Indiana State Representative
Homecoming at Noblesville has been a long time tradition during the football season.
The dance, the parade, the floats, the dress up days, the powder puff game and oh yes, the football game.
It is a week for the students to celebrate and a chance for the alumni to reminisce. As a 1974 graduate of Noblesville High School I have seen or participated in over 50 years of Homecomings.
From my days at First Ward/North Elementary where we would get to watch the parade at school, to my years in high school where we built the greatest floats, to my years of continuing to “Follow the Millers”.
In Noblesville it has always been a special time. Some of my fondest memories come from my high school days.
Building floats was a week long process. We would find a willing family with a large garage/barn to host a bunch of kids with crepe paper, tissue pom-poms, paint, hammer and nails. My senior year our class won with a giant pinball machine made out of wood with the theme “Pinball Wizard”. Our Homecoming Queen was Lezli Glover, the Canteen Board hosted a “canteen” after the football game featuring a group called “America”. The week also included a bonfire, pep session, decorating the school and locker rooms and it was the time we revealed our senior cords. One other activity that showed the community spirit was the painting of the downtown businesses. Every business would participate and those with a sign would post encouragement such as “Good Luck Millers” and “Go Mighty Millers”.
The girls would get a new homecoming outfit . . . at the time a wool suit from Mister Ed’s was the choice selection and a yellow pom-pom mum with a black “N” was a must.
The Homecoming parade has also always been a special part of our tradition. The football team, the floats and the band. People would line up all along the route.
Of course the highlight of homecoming is the football game. My senior year our Coach was Jim Belden and our Quarterback was Steve Coverdale. We played Lebanon, who was in the Sagamore Conference with us. The Mighty Millers defeated Lebanon 28-10.
As you can see in the past 44 years not many things have changed. This week is 2017 Homecoming Week.
The businesses windows have been painted, the locker rooms have been decorated. “Spirit week” consists of Monday Pajama day; Tuesday Tacky Tourist day; Wednesday Preppie-Frat day; Thursday Throwback Thursday Tie-dye/Retro and Friday is Black and Gold day. The powder puff game was Tuesday night, the floats are being built. There is a team dinner Thursday night. The parade kicks off at 4 p.m. from the high school. The theme of the parade is “Noblesville” and the Grand Marshall is Jim Crask. Jim is a 1973 graduate of NHS, a former Noblesville Police officer and Noblesville High School Safety Officer.
Jim is retired now but before retiring on of his many jobs was lining up the Homecoming parade. It is truly fitting he is leading it this year. Congratulations Jim!
The Millers will take on Zionsville at Hare Chevrolet Field. Coach Jason Simmons will have his Millers ready to continue the traditions of the many Millers who have played before. One of those is the walk from the school to the field. I can remember as a kid the Millers walking down Harrison Street to Memorial field (it was the east part of the block behind where North Elementary is today).
I can still hear those cleats on those brick streets as the Millers walk to the field.
I have shared some of my memories and I hope many new ones are being made this week.
It is Miller Time in Noblesville . . . see you at the parade and football game on Friday. Go Millers . . . We Are Together!