Yesterday, on the way home from dropping my son off at the bus, I passed a house which I have driven by thousands of times. However, today, there was a pile of trash out at the road (presumably preparing for heavy trash pick up). On the side of the pile of trash, sat this…a red & white cheerleaders megaphone. As I slowed down and proceeded to pass by, I caught a glimpse of the red and white lettering, that we’ve all become accustomed to, “GO COUGARS”
I pulled over, picked it up & put it in the truck. Not knowing just what would come from this day. A day that had started just like so many others. Upon arriving home, I noticed the back side of the megaphone… “PATSY” was inscribed on it, underneath an old PEPSI-COLA logo.
I wasn’t sure if this was truly a UH item, or if it might be a high school which also goes by COUGARS…so I started to research. Finding some interesting leads, I decided to type up a letter, stating I had taken the megaphone from the trash, and asking if the person might have ties to UH, or have any other items pertaining to UH. When I took my lunch break, I drove back to the house, and clipped the letter on to their fence. Not knowing if this might be a dead end, or possibly even cause me to receive calls/texts/emails about digging through their trash, and harassing them lol.
To my joy, about 2-1/2 hours later, I received an email from a lady, stating that the megaphone had belonged to her while she was a cheerleader at UH (1968-1970), and that she was shocked that anyone would want that “old thing.” She said that if I would like to stop by, she had some other stuff that I might be interested in. As soon as I got out of work, I went straight back to her house, where she was waiting on the porch, with several yearbooks, magazine article, and a couple other items which I ended up taking home.
The ladies name is Patsy Kelly (then Clark). What an amazing lady! She was overjoyed at the fact that someone was interested in her story, and interested in her old items. She told me, “my husbands been trying to get me to get rid of that thing for 40 years!”
She told me stories of getting to cheer (using this megaphone) at the “Game of the Century”…getting to have sit ins…getting to be a small part of a large cause… It was so awesome to hear her stories!
After talking with her for about 30 mins, I was on my way back home, with a new friend, new items to display in the HISTORY OF THE PRIDE, and a sense of happiness, that I got the opportunity to meet someone so amazing.
This is exactly why I do what I do. To preserve the history of the school, and the people who attended.
Below are some pictures of the megaphone, some of the other items I was so grateful to acquire from her, and a few photos of her time at UH.
Jason awesome story. It would be great if you could contact our A.D. and Alum office. Agree with other posters these items along with her picture, testimony belong under glass for all to see. These should be on display at Fertitta/Hofheinz. This is how legacy lives on. Promote it, display it and above it cherish it. I could see a video about the Game of the Century with Patsy images then and now giving her recollection.
I have been on other campuses and this is usually a huge part of each major stadiums for these schools. THANK YOU FOR POSTING.
Here is a few of the other items that she gave me when I went back to meet with her.
A hat from her time in the Dixieland Jazz Band, a plaque for being one of the top 10 sports fans on campus, and an article from a magazine (thats her in the middle of the big picture on top)
Upon arriving at UH in 1969, (although I was at the 1967 UH-Michigan State football game) I became a member of the UH band. Thus, I recognize several of the people in your pictures. The band, cheerleaders and Houston Honeys had the great trip to TCU for the first round of the NCAA tournament, where UH beat Dayton. Everyone who was there, remembers the fantastic block by Dwight Davis of a Dayton shot. That picture was used for the basketball schedule for the following year. Frank Stovall, the faculty advisor in the picture, was an amazing and very kind man, who helped guide me and many others during those years.
So amazing! I love hearing from people who were at UH during these times!
If you have any items from your time at UH, and would like for them to get out so people can see them, please let me know. Would love to continue to add to & grow the History of the Pride!
One of these days, I will take pictures of my entire collection.
I have just started a FB page, so I can start documenting the items as they come in, and what story I have for them.
Facebook: History of the Pride | Houston TX
