This year’s Fall Carnival will get a little extra boost in its fundraising efforts, thanks to some famous friends of a friend.

The carnival, set for 6 p.m. Thursday, raises money for a Christmas fund to help students at Shady Grove School, located in Cherokee County, said school patron David Earl, whose wife teaches pre-kindergarten at the school.

Earl said he asked a friend of his to donate an autographed baseball for the carnival’s silent auction. That friend is retired University of Oklahoma baseball coach Enos Seymour, whose teams made five straight College World Series in the 1970s.

“And Enos, bless his soul, goes out and gets a truckload of stuff,” Earl said. “He knows Barry Switzer, and he got a football signed by four OU Heisman Trophy winners.”

Other items include a Stetson hat signed by rodeo star Billie Etbauer and other sports memorabilia signed by football great Terry Bradshaw and Wichita State University Shocker coach Gene Stephenson.

Seymour brought the items to the school late last week, Earl said.

Seymour said he is happy to help the school and is especially happy to have friends who were willing to help.

“He (Earl) asked me to sign a baseball for him and told me what they were doing with the funds they were trying to raise,” he said. “I’m happy with my friends, how they stepped up and helped.”

Seymour said Switzer, former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach, contributed the autographed football as well as a cap made just for Switzer after the Cowboys won the Super Bowl.

Shady Grove School Superintendent Fred Ferguson said the fall carnival raises money for Christmas gift cards for students. Shady Grove, located north of Hulbert, serves kids from pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade.

Earl said the school has a lot of students whose families are on low income. All students receive free breakfasts and lunch, he said.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com



If you go

WHAT: Shady Grove Fall Carnival.

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

WHERE: Shady Grove School, north of Hulbert on Lost City Road in Cherokee County.

FEATURES: Silent auction with items donated by retired University of Oklahoma baseball coach Enos Seymour, former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, saddle bronc star Billy Etbauer and Wichita State University baseball coach Gene Stephenson.