Bell Brigade a tradition for families

Submitted by Cameron1 on

From left, Gracen Dach, Emily Graham, John Graham, Sam Berry and Presley Berry with the bell after the game against Rockdale. Two generations of each of their families have served on the Bell Brigade over the last two decades.

The Bell Brigade has become a tradition for several Cameron families.

Sam Berry and John Graham served on the first Bell Brigade in 1990 and now their daughters Presley Berry and Emily Graham are serving on the Bell Brigade. James Parker also served on the Bell Brigade in 1990 and his niece Gracen Dach is now a member. 

Sam Berry said the original Bell Brigade began in 1990 when a group of them decided to take the bell to games during the season. 

“Back at that time the student council was in charge of ringing the bell,” he said. “Our junior year we had it and we were in charge.”

He said that during their senior year the group - Jerry Kostroun, Chad Burnett, Sam Berry, John Graham, James Parker and Matt Stone - got together and wore camo during pep rallies and rang the bell. They then decided to wear black shirts and maroon berets and take the bell to games with them.

“Mr. Flynn said it would be OK if we loaded it in our truck and took it to the games, so we did,” Berry said. “It was a fun thing to do. We had no idea that it would become what it is now and that our own kids would one day be doing the same thing.”