Laurel’s chain crew has unbreakable link

By TODD KRISE

t_krise@ncnewsonline.com

In football, 10 yards equal a first down.

But for Don Bowden, Bill Pontius, Sam Pontius and John Welther, 10 yards equal a career.

These four born-and-raised Lawrence County residents have been the first-down chain crew at Laurel High School football games for a combined 144 years.

The Laurel community considers them an institution. Outsiders respect their longevity. And those associated with Spartans football consider them family.

“When you talk Laurel football,” said Don Nogay, who served as Laurel athletic director from 1996-2006, “these guys are just as big as anything else.”

HOW IT ALL STARTED

When Bowden, a Union High graduate, moved to Laurel with his wife, Diane, in 1962, he was interested in volunteer work at the high school. Diane already was part of the Laurel family, having been a member of the school’s second graduating class in 1957 and part of a student committee that selected the school’s colors.

A boosters club member name Sam Pontius pulled into his driveway and asked if Bowden could help build a refreshment stand near the school’s football field.

Bowden gladly accepted and, on the night of the first football game of 1963, offered his services to the chain gang. During the next game, the crew plucked Bowden from the stands and his 47 years of service began.

From there, Bowden began selecting his own staff. Bill Pontius joined in 1970. Bill’s brother, Sam, and John Welther were added in 1980. Dale Booher, a Laurel graduate, was a 15-year member of the chain crew before he died of cancer in 1984.

“We’ve been doing it ever since,” Bowden said.

Bill, 77, and Sam Pontius, 71, are in charge of the sticks. Welther, 70, controls the clip that tells referees where to spot the ball and Bowden, 73, holds the down marker.

Each man has his duties and each one fulfills them with overwhelming dedication. Welther even takes the clip home and washes it in his dishwasher.

“It’s not an easy job,” Laurel head football coach Jerry Holzhauser said. “They better know their stuff. Some officials don’t know the rules like they do. There’s a technical aspect to moving the chains and those guys have the experience that many officials lack. They’re really good.”

SEEING HISTORY FIRSTHAND

Sam Pontius believes the chain crew has the “best seat in the house.”

That statements rings true considering that the foursome has seen a majority of Laurel’s crowning achievements, including: One WPIAL title, 11 conference championships and several players who were sent on to the collegiate and professional ranks.

Bowden has been on the field for a bulk of those championships and can recall each one with clarity.

He said his most memorable moment came in 1980 when Laurel took on Clairton for the Class A WPIAL championship at Mt. Lebanon High. The chain crew assigned to the game did not show, so Bowden and his staff took the reigns and had a front-row seat for Laurel’s 14-12 upset.

“They were a big underdog,” Bowden said of Laurel. “Clairton was a good football team and Laurel was an unknown in Pittsburgh being way out here. They just played their hearts out and they never gave up. It was very exciting. And of course, we’ve never forgotten it.”

In Bowden’s nearly five decades with the school, the Spartans have been through five head coaches and eight athletic directors (Laurel began its football program in 1958 with its first official season coming in 1959). All of those men praise the chain crew’s work.

“They are part of the Friday night football experience,” current Laurel athletic director Mike Tinstman said.

Substitutes are easy to come by for the chain gang. However, needing one isn’t.

“Other guys want to do the sticks and they say, ‘Do you guys have to die before we get a chance?’ ” Bowden said. “That’s probably what it’s going to have to be.

“We don’t have any trouble finding a sub if we need one. We’re choosy about that, too. They’ve got to pass our test.”

Which is?

“You got to do what we tell you.”

DRAWBACKS AND PERKS

Weather and injuries have yet to stop this chain crew.

Hurricanes, blizzards and even prospective hip surgery have tried to keep them off the field. They also have an astounding streak of never getting into a collision with a player or referee on the sidelines.

“I can’t say enough about these guys,” said Bowden, who needed hip surgery in 2003, but held off on it until the end of the season. “We joke around with each other. We’re like brothers. We’ve been through a lot.”

Perhaps the most interesting fact is that the foursome does not get paid for their services. Which is why Laurel High School acknowledges their efforts at every opportunity. A free hat, golf shirt or food are always accessible goods.

“They never asked for a penny,” Nogay said. “We never had to worry about paying them. If you could give them a hat or a T-shirt, they were very, very satisfied. They did that job for nothing and they just loved doing it as a group.”

FAMILY TREE

Out of the four chain crew members, Welther, a New Castle High graduate, is the only one who played high school football. His son, John Jr., graduated from Laurel in 1982 and was part of the 1980 WPIAL championship team.

Bill Pontius, an Eastbrook High graduate, has three sons who graduated from Laurel in 1970s. His sons, Robbie, Barry and Tim, played football in high school and college. Robbie became an All-American at Westminster College and Barry played center for two of Westminster’s national championship teams. Tim played at Grove City College.

Sam Pontius, also a graduate of Eastbrook, has three sons: John played for Laurel’s 1986 Tri-County championship team and Daniel played football and graduated in 1990. Sam’s oldest son, Mark, did not play football for the Spartans.

Bowden tried out for Union’s football team in the 1950s but “the sled knocked me back 10 yards, so the coaches made me a manager.” He has four children who all graduated from Laurel: Cheryl, Michelle, Chrisanne and Don. Jr.

Welther’s wife, Janet, and Sam Pontius’ wife, Grace, also were part of the student committee in 1956 that helped pick Laurel’s school colors.

50TH ANNIVERSARY

On Sept. 11, Laurel High will celebrate its football program’s 50th anniversary. Hundreds of former coaches, players and volunteers are expected to be on hand. Bill and Sam Pontius, Bowden and Welther will be among the many honored.

“They’ve done so much for the stadium and school,” Holzhauser said. “They are a lot more than a chain crew. These fellas have that commitment. They continue to be there and be supportive of our football program. I always try to recognize them at banquets.”

Nogay agreed.

“Without a doubt, they are the best chain crew in Lawrence County,” he said.

But what does the future hold?

According to the quartet, they will continue to volunteer their time because they love the game and they love the players. They plan on working the chains until they accrue a combined 200 years on the job.

Or...

“Until we die,” Welther said.

Let’s just hope Laurel football will survive without them.