Terry Miller remembers when the Houston Quarterback Club reorganized just over 20 years ago.
“The school didn’t have any money and was financially strapped,” Miller recalled. “We were saying, ‘Hey, we need to do a few more things to help out.'”
A group of parents and fans breathed life back into the organization to financially assist the Houston High School football program. Miller said players at the time were paying participation fees and purchasing their own jerseys.
Among the first fundraisers when the group reformed was a pig roast. Other events, like the Geezer Bowl, faded over time. But the pig roast has been an annual hit.
The quarterback club will host its 20th consecutive pig roast on Friday. Cost is $6 for adults or $3 for school-age children. The 6 p.m. event will be followed by the football team’s scrimmage.
Miller has participated in all but one of the previous 19 pig roasts. He was out of town on a fishing trip that year.
The first several roasts were hosted at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds following the football scrimmage. It was later moved to the football facilities and held before the scrimmage. That tradition continues today.
The Bank of Houston has been the major contributor to the pig roast. Miller said the bank, which purchased a market hog at Saturday’s junior livestock sale for this year’s event, has donated the meat for more than half of the roasts.
“They’ve been very good to us,” said Miller, who pointed out that other businesses assist with chips, drinks and paper goods.
Through the years, the quarterback club has made many contributions to the football program. Among them were weight lifting equipment, an improved sound system, a water fountain and ropes for speed and agility training. This year, the organization is purchasing new blocking pads at the request of coach David Williams.
Miller remembers the quarterback club purchasing cold weather gear for the team after a chilly game at Nixa. Miller said it was 30 degrees that night — with a lower wind chill — and many of the players were in short sleeves.
“It was probably the most miserable game I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a lot of games,” he said.
The group also continues to donate funds to feed players after games.
Miller said the main goal of the quarterback club — which included Mark Forbes, Joe Kirkman, Mike Sparks, Rick Pittman and Dean Campbell when it reorganized — was to improve HHS football.
“We wanted to get our program up to par with some of the others around,” he said.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Tiger Stadium
COST: $6 adults; $3 school age