Today's interviewee is Dr. Stan Hickman, president of the Mary Persons Touchdown Club. Hickman is a former Bulldogs quarterback under GACA Hall of Fame coach Dan Pitts. He also lettered in baseball and golf. He is now owner of Southern Smiles dentistry in his hometown of Forsyth.
Dr. Stan Hickman, Mary Persons TD Club president
1. How long have you been the TD club president, and what do you enjoy about it? "This will be my second year as president. I have two sons. One is a freshman at Mercer [Jason], and one is a freshman at Mary Persons [Logan] who plays baseball and football. Being able to get to know and watch these young men grow and develop, many of which I coached in Little League, is very rewarding."
2. What's the role of the TD Club? "The TD Club is here to help provide our players and coaches the tools to be successful. We do a little bit of everything - provide upgrades to facilities, video recorders, headsets for coaches, equipment, provide money for camps approved by the coaches, feed players every Tuesday night and on Fridays. We also pay for the annual football banquet and lettermen's jackets."
3. What are some misconceptions of booster clubs? "The biggest misconception is that the school system provides funds to pay for the different sports. Our athletic department is funded solely on gate receipts from all sports. However, only a few are actually profitable, mainly football and basketball. From this, each sport gets a certain percentage, hence the need for booster clubs for each sport to make up the gap that these funds don't cover. The need for money and volunteers is always greatly appreciated and needed. It costs about $1,000 just to suit up one football player. Obviously we re-use equipment, but it has to get certified every year, which costs a good bit. The TD Club budget varies year to year. Last year's gate was down a little because we had several home games with some nasty weather. Therefore, we have to find a way to help. We have increased membership and added some business sponsorship levels that include advertising that has really helped increase revenue."
4. What's your favorite memory of a Mary Persons game, and how would you describe Mary Persons football and the support over the years? "My personal favorite playing memory would be when we played Jackson in 1989. We were down 14-3 at half, and Coach Pitts asked me what was going on when we got inside the 10. Which was often, but we weren't scoring. I said, 'Coach, everybody in the stadium knows we are leaving it with the fullback when we get down there.' He said if we block it right, it shouldn't matter. As we were leaving halftime, he grabbed me by the arm and said, 'Take it out.' We ran the triple option, so me taking it out means I wasn't leaving it with the fullback. I scored two touchdowns, and we won 17-14. ... All that have played at Mary Persons have an unspoken bond. Every one of us has shed blood, sweat and tears on those fields, and that unites us. It's said that's what makes that grass grow. Mary Persons football is unique because it is supported by just about if not everyone in our county."
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