Video: Houston Homecoming Honors Special Athlete

[bitsontherun IKNgm68A]

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Homecoming in Houston is no ordinary event.  Showing support for their team unifies students, parents, and the entire community .

Daniel Heeringa, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Houston, says, “The Touchdown Club are made up of the parents and supporters and fans of Topper football. There’s no doubt, in my work with the football team, seeing the encouragement they get from what these parents do for them. It’s exciting to see. This Touchdown Club has worked to provide a brand new score board this year that is going to be revealed tomorrow night.”

When you think of homecoming, you think of football, cheerleaders and alumni. For the Houston community, homecoming is much more.  This year they’re celebrating the accomplishments of one special athlete. Shaquille Vance became an amputee after suffering a football injury. Instead of giving up athletics, he turned to track and field. He won the silver medal in the 200 meter race at the 2012 London Para-Olympics. Vance says his community has given him tremendous support.

“With my accident I went through a lot of ups and downs. When I finally did this, everybody wishing me good luck, praying for me, all the people that come out and support me and talk to me. They tell me they really appreciate what I did and that I represented the town and the country well. It means the world to me,” says Vance.

The Hilltoppers homecoming featured a parade and music from the Topper Pride band. Each year the Touchdown Club gives an award to the group with the best decorative tailgate. The annual pep rally is planned by the Houston Main Street Association.

Tonight’s event was held at the Houston Courthouse Square downtown. Tomorrow night the Hilltoppers host Caledonia.