The Lions Mothers Club was established in 1945 to raise money for the first Father-Son Football Banquet by selling bleacher pillows and programs at all the home games. The organization is still going strong and is celebrating its 75th year in 2020.
“For me it’s been the most rewarding job over the years,” said Lions Mothers Club president Christi Jetton. “When I met Brad in 1999 he introduced me to the Brownwood Lions and it’s been non-stop for 21 years. We have been going to 7-on-7 tournaments since 2000 and we did not have anyone playing. I was pregnant with Braden and Brad became the coach. I grew very close to all the mommas and they always made sure I was taking care of myself. I will never forget the ladies that made me look so forward to being in the LMC – Penessi Taylor, Debbie Pachall, Alisa Johnson, Vera Longoria, Shannon McShan, Kim Horton, Lynn Humeniuk, Angie Bertrand and so many more that showed me what the LMC was all about and was always willing to go out of their way to make sure all the boys were taking care of everyday. I hope that the legacy will continue for 75 more years and I hope we have showed these boys how much we all love them. It’s hard to believe that my time in the club is getting close to being over and it will be a very sad day for me. We still have boys stop by and say hello that graduated a long time ago. It’s definitely a bond between moms and these boys that last a lifetime and I have made some amazing lifetime friends.”
Along with Jetton – who has three more years remaining before her run on nine straight years concludes – other officers this year include vice-president Heather Still, treasurer Christy Robinson, secretary Jeina Hooker, public relations Jessica Doud, hospitality Kara Bessent and Melissa Espinoza, and merchandise Stacey Phariss.
With over 100 members, the Lions Mothers Club continues to host the annual football banquet but has added many more events and activities including the football pool party, Sonic Car Hop, Little Lions program, locker room and school decorating, bonfire, school and community flags, goody bags, varsity Lion yard signs, fatty night, Thanksgiving meal, playoff breakfasts and much more.
The Lions Mothers Club still sells programs at every home game but has now added T-shirts, flags, umbrellas, key chains, hats, bags, bells and numerous other items. The inventory grows every year and has changed quite a bit since 1945. When the Lions Mothers Club first began, everything was made by hand. The members sewed the bleacher pillows and made key chains. The program took months to complete. The mothers would contact businesses in person to ask for donations, tape pictures into place, and type or write every word themselves.
Jetton said additional activities include, “providing the student section with bells, putting up all the banners and posters for every home game and taking them down after everyone is gone, planning all year for the banquet, and snack bags every Sunday for varsity and two times a season for freshman and JV, the Debbie Ellis Scholarship, put and take down flags on traffic T and at school, the bonfire when it’s permitted, locker room decorating, paw prints on the road, Little Lions monthly meetings, making and painting/drawing signs on Saturdays, decorate every Sunday, coaches snacks every Sunday, provide waters for all the football boys during the year, tons of merchandise sales, and program design and sales. Most of stuff we do comes out of out of our LMC fund but a bunch is paid for by moms.”
Head coach Gordon Wood was a huge supporter of the Lions Mothers Club. In his book “Gordon Wood’s Game Plan to Winning Football” published in 1992, he stated, “We have a Mothers Club in Brownwood that has contributed much to the success of our team.” The Lions Mothers Club continues to work closely with the coaches. Although the Lions Mothers Club was formed to raise money for the Father-Son Banquet, it has grown into a year-round program to support the football players not only during the season but also during the off-season, 7-on-7, the Lineman Challenge, summer workouts and two-a-days.
To support the Lions Mothers Club, visit the merchandise table at each home game or shop online at https://lions-mothers-club.square.site. For more information on how to join or donate, email [email protected] or ask an officer.