FBC Memory Bell

FBC Howe places 1904 church bell on campus grounds

William Powell places a strap around the historic church bell to slide it into place with his John Deere tractor. Charles and Phillip Farris helped Powell put it in place. Staff photo.

Several years ago, a Memorial Team was created at First Baptist Church of Howe to create a memorial location on the church campus grounds. The members of the committee were JoAnne Dickey, Nelda Allison, Norma White, and Donna Pelkey. This group created an idea to take memorial offerings to develop a place on the property where anyone could take time to pray, remember loved ones, and glorify God. Somewhere during the journey, it was mentioned that the church bell should be included in the project. This created the “Memory Bell Project.” The original church bell for the First Baptist Church dates back to 1904 at the first location at the southwest corner of Denny Street and Davis Street. The bell called Howe to worship for 50 years before being moved directly across Denny Street in 1955 to the newly constructed red brick church which is currently the Fellowship Hall.

When FBC Howe constructed a new sanctuary in the 1970s, the bell was left in the Fellowship Hall. In 2013, a metal roof was placed on the entire property which prompted the removal of the bell which has been in storage since.

Through the years, those with fond memories of the church bell wished it could be presented in some fashion. In 2013, the church voted to place the bell with the sign in the area of the yard between the Fellowship Hall and the Auditorium. The church electronic marquee sign was placed on the corner of the church property near Denny Street for visibility of drivers and passengers on Highway 5. But the bell remained in storage. Taking up the mantle of the 2013 church vote, the Memory Bell team completed the project last week by placing it in the yard as originally voted.

The group, led by Art Rayburn, said inflation and other outside interference caused the team to make adjustments to the original blueprints, but with the help of Phillip Farris, the new and updated design was much more cost effective while still remaining beautiful to the original idea.

The team held true to the original concept of a metal bell housing that looks more modern, but blends in the traditions of the past. The metal bell housing sits on a concrete hexagon shaped pad with memorial bricks leading to the center. This is in keeping with the original vote in 2013.

There will also be a Memory Bell plaque attached to an Austin stone plaque holder. The plaque will read:

Memory Bell 1905 Remembering Our Christian Heritage and Those Who Have Gone Before Us.

The bell was recently sandblasted and sealed to be able to be withstand the weather. Two benches will be placed on either side of the bell housing that allows those to stay and pray. New trees and plants will also turn the area into a beautiful place of prayer.

Each memorial brick can be purchased by a church member and be engraved with either in memory or in honor of a loved one.

Senior Ryan Hough had a huge night with five catches and 136 yards receiving and a touchdown. Photo by Michelle Carney.

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game and all classifications. Sophomore kicker Jonathan Garcia remains perfect on the season in extra points as he booted seven Friday night. Sophomore Beau Stephens racked up 13 tackles to lead Howe. Junior Mahlon Walker recorded two sacks and two tackles for loss. Junior Kolin Murphy had his first interception and senior Matt Hayes recovered a fumble.

Offensively, senior Antwone Rattler led Howe in rushing with 86 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. Haley, who is completing 71% of his passes thus far in 2022, at one point had completed nine straight before throwing an incomplete pass. He finished the night 15-of-18 for 306.

Senior Ryan Hough showed his explosiveness as he led Howe with five catches and 136 yards and a touchdown. Junior Cooper Jones added four catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Braden Ulmer caught the first Haley touchdown and he finished with three catches for 43 yards.

Howe raced out to a quick lead and kept the dog paw on the throat throughout the game. On the fifth play of the game, Haley connected on a short pass to Ulmer who punished a defender on his way to a 10-yard score to give Howe an early 7-0 lead.

Tom Bean’s first drive stalled on third down when Tom Cat running back Gavin Hamilton fell into the arms of Walker on third down forcing a punt. Haley and Jones only needed one play to get in the endzone on a 71-yard scoring strike where Jones was all alone on the Howe side. The PAT by Garcia made it 14-0 with 7:26 left in the first quarter.

Tom Bean’s next possession went backwards as Walker picked up both of his sacks on the drive and the Tom Cats were forced to punt out of their own endzone. Jones ran the punt back inside the 10, but a penalty drove it back to the Tom Bean 22 yard line. From there, it took five plays for Howe to reach the endzone when Rattler scored from the 1-yard line. Howe led 21-0 with 3:06 remaining in the first quarter.

Tom Bean started moving the football near midfield on their next drive, but Hayes forced a Hamilton fumble and Howe was able to score again one play later when Haley hit Hough for 54 yards. Howe led 28-0 with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter.

Tom Cat quarterback Branson Ashlock was unable to connect with receiver DJ Pearson on a home run throw and Tom Bean was forced to punt it back to Howe. Penalties began to rack up on the next drive, but after a Haley to Hough quick strike of 28 yards and an electrifying 25-yard run by Rattler, Howe found themselves in the endzone again when Haley pulled the ball out of the gut of Rattler and went the 15 yards needed for the score. (Continued on page 6)

Kendall Griffin (12) goes to the ground for a save. Also pictured are Jordan Brunner (2) and Teagan Stubblefield. Photo by Alexa Brunner.

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Howe with 3 aces. On Friday, Howe lost at home to Dodd City 3-2 with scores of 25-19, 17-25, 25-17, 25-22, and16-14. Talia Bjorn had 17 assists, with Bouse right behind her at 15. Griffin had 24 digs, four aces, and 13 kills with Jenna Clark finishing with 15 digs.

Full stats:

Howe vs. Sam Rayburn

Teagan Stubblefield- 2 aces, 6 digs Jordan Brunner- 2 digs, 2 kills Reese Smith- 4 digs Presley Shockey- 1 ace, 11 kills Korie Bouse- 3 aces, 1 dig, 2 kills Talia Bjorn- 2 digs Keira Robertson- 2 digs Shelbee Taylor- 4 kills Kendall Griffin- 13 digs, 6 kills Emery Snapp- 6 kills Kamry Snapp- 4 kills, 3 digs.

Howe vs. Dodd City

Jenna Clark- 1 ace, 15 digs Jordan Brunner- 2 kills Teagan Stubblefield- 1 ace, 10 digs Reese Smith- 8 digs Presley Shockey- 9 kills Korie Bouse- 15 assists, 2 digs, 2 aces Talia Bjorn- 17 assists, 2 digs, 2 aces Shelbee Taylor- 3 kills Kendall Griffin- 4 aces, 24 digs, 13 kills

Howe sophomore Beau Stephens (9) led the Dogs in tackles with 13. Photo by Michelle Carney.

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Howe led 35-0 with 7:29 left in the second quarter.

Tom Bean put together their scoring drive on the next possession as they marched 12 plays and 70 yards before Hamilton scored from the two yard line. The point after was no good and the score was 35-6 with 1:14 left before half. Howe ran out of time on their next possession and the first half ended.

Tom Bean’s first possession of the second half ended with a great defensive play by sophomore Triston Williams who deflected the ball in the air where Murphy intercepted it. That set up Howe’s next drive that took eight plays, 66 yards and ended on a Jones to Haley pass out of the “Wild Dog” package for a 3-yard score. That gave Howe a 42-6 lead with 7:03 left in the third. phens. Howe’s next possession traveled into the fourth quarter as the Dogs kept in the ground for the most part. Big runs by senior Carson Daniels, Jones, and Ulmer capped off a 9-play drive that finished with a 7-yard score by Rattler. That finished out the scoring at 49-6 with 10:26 left in the game.

Howe’s 49-6 win was the most lopsided win for Howe since the Dogs beat Tom Bean 77-0 in 2015 and set a school record for points in a game.

Howe moves to 2-0 for the first time since 2018 when they eventually started 3. Howe Head Coach Lance Bryan starts his Bulldogs career at 2-0. Other Dogs head coaches to do so are Jehling (3-0 in 2018), Corey Crane (40 in 2010), Davey DuBose (3-0 in 1996), Jim Fryar (2-0 in 1985), George Matlock (3-0 in 1948), Jack Osborn (8 -0 in 1946), John B. Lair (8-0 in 1945), Self-coached (2-0 in 1942), H.A. McDonald (4-0 in 1941), Wesley Cox (9-0 in 1940), L.B. Morris (2-0 in 1936).

Howe will host Commerce Friday night at Bulldog Stadium for a 7:30 kick. The Tiger are 0-2 after a 3231 loss to Leonard Friday.

The game will be aired live at HoweEnterprise.com and on YouTube at Studio42.

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Tom Bean was forced to punt again thanks to a stingy defense led by Ste-