Oxford’s queen finally has a throne of her very own on which to park her posterior and root for her beloved Wildcats during football season.
‘It is something to behold,? said Helen Smith, a proud 1952 Oxford High School graduate. ‘I was just stunned.?
The Oxford Wildcat Athletic Boosters Association, led by President Mark Stepek, paid to have a special chair custom-made for Smith, who never misses a home game if she can help it.
‘With all of her health conditions, she (still) gets out to all the games and I just love that. It doesn’t matter what the weather is, she’s there,? Stepek said. ‘She’s a diehard Oxford fan and one of the original Booster members. She’s been to every homecoming game since she was in seventh grade.?
‘I love my Oxford football,? said Smith, who noted she only missed one homecoming game because she had pneumonia.
Smith, a passionate, vocal and generous supporter of Oxford athletics for decades, was presented her special chair during the Sept. 26 homecoming game.
‘It all kind of came together pretty quickly,? Stepek said. ‘The idea (for the chair) came to me on Monday morning of homecoming week and we had it for her by game time.?
The chair was a complete surprise to Smith.
‘I was actually speechless. I didn’t know what to say,? she said. ‘I was just so floored by it. I just couldn’t believe they did this for me. I almost cried. It was so thoughtful.?
Stepek, a local attorney, spearheaded the project when it was pointed out to him how difficult and uncomfortable it is for the 80-year-old Smith to watch games sitting on a small, metal bench at the top of the bleachers.
‘I said, ‘You know what? We should build her a throne,?? he said. ‘We should build her a nice, comfortable chair, so she can sit there (and watch the games).?
Stepek enlisted the help of Oxford’s own Gary Elzerman, a prolific chainsaw-carving artist whose wooden sculptures are well-known around town and admired. Elzerman volunteered to build the sturdy wooden chair while the Boosters paid for all the materials.
‘It’s a beautiful chair for a lady that deserves it,? Elzerman said. ‘Anything you can do to help the community is what I like to do.?
A carving of the Oxford Wildcat sits atop the back.
‘Because it was for Helen, I tried to make the Wildcat look a little bit more feminine,? Elzerman explained. ‘It looks more like a lady cat than a ferocious wildcat.?
The finished product was a big hit.
‘I love it,? Stepek said. ‘It’s beautiful. She loves it.?
Smith agreed.
‘It’s absolutely wonderful,? she said. ‘You’ve got to see it. A lot of work went into it. A lot of people came up to look at it.?
So no on else dares to sit upon it, the back of the chair bears Smith’s name and the fact that she’s a member of the Class of 1952.
Booster board member Mary Rowley’s mother, Sharon Norman, even contributed to the project.
‘Her mother is a seamstress, so she made the (blue) cushions for it,? Stepek said.
The new chair kept Smith quite comfortable for the entire homecoming game.
She said her neck and back never bothered her one bit as she watched every pass, run and kick on the field.
Smith also likes that the chair is taller than the bench, so it’s easier for her to get in and out of it without assistance.
‘I can’t thank them enough,? she said. ‘I sent a ‘thank you? card.?
Enjoy your new throne, Helen.