Part of the Ripon High varsity football tradition is the team dinner that’s reserved for the Thursday night prior to the game.
This week’s dinner will be extra special — a celebration of 100 years of Ripon High football.
A 6 p.m. dinner invitation is open to all RHS football alumni for the Sept. 14 event in the Multi-Purpose Room, 301 N. Acacia Ave. Cost is $5.
Call RHS athletic director Rod Wright, 209.602.5494.
“It’ll be an unscripted evening of years of Ripon High football,” said Wright, who has Ripon Consolidated Fire District Chief Dennis Bitters and Frank Jorgensen scheduled to speak on the school’s rich gridiron tradition.
Both played on the 1976 league-championship team — one of 15 such titles from over the years.
Wright is also hoping to see Jim Tornell, who played quarterback for the Baylor University Bears in the early ‘70s, and New Haven Elementary School Principal David O’Leary, who was also on that Indians’ title team of the mid ‘70s.
Speaking of principals, Ripon High’s current one, Keith Rangel, who played football for the Indians in the ‘90s, will be on hand.
One of the oldest alumni on tap for the team dinner celebration is Cliff Jorgensen, RHS Class of ‘47.
Wright said this should be an unforgettable evening of those sharing stories and memories of Indians’ football from throughout the years.