Share the celebration

Sports memorabilia of a lifetime! A football helmet autographed by University of Texas quarterback Vince Young will be auctioned at the Laird Memorial Hospital Foundation Gala Saturday night. The helmet, donated by Kenneth Gibson, comes with a certificate of authenticity. What Longhorn fan wouldn't love to have a piece of sports memorabilia to commemorate the Texas national championship in football from the Rose Bowl?

Those Longhorn faithful or a sports memorabilia collector attending the Laird Hospital Gala Saturday night will have an opportunity to acquire a priceless treasure to show off to their friends and neighbors.

Two of the live auction items are 100 percent Texas Longhorn, and they will be among the first items available for bidding Saturday night.

Vince Young, the star quarterback who led UT to the championship win over USC, has autographed a football helmet, and it will be a key live auction item at the gala. Also, Coach Mack Brown has autographed a football that will be placed in a case and put up for auction. Both items will be accompanied by certificates of authenticity, easily making them two of the more attractive things that will be auctioned.

“We are extremely fortunate that Vince Young and Coach Mack Brown have sent sports memorabilia to the live auction for the gala,” Carol Hinton, director of marketing for the hospital, said. “And, there is also a signed photo of Kilgore's Eddie Jones, who will be playing at UT next year, in the silent auction so all of the sports fans will have a great opportunity to acquire valuable items.”

Hinton was first to congratulate Live Auction Co-Chairs Latane Speer and Kristy Boyd for lining up such wonderful items for the 2006 gala.

“We absolutely hit a home run by asking these two women to co-chair the live auction,” Hinton said. “Because, if history tells us anything, we were certain the two of them would seek out and find the finest array of live auction items this gala has ever seen.”

Besides the Vince Young autographed helmet and the Mack Brown autographed football which should easily draw high bids from the capacity crowd attending the event there are 10 other items which are equally attractive for gala goers to purchase.

There is an opportunity for two young girls to attend Mini-Rangerette Camp, whether it be the Elementary Camp or the Junior High Camp. These festivities are held on the college camp in the summer and are an excellent prelude for girls who want to be officer material for their high school drill team and who, ultimately, want an opportunity to become a member of the world famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. The 8foot derrick that is also part of this package would make a nice yard or business display.

A Dallas shopping trip for up to three people and lunch at Cafe Pacific is also up for grabs. Hosted by Kilgore native R. Still Collum, the trip will include journeys to specialty retailers in the Park Cities area as well as lunch at the world famous cafe.

A framed original oil painting, “Derrick Shade Tree,” by Larry Kitchen, local artist and KC art instructor, is also up for bid. Kitchen is well known for his art and recently had a show in conjunction with the Diamond Jubilee. This painting is 12 x 16 oil on canvas.

Golfers and spa lovers will want to purchase the weekend at the Gaylord Texan Resort for Four.

The winner of one auction item will take a cruise for two on Carnival Cruise Lines to the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, Alaska, the Panama Canal or New England for seven or eight days. The cruise includes a balcony stateroom, all meals, government fees, taxes and shipboard gratuities.

Where's the beef? At the A.P. and Susie Merritt home, that's where. Buy this auction item and have a wonderful steak dinner for 50 at the Merritt home.

Anyone who enjoys the thrill of the hunt will want to purchase the Trophy Scimitar Hunt for One. A trophy scimitar at the Teques Ranch near Del Rio awaits the person who buys this item. The hunt is for one, but a traveling companion is welcome.

Head out to the Bolding Farm with 50 close friends for a fish fry if you purchase this live auction prize.

Crawfish is an excellent Southern delight, and Grant and Kristy Boyd will feed you and 50 of your closest friends this delicacy with all of the fixin's if you buy this item.

One successful bidder will select merchandise — equal to the value of the winning bid — at Harry Crouse’s 205 Shops on Main Street in Kilgore.

Crouse has also donated a framed oil on canvas entitled “View of Village With Figures.” This painting can adorn a special place in one's office or home.

“We really are blessed to have such great items,” Hinton said. “And we are hopeful that people will be generous with their bids so that we can purchase the new fetal monitor for the hospital's Harold Habenicht Women's Center.”