Cubs boosters come out to Paint the Town Red!
The citizens of Olney showed up in large numbers to “paint the town red” to support the Cub and Lady Cub athletes during the annual Olney Athletic Booster Club’s Paint the Town Red event last week.
The event began with students, parents, volunteers and boosters gathering at the Olney High School gym, where they go over ideas and procedures for painting the storefront windows and decorating streets and fences with messages of encouragement for the fall sports season. This year, a record number of folks turned out to decorate shop windows on Main Street ahead of Friday’s Homecoming game. This year, the booster club obtained permission from the Texas Department of Transportation to allow seniors to paint their names and the school symbol in the intersection of State Highway 114 and 79, starting a new tradition for seniors of OHS. Julie Hinson, OABC president, described the club’s role as meeting as many of the athletic program’s financial needs as possible. “We are here to support all the Olney Cubs and Lady Cubs athletic programs in any way we can,” she said. “We provide snacks or sandwiches, as needed, for the teams for out-oftown games and tournaments, help with needed equipment, and coordinate with the coaches on what is needed.” One of the club’s biggest past projects was the football run-through and tunnel that it purchased three years ago. “We saved up a long time for that, and it was worth it!” she said. The club has provided charter buses for the basketball and football teams to take to the playoffs, and celebrates them at the annual Athletic Banquet The club’s main source of funding comes from selling concessions during football and track seasons. The club is always looking for volunteers to man the concession stand and grill. Volunteers can sign up on the group’s Facebook page.
The club also sells Cub merchandise at games out of the club’s red trailer, and operates a Merchant Photo program for all Varsity athletes. Each year, businesses or individuals sponsor a photo of an athlete and display it in their business..
The photos are given to the athletes at the athletic banquet at the end of the school year.
Ms. Hinson urged Olneyites to get out and support the Cubs through any or all of these avenues.
“We help ignite the Cub spirit in everyone in Big O by offering Cub gear and organizing groups and events throughout the year,” she said.