If you’ve never passed through Center Point, Texas - a town of under 2,000 an hour northwest of San Antonio - you probably haven’t heard of it.
It’s not-so-affectionately described as an ‘unincorporated community’ on Google, and, like so many other rural communities in the state, it’s a quiet town, full of folk who’ve spent their lives there and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Center Point High School football, while far from a powerhouse, is a fixture of the town’s spirit. And for one man, it’s a way of life.
Neal Coldwell has been to 370 consecutive Center Point High School football games. At home or on the road, he has been on the sideline, pencil in ear, since October of 1987.
It’s a figure that borders on inconceivable; an accomplishment even more absurd when you factor in Center Point’s 33-67 record over the past decade. In spite of the losses, and on-average three hour round trip endeavor for road contests, Neal Coldwell keeps on keeping on.
Coldwell is not simply a fan, he’s the team’s statistician, a thankless job he once made a few bucks for but now does for free. He doesn’t use a computer, or a calculator, either, insisting on scribbling down numbers and keeping tallies in his notebook in keeping with his truly old-school charm. He’s a God-fearing man whose taxidermy shop keeps him occupied into his mid-60s – except for Fridays.
At the core of Coldwell’s undying passion is family. One of his two daughters accompanies him to the majority of Center Point games, forging a tradition that he can look forward to every Friday during football season. His other, at Neal's behest, teaches third grade 10 miles down the road in Comfort, a rival of Center Point.
“And when he has the streak going on, he literally will die before he ends the streak,” said Megan Winfrey, Coldwell’s oldest daughter. “He’s happy that I have a job but I would just say he would rather me be a Pirate than a Bobcat.”
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