Fresno High Senate Stogie Bowl

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Even the name pleases me. Share and receive appreciation, even during difficult years... especially during difficult years. I wish the spirit of Thanksgiving lasted throughout the year. Recently, I have tried to become more obvious in showing my appreciation.

I have also realized that I want to be appreciated.

For the last 26 years, I have spent Thanksgiving morning with high school students and graduates from the Fresno High School Senate. The Senate is the country's oldest high school club of its kind; the Senate is about 120 years old.

During the School year, students spend Monday evenings learning how to disagree civilly, a skill that will help them more than they realize.  After graduation, students can become "Honoraries" if the remaining students deem them worthy. Honoraries are connected to the Senate forever... some more than others.

We also have events during the year. Because I like football and Thanksgiving, I have helped keep this game alive. (The Honoraries play the Actives.) There were some lean years when we weren't sure if the game would continue. There were years when I was "the old guy" and I was only in my mid-twenties. This year, about 40 people attended. I am now in my early forties; there are at least two "old guys." (I am photo 12. My friend Jay Esparza, class of 78 is photo 2 & 21) We play for a couple hours; then there is half-time. During half-time, each person stands and talks, starting with the current Senate President. The Honoraries smoke Stogies. (I do not know what the Actives do any more. I think they look at us and wonder why the old people are still playing football.) The current Active President is also President of the high school club against tobacco. Oh well.

My family is confused about why I keep going. They usually ask me the score and how I played, and for an old guy, I still do OK. I am not as quick or strong, but I am smarter. I let the younger Honoraries run. This year I threw two TD passes to a player who was not born when I first started attending Stogie Bowls.  But, I don't really return for the football, even though I love it.

I return each year, because of Thanksgiving. The Stogie Bowl and the Fresno High School Senate gives me a chance to thank the current students for keeping our club alive. The Stogie Bowl gives me a chance to show that I care for people. It also gives me a chance to honor the "old guys" who came out to the Stogie Bowl or to our weekly meetings or our annual banquet when I could still run fast.

I am an Honorary who honors the Old Guys who cared, even though they didn't know us.

And this year, I took a moment to be appreciated for being one of the old guys who care. Thanksgiving.

Fresno High Senate Stogie Bowl - Images by bryan farley

Comments

[Marc Feldesman]

As a former Senator and Honorary from the class of '65, I understand the importance of the Stogie Bowl. I attended while I was in the Senate and participated in a few after I graduated from FHS. Alas, I haven't lived in Fresno (or even nearby) since graduating from UCLA in 1969. I still miss the Senate and the skills it imparted in me. I can honestly say that the skills I learned in the Senate have helped me throughout my life. I was the President of the Senate for its 75th anniversary. I will be there, god willing, for the 125th soon.

[Robert G. Wilson]

Like my friend Marc Feldesman, I too am an Honorary (Wilson of Nebraska, Class of 1966). I also attended the Stogie Bowl each year until I moved to the East Coast. I am very glad to hear it still goes on.

[bryan farley]

Thank you for reading and replying, and thank you for being part of the tradition.

I visited Fresno last week and my friend, Honorary Esparza (78) and I, were trying to explain the Senate to someone who attended a different high school. Because the Senate is unique, we had trouble. There really is no other organization to compare to the Senate.

[TysonMyrna27]

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