This Friday, October 11, is not only Homecoming, but the Rooster Bowl as well.
The Rooster Bowl, which was started in 1996 to honor the late Ronald “Rooster” Arnold, is a traveling trophy between Kimball and Eden Valley-Watkins schools. The winner of the annual football game gets to take home the trophy and have bragging rights for the year. The Trophy symbolizes the history of the great rivalry between Kimball and Eden Valley-Watkins and the passion in all of us for the game of football.
“Rooster” as he was remembered by most everyone, was a lifelong resident of the Watkins, Kimball, and Eden Valley Communities. He was perhaps the biggest fan of this friendly rivalry in its football form each fall. Rooster and his wife Elaine raised their family in Watkins. With his kids attending Kimball Schools, the annual football game between the two schools took center stage every fall and the outcome determined a year of bragging rights. Rooster’s three sons, Mike, Pat and Casey, all played football for the Kimball Cubs. His two daughters, Kelly and Heidi, also participated in athletics in Kimball. The Kimball vs. Eden Valley-Watkins contests, no matter what the sport, was always a big game for Rooster and his family.
Rooster passed away in March of 1995. His widow and children established the Rooster Bowl the next year, and purchased a large trophy to be held by the winning team each year. The first Rooster Bowl game was played Oct. 4, 1996.
This year, Kimball has a little extra motivation to win the trophy back as we have Rooster’s grandsons #22 Ronnie Arnold (who is a senior, named after Rooster) and #7 Henry Arnold on our football roster. Rooster’s son, Pat, plays all our music at home football games. Although there have been many close attempts, the last time the trophy was brought home was 1999. Time to bring the trophy home, Let's Go Cubs!!
