The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a Back the Bobcats event in which area businesses show off their Texas State University pride. Winners are named in a variety of categories. Kicking off the event, Gumby’s Pizza is now KDamps, in honor of TXST President Kelly Damphousse. All proceeds of shirts that say KDamps will go toward the Kelly and Beth Damphousse Endowed Scholarship. Above, the leading wide receiver for the Bobcats, Joey Hobert eating a slice of his Joe Dirt pizza that he designed himself. Proceeds for the pizza got to the Maroon and Golden fund, which benefits many of the team’s players.
Photo provided by Gumby’s Pizza
Right, Kelly Damphousse with the Joe Dirt pizza, which is designed by and named after Bobcat football player Joey Hobert. All proceeds from that pizza go to the Maroon and Golden fund that benefits many of the team's players.
Daily Record photo by Shannon West
SLICE OF SPIRIT
Gumby’s Pizza raising money to Back the Bobcats
Businesses are gearing up to back the bobcats again this season, and Gumby’s Pizza is firing up the competition with a name change as well as merch and a pizza that will benefit Texas State students on and off the field.
Last year, Gumby’s alter ego KDamp’s Pizza was a hit in the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce’s Back the Bobcats decorating competition, which will run from August 26 through 30. Gumby’s has officially transformed into KDamps again this year. All proceeds of shirts that say KDamp’s will go toward the Kelly and Beth Damphousse Endowed Scholarship, which benefits kids who have been in foster care and now want to attend the university but need financial assistance. On Wednesday, Damphousse showed up at the restaurant to make a Joe Dirt pizza, which is designed by and named after Bobcat football player Joey Hobert. A portion of the sales from the stuffed crust, pepperoni, double sausage, marinara pizza with a ranch drizzle and garlic butter glaze will go to the Maroon & Golden NIL fund that benefits around 30 of the team's players.
“I met with their owner, Forrest [Higdon], who is a great guy,” Hobert said. “I worked with him last year during the bye week [doing] a normal deal saying ‘Hey come get [pizza from here]. This is what I do for my cheat meals.’ It turned out really well, so he asked me about making my own pizza. It’s pepperoni and double sausage with little drizzle of ranch then stuffed crust. It is a must and you have to try it.”
As part of the Back the Bobcats competition, the chamber encourages all businesses in the area to decorate, even if they are not competing in the official contest. The goal is for the community to show Bobcat Pride and help welcome to town the thousands of students, alumni and visitors who will be circulating for the Bobcats home opener football game and throughout the Fall season.
There are free printable posters anyone can use to decorate on sanmarcostexas. com on the 'Back the Bobcats' page. Plus there are links to other helpful resources there, including a Pinterest link with decorating ideas.
The chamber is organizing a Rally for the Rattlers community spirit campaign the last week of September, leading up to the San Marcos High School homecoming football game. It will also have a decorating competition with great prizes. More details will be announced soon.
