Brownwood ISD Superintendent Reece Blincoe reported that a special part of Brownwood Lions’ history was stolen during the Christmas holiday break. The seven stars from the center of the field are missing, and BISD wants them back.
New turf was recently installed at Gordon Wood Stadium and as the old turf was being removed, BISD officials were planning a surprise gift of thanks to be given to several people who made the past renovation of the stadium possible.
The district had plans to save the leaping lion and the seven stars from the center of the field as the old stadium turf was being removed. The stars were planned to be framed and made into gifts of thanks to those who made the previous renovations of the stadium possible.
“Lots of people did a lot of work to get the original turf, the fencing around the stadium, build the tunnel and to install the original video board,” said Blincoe. “It saddens us because people like Dallas Huston, Steve Freeman, Bart Johnson and a few others were going to get one of those stars. It was going to be a ‘Thanks 10 years later’ for their help and dedication to the Brownwood Lions.”Blincoe explained the plans to frame each star and make a plaque or gift of appreciation to each of the people that played key roles in making the stadium’s upgrades years ago. He stated that at a recent football banquet, each player received a framed piece of turf from the stadium. Like the players, these other Brownwood Lions supporters “deserved their stars,” according to Blincoe.
The company installing the new turf was given notice that BISD wanted to keep the leaping lion and the stars intact and that they should be carefully cut out. Sometime during the Christmas break, when there were few people around, someone came to the stadium and told the workers that they “were here to pick up the stars,” and the workers turned them over as requested. The suspects had arrived in a nice vehicle and looked “official” according to workers who spoke limited English, Blincoe said.
“It happened when there were not many people around,” said Blincoe. “We think it had to be someone who had enough knowledge of the project, that the stars were being saved, and that it was more than one person.”
Blincoe makes an appeal to the person or people who took the stars to do the right thing.
“We just want our stars back. We hope knowing what the intentions were for the stars and that people like Dallas Huston won’t be getting their stars, that someone will feel guilty and bring them back,” said Blincoe. “We haven’t reported the crime to the police yet and we won’t ask any questions. Whoever took them can just drop them off at the doors of the BISD administration building in the middle of the night if they want – no questions asked.”
Blincoe stated that he also wants to ask all Lions fans and people in the area to keep an eye out for the stars.
“If someone sees these stars hanging on a wall or somewhere else, we want to know. We want to know how these people got the stars,” said Blincoe.
The goal of the district is to quietly get the stars back and give them, as intended, to the people who worked hard and are dedicated to the Brownwood Lions. To the people who deserve to have their stars, said Blincoe.
Anyone who has information regarding the theft may call Brownwood ISD at 325-643-5644.
