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Howe Enterprise, May 24, 1973
A school band program for Howe moved closer to reality at a meeting of the Band Parents Organization, administrators, and board members Monday night. Due to the time element in employing a band director for the beginning of school next fall, those attending the meeting set a June 11 date for determining if enough interest is shown by parents, students, and other interested citizens to pursue the program further. School representatives had offered earlier to provide a teacher and practice room for a band if funds could be provided by a band parents organization to provide the necessary large instruments for the program.
It was brought out during the meeting that the smaller instruments, which are to be provided by students, could either be rented for about $10 per month on a lease purchase arrangement, or could be bought outright.
Members agreed to prepare a pledge sheet to be distributed throughout the district to furthur determine interest in the program. The forms outlines the
proposal and provides for persons to join the band parent organization at $2.00 per member, and/or to pledge $25.00 toward the program, which would be used toward purchase of the larger instruments, estimated at a total cost of more than $5,000. Members are striving for a goal of 100 pledges and 200 memberships, which would provide $2,900 toward the
Some of the instruments cost more than $900 each, according to a Sherman music store owner, who provided a list and cost estimate of beginning the program.
Pledge sheets may be turned in at Howe State Bank, City Hall, Reeves Cleaners, or The Enterprise office. They were distributed by school children Tuesday, and copies are also available at some downtown locations.
1975-76
1976-77
1977-78
Jerry Taylor
Terri Straw
Robin Hawkins
program, with future fundraising events planned for the additional money. Uniforms would not be needed for two or more years, it was determined.
If pursued, the program would include grades 5 through 12. Supt. Mitchell explained.
"We need a big organization to help finance these expensive instruments," he continued.
During the Monday meeting, officers were elected for the Band Parents Organization. Mrs. Norma Wallace, temporary officer named recently, served as spokesman for the meeting. Permanent officers elected included Sam Haigis, president; Mrs. Haigis, vice-president; Mrs. Glen Mitchell, secretary; Wanda Taylor, treasurer; Norma Wallace, ways and means; Mrs. Virginia Martin, membership and hospitality; and Judy Tracy, publicity.
1978-79
1979-80
1980-81
1981-82
1982-83
1983-84
1984-85
1985-86
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
15
Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins
Valerie Whitfield
Brent Wood
Lex Breeding
David Whitfield
David Whitfield
Danielle Mailloux
Rodney Holcomb
Paula Mullins
Paula Mullins
Sharla Powell
Sharla Powell
Sharla Powell
Kent Bearden
Carrie Mullins
April Taylor
April Taylor
April Taylor
Mandy Summers
Mandy Summers
Aaron Stringfellow
Aaron Stringfellow
Kyle Lowder
Kyle Lowder
Laura Stringfellow
Andrew Shaffer
Rhapsody Fearon
Erica Wortham
Kayla Cook
Jesse Richard
Jesse Richard
Ashley Krueger
Travis Fulton
Makenzie Duffee
Madeline Ansley
Madeline Ansley
Jessica Doty
Kaylee Dwyer
Kindle Catching
Kindle Catching
Erin Catching
Erin Catching
No one envisioned how successful the band program would be back in 1974 when it was first approved. After three state championships, The Pride of Howe started marching on Friday.
Band Director Angie Liss has won a state championship as a band student in 1980 and as assistant band director in 1995 and 1997. She knows what it takes to put a true performance on the field. She's also had some great tutelage along the way from a north Texas legend in Elmer Schenk.
Schenk was hired in 1977 by Howe ISD to take the reigns as band director. During that time, he grew the band program in to one of the most honored performers for over twenty years. It was Schenk who seemed to groom Liss from the beginning while she was in sixth grade and still known then as Angie Cavender.
"I can look back and think back to when I was in school and he was grooming me for this all along and he'll tell you that. We would be on a trip and playing Huey Lewis and the News and he would say, Angie, direct. Angie, what do you hear? What instrument is that? He still does it to this day," said Liss.
After leaving Howe, Schenk took his talents to Princeton High School and had great success there. Since his retirement from Princeton in 2012, he has been helping with his former students, who are band directors all along the Highway 5 corridor. Liss, in Howe, Tim Fulton in Van Alstyne and Chris Burk in Anna were all students under Schenk. Howe ISD has Schenk on the substitute list so that he can once again help Howe students.
It was Schenk, who told the Howe band back in 1979 that if they received a one (highest rating) at a UIL concert, he would take them to a marching contest for the first time. They did receive a one and were given new uniforms. They headed to Austin to The University of Texas for the state competition and shocked everyone including themselves by winning the state championship in "Hoosiers" like fashion.
"I just remember it was really cold and we marched, and I thought we did really well. A lot of the town was there. They were saying fifth place, fourth place, third place and every
time they called a place we were thinking, oh we're higher than fourth. Oh, we're higher than third. Early got second, but all I heard was 'er.' We just went nuts. It was the craziest feeling," said Liss, who was a freshman flutist.
She ended up going to state all four years in high school. Howe finished first in 1980, fifth in 1981, second in 1982 and second in 1983. Since then things have changed and there are no chances to compete yearly for a state competition. The State of Texas now stipulated that every other year is an "advancement year", whereas, no matter how good the band is, there are no opportunities to advance in a nonadvancement year.
The change was made in 1991 and has yet to be repealed.
"It's not fair to these kids that have no chance this year to advance. I'm sitting here on the second day of practice and knowing that they're sounding better than at the end of the marching season last year," said Liss. "We had a good band that went to the state finals last year. To me, I equate it to having a football team that is just loaded and go 100, but you have to tell your players, sorry, you're really good, but this isn't your year to go to the playoffs."
"I have to check myself at times. I'm asking them to put on a heavy uniform in Texas, which it's never cool and to carry around 10 to 15 pound instruments and hold it straight and have good posture and walk in-step forwards, backwards and sideways, quickly and
remember where they're supposed to be going and stay halfway between all of the people around them and play a song musically," said Liss. "I sometimes get frustrated with a student and then I think, look at what I'm asking them to do."
Liss talked highly of Assistant Band Director Julie Cook.
"Julie and I complement each other really well. She is a master at preparing students for all-region tryouts and all-state. She teaches drill better than I do," says Liss. I polish and clean. It's neat to have a staff where we can all balance each other out.
Liss was lured to the position by Schenk initially in 1993. She graduated college to become a music therapist and was working in self-contained special education, Alzheimer’s units, and even a psychiatric ward and loved it. With Liss' mother on the school board and doing what she loved and with small children, she turned the position down.
However, life happens and the following year, her mother was no longer on the school board and things had changed in Liss' personal life that would welcome a change. And that change came because Schenk once again called in 1994 and asked if she'd work for him.
When Schenk left Howe during the financially difficult times of the district, the school was looking for a band director. They asked each assistant to take over the program and each said no.
Tony Valverde took the position for the following year but became sick after a routine knee surgery and Liss had to take over just before school started and was acting director for
Valverde's health never recovered, and the position was offered to Liss, who now was ready to take the job.
It was during those years as an assistant with Schenk that she remembers most fondly. In 1995, in her second year on staff, the state competition was again at The University of Texas where 15 years prior, the young freshman flute player was getting ready to win state. The Bulldogs found themselves tied for fourth/fifth place after prelims. Canadian was in first place after prelims.
"They were solid. We watched them in the prelims, and they were rock solid. We thought it was going to be insurmountable," said Liss.
That's when Coach Steve Simmons changed the attitude of the band. Around the fountain in front of LBJ Library, he gave them a pep-talk and at that moment, some of the kids began to remember that Simmons had told them that when they were in elementary school, that they'd end up being state champions.
With the group in tears before entering the field, the band went out and had a masterful performance.
"We were watching the rest of the bands perform and Canadian comes up. Elmer (Schenk) and I are standing together, and I began to tell Elmer that they were having some problems," said Liss.
After about the third problem she told Schenk about, he looked at her and simply and quietly said, "Wouldn't it be a kicker if we won this thing?"
"It was cool to see the whole thing come together from what Coach Simmons told them in kindergarten to what happened. It's not all about winning state, but gosh, it sure is
Howe Enterprise, November 11, 2019
Last Tuesday, The Pride of Howe Marching Band exited Howe with a police and fire escort and around the school campuses and around the main parts of Howe. Their destination was San Antonio for another trip to the UIL State Marching Band Championship where
overall unity.
“This band didn’t have that bighuge personality superstar, but it was a group where they all played, all contributed and it was definitely a team effort to get that thing out there on the field,” Liss said. “It’s a young band and we had inexperienced people in the front
tunnel the moment before performing is the big moment the calm before the storm, so to speak. The moment only lasts a few minutes and then the goal to reach that moment again begins.
“I want that tunnel experience for those kids so bad,” said Liss. “There’s just something about it. To stand there in this tunnel and look out and know that you’re about to walk out and perform in front of all these people under the lights in this venue that’s nothing like any place we will ever perform like around here.”
In the Texas world of football and marching band, Liss says they work very hard for the other events, but one eye has always been on this big prize.
“Fall is where it’s at in Texas. It’s the one that gets all of the attention and the big state that people see,” said Liss who says they are already planning for the 2020 show and the 2021 show.
will graduate. Of this year’s performers in San Antonio, several were from the eighth grade.
Assistant Drum Major Chloe Scoggins is a sophomore which means if Howe again can qualify for state in 2021, she’ll have the same type of experience as a senior that current Drum Major Erin Catching had going into this year’s championship.
“I’ve definitely got some kids in that sophomore class and there’s a lot talent in that freshman class too. Some of those kids really “get it” and there’s some maturity there where they already see the big picture.”
In the pit where eighth graders that had not played certain instruments before.
The band was in existence for three years before Liss was a fifth grader at Howe. She’s been a part of the program as a member of the band or an instructor of the band in all but those previous years and a short time from the fall of 1983 and the fall of 1994.
bands. But in reality, they placed 17 of over 200 bands in Class 3A.
Howe is no stranger to state competition as they have made it to the state prelims 22 times in the last 26 contests and have made the finals 17 times and ultimately winning the championship three times (1980, 1995, and 1997). Since 1980, Howe has missed state competition in four years (1985, 2005, 2007, and 2015). Statistically speaking as far as state appearances are concerned, there is no band program in any classification over the past 39 years that has been better than The Pride of Howe.
“Obviously it got started with Elmer (Schenk) and I haven’t killed it yet,” said HHS Band Director Angie Liss while laughing.
Howe did not make the finals this time around and Liss says there were tears from students and staff after the realization that they would not perform again after the prelims.
“We’re not used to not being in the finals. Most of the time we are,” said Liss. “Most of the times we are, and we felt like we’d had a good run. So, there were tears and disappointment. We were also tired because there’s a lot of walking and it’s very intense.
Liss says that she’ll remember the 2019 Pride of Howe band as one that had to get where were because of the
touching a certain instrument before July 31 to playing on the floor at the Alamodome.”
Mineola eventually became the state champion for the second year in a row. From the area, Whitesboro advanced as the number two seed and eventually finished second in state. Van Alstyne also did not make the finals and finished 11 of the 22 bands.
Liss says that each Howe band is different and has their own identity and personality. This particular band did not like to perform in hot weather, whereas some of her bands do not adapt well to the cold weather.
“You have to figure out quickly ‘what’s this group like? How do they respond?’, said Liss. “I don’t care how much you prepare and how much you work, something’s going to be thrown at you that you weren’t suspecting. Whether it’s a speaker not working or a change of warmup location. Something is going to be different, so you have to figure out how that group is going to adapt.”
It was two years, or 729 days, or 1,049,760 minutes, or nearly 63 million seconds between the two state experiences for the Pride of Howe. For band directors like Liss, the experience of standing in the
Liss says she’s so proud of all the kids and pointed out even the kids that didn’t march on the field.
“So many kids took on roles, whether it was rolling that speaker around or operating the metronome, they all fell into the role they had and gave it their best,” said Liss.
Some students hesitated to participate this year because they struggled with marching a year ago. But Liss says they “got it” this year and performed well and she hopes that was a good lesson in sticking with things throughout life.
Each year, the Pride of Howe train keeps rolling with some seniors stepping off and turning in their instruments while others grab their ticket and begin their five year
“I think about that and what I ask these kids to do. It’s pretty amazing what they’re able to accomplish,” said Liss. “They are playing the right notes, articulating them correctly, in tune with the people around them, pulling their toes up, posture up, holding their instrument straight, halfway between the two people all of those things are happening at once and I’m asking 13 and 14-year-olds to do that. And they do it.”
In rehearsal, just as legendary Howe Band Director Elmer Schenk walked out the door, Liss gave a talk to the band deep in the heart of the Alamodome. All eyes were upon her in that pin-drop moment and everywhere she walked, all eyes followed. That moment had arrived after 1,049,760 minutes. She told them, “I love you more than Dr. Pepper” and they filed out into the
was through Zoom meetings thanks to COVID-19 which had them meeting twice a week through the spring.
“I’m not much on videos and Instagram. I’m like the guy in the back that likes to be really quiet. So, doing that was uncomfortable to me because I’d rather be on a board teaching and showing,” said Murray. “But coming out here, it’s amazing how much the kids actually got out of that.”
Murray says that he believes Howe will be better than what most people think.
“I think we’re going to shock people.” said Murray. “In the past, when we played them in Leonard and in Van Alstyne, every time we
Howe Bulldogs Head Football Coach
Bill Jehling is entering his third season in Howe. This also is the third year in a row that his players have learned a new offense. Howe ran a wing-t/slott run-heavy offense during the 2018 season, but took advantage of young talented skill position players a year ago and had the fourth most yards per game in school history with 340.5 which was split nearly evenly with 167 yards rushing and 173.5 yards passing. But last year's Offensive Coordinator Nate Lynch is no longer on the staff and he has been replaced with Dru Murray, aged 39, who has spent most of his career in Leonard and Van Alstyne as an offensive line coach. Murray had a one-year stint with Celeste a year ago as their offensive coordinator but when the Howe job came open, Jehling thought he would be a good fit for the Dogs.
Murray, originally of Elkhart, Texas, played football at Southeasters Oklahoma State University and then started coaching at Leonard where he was on the staff for nine seasons. He then was hired on the Van Alstyne Panther staff where he was the offensive line coach for six seasons. But wanting to move up the ladder and become an offensive coordinator, he found a roadblock in Van Alstyne and decided to take his first offensive coordinator position a year ago at Celeste. The Blue Devils’ highwater mark came in his first game when they scored 47 points on Gateway Charter Academy.
Dru and Mitzi Murray have three sons, Chandler, Cutter, and Hank. The youngest, Hank, will go to fourth grade in Howe, whereas Cutter will remain in Melissa where he is a junior. Chandler, the oldest, is out of school.
Murray says that he loved being at Van Alstyne and spoke highly of their head coach Mikeal Miller but wanted to make the jump to the offensive coordinator position.
“I feel like if I didn’t do that, then I wouldn’t be here,” said Murray. “Everything happens for a reason and I’m tickled to be here.”
Howe will remain in a spread scheme with a tight end set on occasion.
“It’s going to look pretty close to what they did last year,” said Murray. “But we’re going to have a few wrinkles and tricks.”
Murray was excited to be in a situation with so many young and talented skill players such as returning quarterback Austin Haley, who after his freshman year is seventh all-time in school history with 1,598 passing yards, fifth alltime in passing touchdowns with 16, and first all-time in completion percentage at 58.8.
“The offensive line is a little bit old, but there’s some guys coming up that I see, and the skill guys are young and athletic,” said Murray.
Those young players will be learning the triple option/flex bone offense this year. The Howe staff met with Gunter’s staff to pick their brains about their system. After the meeting with Gunter, Murray found that the Howe kids could fit well with that system. The Gunter Tigers won their second state championship a year ago by running the same offense Howe will be unveiling.
Murray’s introduction to the players
2019 Ally Harvey 2018 Kindle Catching 2017 Alli Morgan 2016 Kaylee Dwyer 2015 Riley Harvey 2014 Madeline Ansley 2013 Emily Dawsey
2012 Miranda Casteel
2011 Kathryn McGinnis 2010 Tiffani Batchelor
2009 Taylor Cook
2008 Britney Bilbrey
2007 Sigrid Debber
2006 Kiley Huntsman
2005 Andi Lands
2004 Rebecca Lowder
2003 Alison Hightower
2002 Benedicte Sebjornsen
2001 April Gregory
2000 Julie Holcomb
1999 Karra Pryor
1998 Katrina Vest
1997 Robin Davidson
1996 Tiffany Orr
1995 Sheryl Anderson
1994 Tasha Johnson
1993 Heather Finney
1992 Heidi Keene
1991 Amy Campbell
1990 Kim Chumbley
1989 Kelli Norman
1988 Kristi Roby
1987 Vicki Boles
1986 Bebe Gary
1985 Melanie Power
1984 Tanja Terry
1983 Laural Anderson
1982 Lisa Fernandez
1981 Michelle Kannenberg
1980 Kristy Kirby
1979 Kelley Engle
1978 Paula Wheeler
1977 Suzanne Echols
1976 Brenda Williams
came up here we knew we were going to have to fight. Never did we think that it was going to be an easy ballgame. That’s one thing that I’m really tickled with is how tough the Howe kids are they’ve always been tough, and I think we’re going to shock folks. It’ll be better than what they think.”
Murray has an idea of what kids are going to be in which positions but he’s reiterating to the players that they have to earn their positions.
“Just because they were the number one guy last year, they may be number two this year if another guy outworks them,” said Murray. “I’m huge on people bringing their Agame every day. You have to bring your A-game every day or you get fired.”
1975 Rhonda England
1974 Debbie Adams
1973 Kathy McClellan
1972 Cheryl Walker
1971 Theresa Cooper
1970 Terrye Soechting
1969 Karla Gray
1968 Cynthia Thornhill
1967 Donna Moses
1966 Judy Cooper
1965 Sue Cooper
1964 Janet Owens
1963 Jennie Lou Clements
1962 Nina Lee Carter
1961 Emily Stewart
1960 Kay Dobbins
1959 Lorna Chisum
1967 Queen Donna Moses’ grandson is Matthew Bearden, #75 for the Howe Bulldogs. 2019 Queen Ally Harvey.
HOWE SCHOOL SONG
Howe School will always be the best school. We all can make it so. Our pride, our glory and our honor Will guide us as we go. The teachers always help to lead us On to reach our goal.
Howe School will always be the best school
‘Til rivers cease to flow.
HOWE FIGHT SONG
We are the Bulldogs of Howe High and we will fight to win this game, And we will cheer both loud and clear, our team to victory and fame. Fight to the end, don’t break or bend, until we have a Victory. Fight for the Black, the White, and win tonight
‘For the Glory of Old Howe High.
All fans and coaches of Texas High School football had their eyes tuned to the UIL website Feb. 3 as they released their latest redistricting schedule at 9 am that morning. In Howe, a giant thud could be heard which was the collective jaw dropping of the community as they read that the Bulldogs, one of the smallest 3A-1 schools in Texas, was placed in an 8team district. But wait, there’s more! Not only will it be mathematically very tough to make the playoffs in an 8-team district, but the teams within that district were some East Texas powerhouse programs with state championships and semi-final title trophies that still show undried Brasso in the gold laces.
Mineola recently won the state championship in 3A-I in 2016 as they defeated Howe 21-7 in the third round en route to their title. They were in the state title game in 2014 but lost to Cameron Yoe that year. The Tigers are led by Luke Blackwell, a 1995 Mineola graduate who got the head coaching position in 2017. He’s gone 16-15 during his three years at the helm. They have 2,100 rushing yards returning in 2020.
The most colorful district opponent will be Mount Vernon who is led by Art Briles, former Head Coach at Baylor after a long successful high school career where he made a name for himself while at Stephenville from 1988-1999. He left Stephenville to became the running back’s coach at Texas Tech under Mike Leach from 2000-2002 and then the head coach at the University of Houston from 2003-2007. In 2008, Briles became the head coach at Baylor where he led the Bears to some of their greatest years ever. But a report showing significant concerns about the tone and culture of the program led to the termination of Briles. A year ago, he was hired by Mount Vernon and led the Tigers to an 8-3
record. Just a month into the season, Briles and Mount Vernon were publicly reprimanded by a state oversight committee for using ineligible players and for using an assistant coach who wasn't a fulltime employee of the district. However, Mount Vernon was not forced to forfeit any games.
Winnsboro was also placed in Howe’s new district and they are coming off a 9-5 season where they lost to Gladewater in the third round. Former Mount Vernon head coach Josh Finney was named the new head football coach at Winnsboro High School last season. Finney, a Winnsboro High graduate, spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Mount Vernon posting a 19-5 record and had an impressive 74-32 record in nine years as a head coach at Maud, Teague, Hull-Daisetta and Mount Vernon.
Bonham is again placed in Howe’s district and they will have a new head coach in 2020 as John Fish resigned after going 1-9 a year ago. Fish in 2018, however, led Bonham to their first winning record since 2005 when they went 8-3. The Warriors graduated quarterback Tyler Rodriguez and couldn’t find the same magic in 2019.
Commerce is another returning district opponent. The Bulldogs had a chance to make the playoffs a year ago with a win at Commerce, but injuries and turnovers kept Howe out of the playoffs for the third-straight season. Commerce was 4-7 a year ago with wins over Howe, Bonham, and Lone Oak. They were eliminated mightily in the first round of the playoffs by Malakoff, 49-3. They are led by head coach Cody Farrell who was hired in January 2017.
Pottsboro is returning as district foes and they are coming off their best season in school history as they went 15-1 and lost to Grandview (42-35) in the state championship game. The Cardinals have a staple in head coach Matt Poe who will be entering his 15th season in Pottsboro. His career record is 13041 which has all come at Pottsboro. He has led the Cardinals to seven district championships during that time and at one point won 35 consecutive district games.
Emory Rains is another district returnee and are coming off a 6-5 season and were much improved from the 4-5 campaign from 2018. Head Coach Randy Barnes has been at Rains since 2016 and has had 14 playoff teams since his career began in Crandall in 1991. He has an overall career record of 136-101. Rains district wins in 2019 came at the expense of Howe, Lone Oak, Commerce, and Bonham.
Howe far from Howe High?
Mineola is 16-15 since their state championship in 2016. The Bulldogs are 0-1 vs. Mineola alltime. Mineola has 128 more students in high school than Howe.
Mount Vernon is 28-10 over the past three seasons with three trips to the playoffs. The Bulldogs have never played Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon has 128 more students than Howe.
Winnsboro’s 9-5 record a year ago was a big turnaround from a team that went 6-14 in 2017 and 2018. The Bulldogs have never played Winnsboro. Winnsboro has 96 more students than Howe.
Bonham is 12-19 over the past three seasons and will have their third head coach in four seasons in 2020. Howe is 3-1 overall against Bonham. Bonham has 134 more students than Howe.
Commerce is 11-23 over the past three seasons with two trips to the playoffs. The Bulldogs are 1-3 against Commerce with the only win coming in 2013. Commerce has 80 more students in high school than Howe.
Three Year Snapshot of District 5-3A Members
Pottsboro is 23-11 over the past three seasons with three trips to the playoffs. The Bulldogs have lost 9 -straight to the Cardinals and last won in 2010. Pottsboro leads the overall series, 21-10-1. Pottsboro has 61 more students in high school than Howe.
Rains is 11-19 over the past three seasons with 2019 being their only trip to the playoffs. The Bulldogs are 0-2 overall against Emory Rains with both matchups coming in the last two seasons. Rains has 109 more students in high school than Howe.
All-time leader in wins (51). District, Bi-District, Regional Champs.
Second in wins (41). District, Bi-District, Area Champions in 1985 and 1989. Four playoff teams.
1996-2000
Third in wins (34). District, Bi-District Champions 1998. Three playoff teams.
2013-2014
Fourth in wins (30). Most in playoff wins (5). District Champs (1), BiDistrict and Area Champs (2).
1980-1984
Fifth in wins (29). District Champions and Co-District Champions.
Leslie Walden 1938-1939
Sixth in wins (18). Had a winning percentage of .900 with a career record of 18 -2-2.
E.G.
1946-1947
Tied for seventh in wins (16). His defense in 1945 gave up zero points in the regular season
James
Wade 1976-1979
Tied for seventh in wins (16). Brought the Victory Light to Howe.
Joey McQueen 1990-1992
Tied for seventh in wins (16) and first in playoff ties (2). District, Bi-District, Area Champions.
The victory light history dates back to 1977 when Howe Head Coach James "Blackie" Wade had eighteen light bulbs tied together in the form of the V on the back of the press box. The light bulb V came down after the 1991 season and was replaced by a generic Bulldog logo and the tradition
building in Downtown Howe. The light is still lit after each Howe Friday night varsity football victory.
When an EF-1 tornado ripped through Howe in April of 2016, the light was lit in honor of the heroic efforts of the community to help neighbors clean up.
The only other non-varsity football lightings came when
was lost.
In 2008, the V was put back on the press box and was there until
the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the fifth round of the playoffs in softball in 2017, when the Lady
In 1964, Howe hired former Gunter Tiger and Austin College Kangaroo Norman Dickey as head coach. Howe had finished the ’63 season with 13 kids left on the team and Dickey went to every eligible student before his initial season and rounded up 20 kids to play football. With most of the kids underclassmen, the future looked bright for Bulldog football. Norman Dickey would go on to record more victories than any other coach in school history.
The 1946 team gave up 19 points in 10 games to become the best defensive team in Howe history. New coach Jack Osborne brought his undefeated record from Missouri to Howe. The Bulldogs had seven shutouts and finished the season 9-0-1. The 6
6 tie with Pilot Point cost the Bulldogs a playoff spot. Howe shared the District Championship with Pilot Point and for the first time had the label of Co-Champions. During that season, Howe sported an aerial attack for the first time with Jack Gattis throwing touchdown passes to Ned Estes time and time again.
Howe had the most successful run since the 1940s when John "Buck" Smith was hired in 1980 through the Jim Fryar years and ended with Joey McQueen at the helm in 1991. From 1984-1991, Howe made the playoffs in seven of the eight seasons back when the UIL only took two teams from each district. Howe won the district championship in 1984, 1985, 1989, and 1991. They were bi-district champions in 1985, 1989, and 1990 and captured the area championship in 1985, 1989, and 1990.
Dave DuBose took the head coaching position in 1996 and turned the program around after a down turn. His 1998 team tied a school record with 10 wins and were district and bi-district champions that year. They also made a playoff trip the following two years. In 2010, Howe came from nowhere with new head coach Cory Crane to win nine games and earn a first round bye in the playoffs.
Howe Bulldogs Head Coach Norman Dickey knew he was going to have a good football team in 1970. Typically, when a team has multiple 3-year starters, they are going to be good and Howe returned 12 offensive and defensive starters in Class B from a team that won 4-straight district games in 1969 before being shutout by then-district mate Allen, 28-0. In those days, you had to win district to make the playoffs and if Allen was around, Howe had virtually no shot at the playoffs. The Eagles of Allen had beaten Howe seven of the nine matchups since the Bulldogs restarted their football program in 1958. However, when the district realignment was announced, Howe had a reprieve and Allen was gone and replaced with Prosper. Yes, there was a time when the UIL realignment was not an automatic hit job on the black and white.
Before the season, Dickey knew that he would have 3-year starter Rick Hanning at quarterback, multi-year standouts in halfback Ricky Orr, guards Lenny Gray and Butch Thornhill with Butch Schneider shifting to center. Jerry Dukes returned at receiver after replacing the injured Johnny Troxtell in the previous season. Steve Underwood also returned as an offensive tackle. On defense, they were heavy in returnees as well with Mike Bledsoe and David Morrison returning at linebacker and Orr and Robert Billy at defensive back. The defensive line was heavy on experience with Gray, Tim Underwood, Thornhill, and Dukes. With a large inner rivalry between the senior and junior classes, those differences were put aside for a few months, at least between the players on the field. While the starters were well in place before the pads came on, Dickey said that he was concerned for the depth on the roster and for the lack of
speed. With assistant coaches Raymond Adams and Tommy Skipworth beside him, Dickey and the Bulldogs prepared for what appeared to be a promising season and hit the gas on opening night at Anna and cruised to a 22-0 win with Orr scoring the season’s first touchdown on the initial drive.
The Dogs took their first loss of the season a week later against Whitewright and it was a bad one. The Tigers ran 337 yards up-anddown the field on Howe en route to their 24-0 win. Hanning was only able to pass for 88 yards, but he booted punts of 46, 51, 41, and 39 yards. Things got worse for the promising Bulldogs as they dropped the home opener at Bulldog Stadium to Crandall, 12-7. The Pirates, were the defending regional champions and Howe had a chance to win the game in a downpour with fans in their cars all along the field late in the fourth quarter, but bad exchange of a handoff led to a fumble near the goal line and the Pirates escaped town as if train robbers on the tracks next to the stadium.
With Howe with a record of 1-2, the Bulldogs now entered district play with slumped shoulders.
“After some soul searching by everyone on the team, it was decided that it was our time and we had what it took and were capable if we asserted ourselves,” said Orr in a 1999 interview. “Instead of having to sit in the stands and watch whoever else won the district, we were ready for it to be us. We started to come together as a team after that loss. It brought us together and it was a big turning point in our season.”
The Dogs took out their frustrations
on their rival opponent Van Alstyne the next week at Bulldog Stadium in the 13th Battle of the Silver Spike and walked away with a 13-point win. It was the first time Howe had beaten the Panthers since 1946 and it snapped a 7-game losing streak to big blue. The round out the non-district schedule, Howe toppled Community, 42-20 and Dallas Greenhill, 18-14.
Prosper was Howe’s first district opponent and they were not the large city with multiple large schools as they are now. Then, they were much like Howe and the Bulldogs thumped them 20-8 at home to begin their quest for the first Howe playoff berth since 1945.
Scheduling was a favor for Howe and Dickey boldly slotted homecoming for the heavily favored and highly touted Celina Bobcats. The move was a shaky one for the 7 -year Howe coach. The players did what the high school kids do. After the bonfire on Thursday night, much of the players did not get home in time for curfew and before the game in the field house at Bulldog Stadium, Dickey let them know about it.
“Everything was dead serious. Prior to the game, Coach Dickey addressed the team,” said Orr. “He was more serious than seemed like he normally would have been. He brought up the fact that some people the night before had been seen out after curfew and he was disappointed. I was one of those that were out somewhere and possibly visible to him if he were driving by the right location.”
Dickey told the team that he was not going to do anything about right
before the game, but on Monday they would take care of it. He then laid into them that they better perform to maximum level due to the situation.
Whether it was the extra motivation or the large homecoming crowd or the coaching strategy or all the above, Howe shocked Celina and the pregame prognosticators by thumping them for a 26-0 ride. Only sporting a 2-0 lead at the half, the defense held Celina to 77 yards of offense throughout the game. “The Curfew Cowboys” pulled off the massive upset even though they committed 12 penalties for 121 yards and had the game’s only turnover. The postgame celebration was shortlived as moments after congratulating the players, Dickey brought up the curfew issue again. He said he did not want to single anyone out but wanted to see a show of hands of the players who were guilty.
“About seven or eight hands go up and he gets this surprised look on his face because he’d only seen one person at the Dairy Queen,” said Orr. “The rest of us just voluntarily raised our hands thinking maybe it was us.” The following Monday, Coach Adams oversaw the Curfew Cowboys and with his cure-all concoction of wind sprints and more wind sprints. The players that raised their hands ran after practice every day of the week. The Bulldogs easily handled the remaining two teams in district with a 33-14 win over S&S and a 42-6 win over Collinsville and became outright district champions for the first time in a quarter-century.
The first Howe playoff game since 1945 took place in McKinney at what is now Ron Poe Stadium. The (Continued on page 71)
(Continued from page 70)
opponent was Lone Oak and Howe started the game slowly perhaps due to facing two cupcakes where starters rested a lot heading into the playoffs and not being challenged. After Hanning’s punt was blocked just before half, the Dogs entered the locker room trailing 12-7. But after another Dickey disquisition at the half, Howe came back to take the lead when Hanning hit Dukes for a 25 -yard strike and score.
“He lowered the boom on us and rightfully so,” said Orr. “He said we weren’t representing our school or community very well and he was right.”
Howe shutout the Buffaloes the remainder of the game for the 21-12 win. Dickey was presented the bidistrict trophy by the president of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce. It was the first time Howe had ever won a playoff game on the field. In 1938, Howe lost the bi-district crown to Anna, but was later given the trophy after it was found that Anna used ineligible players. Howe also tied Sanger in 1942 in the bi-district round.
The next opponent for Howe was Windthorst, who according to Dickey, was one of the largest teams he had ever seen. “We had exchanged films with them, and they were huge,” said Dickey in a 1999 interview. “Going in, I really didn’t know (if we could beat them). Of course, I didn’t tell the kids this but being from Windthorst, they were probably farm boys and worked all their life.”
“We asked the coaching staff about
Windthorst and all they could tell us is that they were big,” said Orr. The regional championship matchup between Howe and Windthorst took place at Leeper Stadium in Gainesville and it was to be the final game of the season. In Class B football, there were no quarterfinals or semifinals or state championship. The team that won would never be able to say they were state champions, but they would for the rest of their lives live with the slogan of “we went as far as we could go at that time.”
As the backs, receivers, and special teams left the locker room to the field for pregame, the Windthorst bus pulled in the parking lot.
“These guys were hanging out of the bus, hooping and hollering and beating on the side of the bus and we didn’t know what to think,” said Orr. “We didn’t know if that was the way they approached every game or if they were just trying to intimidate us or what they were doing. When they got off the bus, we took a look at them and sure enough, they were big.”
Size is not the cure-all in football. If not for three Howe fumbles, the game would have been an absolute slaughter by the Bulldogs. Howe’s defense allowed only 63 rushing yards and 35 passing yards while racking up 272 yards on the ground and another 50 in the air. It was Orr who ended the game and his high school career with a pass interception at the Howe 30 with a spectacular return to the 10.
Eight starters played their final high school game that evening in Gainesville. In addition to Orr, Bledsoe, Morrison, Schneider, Thornhill, Eddie Hamilton, and Tim Underwood became the only Bulldog starters to ever walk off the field with a win in the playoffs. Until Howe wins a state championship, they will remain so.
“The difference between our team and some of those other teams that we were associated with is that we had a common goal in mind,” said Orr. “No one really cared who got the glory, for the most part. We wanted to win the district championship and wanted to be the ones representing the district. We wanted people to come and see us play.”
In the early 1980s, high school mascots were not abundant in North Texas and Howe had no intentions of having one either. But a cheerleader tryout that went awry for a returning varsity cheerleader led to the creation of something great.
at the NCA store. Betty Terry immediately purchased the $600 Bulldog suit.
"After we bought it, we went and asked Mr. (Donal) Gilstrap (the high school principal) if I could be the mascot," said Tina Terry. "He said okay, but you don't have a suit. I said, yes I do. We kind of didn't give him a choice."
In the fall of 1984, the Bulldog mascot, not yet named, took the field for the first time. The Bulldogs were one of the only teams around to have a mascot but Terry remembered the first encounter with a rival mascot.
Tina Terry, a sophomore varsity cheerleader didn't make the cut her junior year and to make things worse, her sister Tanja was selected. Both sisters and their mother Betty went cheerleader outfit shopping at the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) store in Dallas. The mom of the varsity cheerleader and former varsity cheerleader had a
"The first other mascot was in Anna and I ended up motioning to the Anna Coyote to meet me in the middle of the field," said Terry. "We kind of did a little round of fisticuffs right before the game."
Even though Terry was the first mascot as a junior and bought the suit, Gilstrap
be mascot again her senior year. Terry won the nomination against several competitors. Once Tina Terry graduated from Howe High School in 1986, the family donated the Bulldog suit to the school. Jodi Shannon took over as the mascot and the name "Spike" first appeared that fall. Since that first fall of 1984, the Spike club has grown to several members. Following Terry and Shannon were Heather Turnbow, Brandi Whaley, Michelle Haynes, Casey Keene, Janet Middleton, Jamie Middleton, Sarah Earls, Courtney Williams,
Melissa Boatman, Lindsay Nicholas, Ashley Stogsdill, Kelsa Bertrand, Kiley Huntsman, Tayler Earnhart, Hannah Holt, Kallie McClain, Megan Ing, Marissa Rose, Darby Stewart, Rachel White, and Chris Blaszack, Kiley Fleming, Emma Sutherland, and Reagan Troxtell.
When Tina Terry didn't get selected for varsity cheerleader, she didn't tuck her tail, she grew one. And the Bulldogs have never been the same since.
- Howe Enterprise
Anna Bi-District Champs* forfeit
Lewisville - Bi-District (home)
Lewisville - Bi-District
Sanger - Bi-District
Frisco - Bi District
Lone Oak - Bi-District Champs
Windthorst - Regional Champs
Farmersville - Bi-District
Farmersville - Bi-District Champs
Grand Saline - Area Champs
Groveton - Regional
Pilot Point - Bi District
Farmersville - Bi-District
Royse City - Bi-District Champs
Electra - Area Champs
McGregor - Regional
Celina - Bi-District Champs
Olney - Area Champs
Mart - Regional
Van Alstyne - Bi-District
Pilot Point - Bi District Champs
Boyd - Area
Pilot Point - Bi District
Farmersville - Bi-District
Grand Saline - Bi-District
Maypearl - Area
New Boston - Area
Cooper - Bi-District
Hughes Springs - Area
Waskom - Regional
Edgewood - Bi-District
New London West Rusk - Regional
Grandview - Bi-District
Jefferson - Area
Mineola - Regional
Most points scored in a single game
Most points given up in a single game
Most points scored in a single playoff run
Most points given up in a single playoff run
Least points given up in a single playoff run
Least points scored in a single playoff run
Most wins in a single playoff run
Most ties in a single playoff run
Most wins vs. an opponent
Most losses vs. an opponent
Most games vs. an opponent
Total shutouts
Total times shutout
Last shutout
Last time shutout by opponent
Most overall points scored vs. an opponent
Most overall points given up vs. an opponent
Most wins by a head coach
Most losses by a head coach
Most playoff games started
Panther Stadium, Van Alstyne, TX
Bulldog Stadium, Howe, TX
Teachers College, Denton, TX
Whitesboro, TX
Newsome Stadium, McKinney, TX
Ron Poe Stadium, McKinney, TX
Leeper Stadium, Gainesville, TX
Bearcat Stadium, Sherman, TX
Warrior Stadium, Bonham, TX
Homer B. Johnson Stadium, Garland, TX
Tiger Stadium, Corsicana, TX
Clark Stadium, Plano, TX
Williams Stadium, Garland, TX
Bulldog Stadium, Howe, TX
Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls, TX
Mesquite Memorial Stadium, Mesquite, TX
Clark Stadium, Plano, TX
UTA Maverick Stadium, Arlington, TX
Pennington Field, Bedford, TX
Clark Stadium, Plano, TX
Denton ISD Stadium, Denton, TX
Pennington Field, Bedford, TX
Pennington Field, Bedford, TX
Denton ISD Stadium, Denton, TX
Tom Kimbrough Stadium, Murphy, TX
Pirate Stadium, Wylie, TX
Wildcat Stadium, Paris, TX
Jackie Hendricks Stadium, Princeton, TX
Van Memorial Stadium, Van, TX
Rose Stadium, Tyler, TX
Royse City ISD Stadium, Royse City, TX
Forney City Bank Stadium, Forney, TX
Northwest ISD Stadium, Justin, TX
Lindale Eagle Stadium, Lindale, TX
Royse City ISD Stadium, Royse City, TX
Frisco, Farmersville (2), New Boston
Celina, Olney
all 14 wins vs. 14 different teams
Farmersville
Farmersville
Windthorst, Grand Saline
Frisco, Farmersville (2), Mart, New Boston
Grand Saline
New Boston
Hughes Springs
Lewisville, Farmersville
Zack Hudson
Jim Fryar
Andrew Griffin
Brandon Wall
Tyler Grisham
started
Most playoff games started Most playoff games started Most
started
Brice Honaker
Mike Helpenstell
Clay Marshall
Tanner Hartsfield
Matt Griffin
Game Records
Yards are not a complete list (482 games have been completed). Point records are completed
