while the leaders at the top of the club change frequently, there are a few dedicated members in Mexia that have helped hold things together over the years.

Bobby Forrest, the current treasurer, attended Mexia High School from 1965-1969, and played for coach Bob McQueen during his days as a Blackcat. Almost a decade after graduating, Forrest returned and joined the booster club in 1977.

Forrest served as president from 1980-1981, and has been the acting treasurer since 1982. His son played on the 1989 state championship team, and Forrest has continued to be actively involved since.

“I’ve held on because parents don’t get involved like they used to,” Forrest said. “With life the way it is, some people will move on after their kids graduate. There are some of us who get to be the glue from one year to the next to make sure everything transitions well.”

For the Forrest family, involvement in the booster club began when Bobby’s dad was an active member during the 1960’s. Dating all the way back to those days, the club has been in charge of the concession stand on Thursday nights during football season, which serves as one of the biggest fundraisers of the year.

In addition to the concession stand, the club also raises money in a variety of ways including parents’ night pictures for every sport, football posters, and t-shirt sales.

“We start the year with a big ice-cream social that the booster club sponsors for the band, volleyball team and football team,” Forrest said. “That’s right at the end of two-a-days, and we follow that up with a big membership drive.”

The booster club also helps to organize some of the more minor details of the athletic season, especially on the football field, to help make things easier on the coaching staff. In addition to ensuring there is an announcer, clock operator and 25-second clock operator ready to go on Friday nights, Forrest and other members of the booster club help out by volunteering to do the down box and chains on the sideline.

“We kind of try to take some of the mundane, trivial things away from the head coach and AD,” Forrest said. “He knows it will all be taken care of.”

While Forrest and the booster club take care of the smaller things, they also play a significant role in helping things run smoothly for both the students and coaches at Mexia. At the end of the day, Forrest said that it is all about the kids.

“Our main goal is to do something to help support the kids and the athletic program from the seventh grade to the twelveth grade, boys and girls,” Forrest said. “We’re there to support the program, and to help subsidize the school so the kids have a better athletic program.

---

Special Message from All-Star Inflatables:

Every sports team wants to run through an inflatable, but how do they afford them?

Teams have been using inflatable entrance tunnels, helmet replicas, and larger than life mascots for over 25 years. The number one question is “How do they afford them?” It’s simple…Stop looking at the cost and look at how much money your sports organization can raise with our team entrances. 

Many schools purchase their inflatable entrance with local business funds. During the manufacturing process we sew velcro on each side of the tunnel or archway, then the teams can sell to their local companies signage spots to provide revenue.  The benefit to velcro is this sponsor spot can be sold year after year to not only help pay for your inflatable, but also aid in purchasing power for other necessities such as weight room equipment, headsets, and new team equipment.  

As the teams come roaring out on the field in front of thousands of fans; both at home and away; your team sponsors will be highlighted every week. With this kind of attention every business owner will do anything to have there name on the inflatables. This is how even our smallest organization can afford an incredible team entrance.