Tonight’s Red Carpet Bowl honors Randy Wright Sr.

Friday is Randy Wright Sr. day in Vicksburg by order of the mayor and aldermen.

Wright died last October at the age of 67, and tonight’s Red Carpet Bowl is being played in his memory. Mayor George Flaggs Jr. will be on hand to present a proclamation to his family.

Wright, then a senior, played in the 1968 Red Carpet Bowl as a member of the Cooper High Greenies. They defeated Yazoo City 33 to 12.

He owned and ran probably one of the most well-known restaurants in our area — Goldies Trail Bar-b-que, but Wright’s true legacy are his countless good works in our community in supporting events like the Red Carpet Bowl and area sports in general. He served on the Red Carpet Bowl Committee for many years, and he and his family were always there to step up and lend a hand.

The Red Carpet Bowl started in 1962 when a group of men came together to raise money for the late Leo Puckett, a player who was a quadriplegic following a football injury.

The game grew from a postseason event to Warren County’s kickoff classic. A basketball tournament and a golf tournament have been added as spring events, all with the focus of awarding scholarships to student athletes from the four county high schools.

Countless people who have gone on to be successful as coaches and players have played in the game including former Ole Miss Coach Billy Brewer.

There have been some unique circumstances surrounding the game and this year will be added to that list due to COVID-19 crowd restrictions.

In 1995 a 6-inch rain leading up to the game almost forced cancellation. A military medivac helicopter was brought in to dry the field by hovering and landing. A huge crowd showed up just to watch.

You can view the game on the Vicksburg Warren School District Facebook page or YouTube channel. You can also listen on either 105.5 FM with the Warren Central announcing team or 107.7 FM with the Vicksburg team.