Fifty Years of Football: Part Ten – Super Fans

By Stephen D. Bowling

This is the tenth installment of a series of articles that follow the development and success of the football team at Breathitt High School.

Through the years, Breathitt County football enjoyed a tremendous following. Fans from across the county and state have followed the Blue and White wherever they go to play. The team relies on the support of the community, and there have been some fans who went above and beyond. While we cannot name all of the Bobcat’s loyal followers, here are three examples of what could be identified as “Super Fans.”

The Football Ladies

They were at every game- rain or sun- hot or cold. They rarely, if ever, missed an opportunity to watch Breathitt High School sports and especially the football team, as the Bobcats claimed three Class 2A state championships. They arrived early and stayed until after the end of every game. Most people never knew their names. To many, they were known as “The Football Ladies.”

Henrietta Griffith and Mary Ellen Lowery were fixtures in their seats at the stadium. They arrived early and bundled themselves up for a long night of football. They supported the team in every way possible and did their part by always “praying for the team’s safety and, of course, the victory.”

A greeting from the coach and the BHS football team in the December 12, 2007 edition of The Breathitt County Voice wished the #1 Bobcat Fans, Griffith and Mowery, a Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday to Mary Ellen Mowery.

Henrietta Griffith, a native of New Jersey, found her way to the campus of the Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute (now Kentucky Mountain Bible College) in 1951. For the next sixty-plus years, she was a fixture on the campus, teaching physical education at Mount Carmel, Christian Education, Bible classes, and Theology at the college. She was later ordained in 1968 and served as an evangelist and missionary. Through the years, she received numerous accommodations for her teaching and service to the students at KMBC.

She served the school and community in numerous ways. For many years, she was the Dormitory Supervisor, a Counselor, and President of the KMBC Alumni Association. She hosted numerous Methodist Women’s teas and dinner meetings. She loved to talk about her trips to visit missionaries in India in 1985 and 1986. Miss Griffith loved to get her hands dirty with work, whether it was painting, hanging wallpaper, or planting flowers on campus. She loved to work and loved to serve her fellow man. She was active in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and served as its President for many years.

Miss Mowery received the Distinguished KMBC Alumnus Award in 2021 from Dr. Philip Speas.

Mary Ellen Mowery arrived at KMBC in 1958 and graduated in 1961. She immediately joined the staff. In 1968, she was hired as the campus head dietitian and worked to prepare healthy and nourishing meals for the campus for the next 45 years. She never stopped learning and serving the students and campus of KMBC. Born in Pennsylvania, Mowery served as Missionary Prayer Band Director for the school and was active in campus life, mentoring hundreds of students.

Known as the “Queen of The Kitchen,” Mowery ensured every student and faculty member had enough to eat, but she believed in other forms of service to her community.

Beginning at age 27, she donated blood during local drives at least twice a year for over 50 years. In 2011, she was honored for her 128th blood donation. “It is something you can do to help somebody out,” Mowery told The Jackson Times in 2011. “It is needed, and if I were needing blood, I would be very happy if someone gave it for me.” She was credited with saving 300 lives during her donating career.

Exactly when they first started attending Breathitt football and basketball games is unknown, but by the late 1980s, they were regulars and inseparable. Both ladies were athletic and loved to hike and walk. Their campus ping pong battles were the stuff of legends around the school, but Mowery carried the title of KMBC Campus Ping Pong Champion.

“I cannot remember the first game that we went to,” Mowery said in a 2023 interview. “I always grew up going to sporting events, and we just naturally ended up at the games. We like basketball and especially football. We loved it and really enjoyed the time we had there.”

On November 27, 2008, the Jackson Downtown Christmas Committee announced that Mowery and Griffith would serve as the Grand Marshals of their annual parade. On December 6, 2008, Griffith and Mowery, bundled up in warm coats, waved to the crowds along the parade route as they made their way through Jackson at the head of the parade.

Mary E. Mowery and Henrietta Griffith rode through the Jackson Downtown Christmas Parade as Grand Marshals in 2008.

In 2015, KMBC announced a fundraising effort to construct a home for Mary Ellen Mowery and Henrietta Griffith. Donations poured into KMBC in honor of these two ladies and their faithful service to the school. They moved into their new cottage with a large campus celebration of their service about a year and a half later.

Health issues caught up with Henrietta Griffith shortly after her retirement. She died on September 24, 2021, and was buried in the Lawson Cemetery on the campus of Mount Carmel School. She was a member of the KMBC Faculty for 62 years.

In 2019, Mary Ellen Mowery retired as Head Dietician after 58 years. The school started a drive to replace the kitchen equipment at the school, some of which were 25 years old. In 2021, Mowery was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus for KMBC. She continues to live in the cottage constructed for her on the campus. She still cheers for the Bobcats but is unable to attend the games.

Stacey Spicer

She screamed. She yelled. She jumped and cheered while waiving her blue and white pom-pom above her head. She was truly a sports super fan. One of her favorite teams was the Breathitt County Bobcats.

Stacey Spicer was the daughter of James M. and Carol Spicer of Jackson. She was different from other children and never allowed her differences to stop her from accomplishing anything she wanted to do. Her parents raised her to never think of her condition as an excuse or as a reason for sadness. She developed into a kind and caring young woman. Stacey could always see the good in everyone around her, always greeting everyone with a smile and a big hug.

She enjoyed skating, dancing, swimming, running, and exercising. She was a member of the Environmental Club and the team manager of the JCS girl’s basketball team. Stacey graduated from Jackson City School in 1984 and always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Stacey never met a stranger and talked to everyone at the game about the Bobcats. Stacey loved to dance at the Honey Festival and thoroughly enjoyed the event each year. She loved children and, in 1993, welcomed a nephew whom she loved (James Allen Ahlgren).

About 1987 or 1988, she started visiting friends at the Breathitt County Courthouse. She started telling everyone that she “worked” for the county. Stacey faithfully reported for duty every day as the various offices found small jobs for her to do, including special jobs at the Middle Kentucky River Area Development Council offices in the basement. She never asked for payment for her work.

She became special friends with County Judge Executive Nim Henson, and he often bought her lunch. Stacey often bragged that Judge Henson made her the “boss over the whole courthouse.” They often talked about Stacey’s other love- professional wrestling on television or at the National Guard Armory.

During many of her courthouse visits, Stacey showed off her latest Breathitt Football tee shirt or sweatshirt given to her by the team. She also wore them to the football games, where she sat in the first row on the lower level of the old Breathitt High School football stadium so that she could see the game and talk to everyone that came up the ramp. She laughed and smiled when the Bobcats brought home the win and frequently shed tears when they fell a little short. She was loved and cared for by everyone who knew this super fan.

Breathitt County Judge Lewis H. Warrix presented a special plaque for her support of local sports teams to Stacey Spicer during the 1997 Honey Festival Kick-Off Dinner.

Stacey had so many friends that she could always find a ride to an away game. She always started more than a week ahead, asking friends for a lift to the game. She was always on time and ready to go with her coat and with several garbage bags that she would quickly turn into a poncho if the rain started.

Mike Holcomb once said that he loved to laugh with Stacey, and they had a weekly routine. “She would call me every week before the game,” Holcomb said. “We would talk, and she would tell me that she had decided to join the team we played that week. When I would react, she would laugh and explain that she was only kidding and that she still supported the Bobcats.”

She was very proud of her “jinx” that she placed on every team the Bobcats played. She told everyone that it was part of why the Bobcats won several state championships. Her jinx was not strong enough, and she was very sad in 1997 when the 42-game Bobcat winning streak came to a muddy end in Lawrence County. With tears in her eyes, she told Pastor John Bunn that it was his fault that they lost because he did not “pray hard enough” for them to win.

After years of medical issues, Bobcat Super Fan Stacey Spicer died on January 4, 1998, at her home (her “Pad,” as she called it) in Jackson. She was 31. As their last show of respect and appreciation, her pallbearers, Coach Mike Holcomb, and the Breathitt High School football team, carried her to her rest in the Jackson Cemetery.

“Stacey was one of our number one fans,” Mike Holcomb said of Spicer. “She’ll be greatly missed by our football program, knowing that she isn’t there to cheer us on from her usual spot. But we know she is still cheering.”

Sam Sanders

He was simply Fan #1.

Thousands of Bobcat fans joined him in his “Go, Go, Go; Go, you mighty Bobcats” cheer. Thousands have laughed and enjoyed his dancing and overly energetic cheerleading. I can see him there now in the old stadium with his megaphone in his hand. I can hear him leading the cheer: “Pork chop, pork chop, Greasy, Greasy. We’ll beat Leslie Easy, Easy.” Everybody knew and loved Sam.

Sam Sanders was recognized as Breathitt Football’s “No. 1 Fan” during the 1978 Football Banquet.

If there was a definition of a super fan in the dictionary, Sam Sanders’ picture would be printed beside it as an illustration.

Samuel “Sam” Sanders came to Breathitt County in 1974 as an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture. By 1977, he was the Assistant Manager of the Plant Materials Center at Quicksand. He crossed Breathitt County with his backpack hydroseeder helping farmers improve their land and slow soil erosion.

He fell in love with the Bobcat football team and all Breathitt County sports. He attended every game and led the cheer section from the stands. His deep baritone voice rose above the crowd, and his animated cheers helped lift the players in good times and bad.

In 1978, Sam Sanders was honored by Coach Dudley Hilton and the Breathitt Bobcat football team as Breathitt County’s “No. 1 Fan and all-around cheerleader.”

Midway through the 1980 football season, the Department of Agriculture transferred Sam Sanders to the soil conservation office at Mayfield in Graves County. Just before he left Jackson in October 1980, the Breathitt County 4-H Council held a dinner to show their appreciation for the work and support of Sam Sanders for the youth in the county. Sanders was presented with an engraved pen to honor the five years of service to the Council.

“He has meant much to our council and 4-H program,” Earl Jury, Council President, said as he presented Sam with the token of the council’s appreciation. Jury thanked Sanders for this inspiration and for starting the Breathitt County Science Fair.

Sanders was described as the “Cheerleader’s” cheerleader by Coach Mike Holcomb. He presented Sanders with a game ball signed by the team in 1987.

“Sam is well-known and liked throughout the county,” said Jack Niece, 4-H agent, “and his leaving is regretted.” The Jackson Times noted that the football team would miss Sam as much as the 4-H council would.

“He’s our #1 fan,” said Al Collins, Booster Club President. “He can get the fans excited as well as encouraging the players when they’re down. I really hate to see him go. Our players look forward to
seeing him, and I know they’ll be disappointed that he’s leaving.”

Sam’s stay in Graves County was short, and he took advantage of the first opportunity to return to Breathitt County. By early 1983, he was “home” and back in his usual spot at Breathitt football games.

He picked up his involvement with local youth organizations in the county. He served on the Board of Directors of the Breathitt County Football Boosters. The same year, he was elected as the President of the Breathitt County 4-H Council and President of the Quicksand Area 4-H Council.

Sam Sanders cheering on the Bobcats on the Breathitt sideline during the first Honey Bowl in 1979.

For the next four years, Sanders was a fixture at every Breathitt football game and boosters meeting. In 1987, the Department of Agriculture announced that Sanders would be reassigned to the Soil Conservation Office in Gainesville, Florida. He was not happy to go. Coach Mike Holcomb and the Bobcats feted him at the annual football banquet and presented him with a special signed football as a farewell gift. He followed Breathitt from afar with updates from local friends.

In August 1997, Sam Sanders made a surprise visit to Breathitt County to see old friends. He stopped by and visited with Jack and Vivian Niece at Quicksand. He told Niece that he was still Breathitt’s biggest fan and was “thrilled to death that they won another state championship” in 1996.

The last information about the whereabouts of Sam Sanders was in 2003 when he was still living in the Gainesville, Florida area and still involved in soil conservation issues. After that, Bobcat fans seem to have lost contact with Sanders. Wherever he is now, one thing is for certain. Sam is still a Bobcat fan and still cheering from the top of his lungs for his Breathitt County football team.

In the first fifty years of Breathitt County football, thousands of cheering fans have packed the two stadiums and the many fields that have been Breathitt’s home. Many football fans follow the Bobcats and have cheered their team on to three state championships and one runner-up finish. A long list of fans could stake a claim for their spot on this list or the title of Breathitt’s top fan. We have highlighted only these four for now. There are thousands more who deserve recognition for their part in making BHS football a community sport.