For 40 Years Now, Koethers Have Been Part of Chain Gang at Leps Football Games

Remarkably, members of the Koether family have been running the chains and down marker at La Grange football games for 40 years. The late Charles Koether first started on the “chain gang” back in 1982 and his brother Don joined him at some point decades ago when some of the other regulars would go duck hunting. Now Don has been a regular on the chains since 1996 – that’s a span of about 130 home varsity games.

Charles passed away in 2008, but for the last decade or so, his son Blake now carries on the family tradition with his uncle Don.

Don’s son and daughter have even helped over the years. Jared Surman is also a regular part of the chain crew, though not related to the Koethers he’s like an adopted member of the family on Friday nights. “This is the best seat in the house,” Don said. The chain crew keeps track of the down and distance from the visitors sideline, which besides giving them a view-point of the game second only to the players and officials, it also gives them a grand view of the Leopard Stadium home stands and the often stunning sunsets behind. “I do it for the scenery,”

Blake said. “It’s fun.” But being on the visitors sideline also gives them an insider’s viewpoint of opposing teams, and the player and coach interactions there. “Oh yeah, you hear some really interesting stuff over here,” Don laughed. Don said in all his years of working games, one moment stands out most – when he saw Brandon Wilkerson make an amazing one-handed catch in a rainstorm during a 28-22 win over Needville in 2009. There’s certainly many more great moments ahead for the Koethers to see as they continue to roam the sidelines at Leopard Stadium. – Jeff Wick