El Campo's No. 1 Fan: Football means everything

For Gene "Pee Wee" Wier football means everything.

"We don't have any grandchildren or a child who plays," Betty Wier said. "We're just sports fans."

The Wiers and their special-needs daughter, Cherie, do their best to make it to every game.

And it's not hard especially since the El Campo High School football stadium is essentially in their backyard.

"We live next door," the mother said. "Our background is the football field."

Wier earned his nickname "Pee Wee," for weighing only 145 pounds while playing as a linebacker for the Ricebirds in the 1950s.

"He was smaller than the rest, but he played with a lot of heart," his wife said.

Their daughter graduated from El Campo High School in 1982.

"We've been taking her to football and baseball games since she was almost 2," her mother said. "She likes the Derby Dolls and the band."

As of Friday morning, the Ricebirds were 4 and 0 and are about to play in their fifth game in the Division 3A.

"We are very, very good," he said. "And we're hopin' to go deep into the playoffs."

Favorite Cheer: "R-I-C-E-B-I-RD-S!"

Alma Mater: El Campo High School

Age: 73

City: El Campo

Occupation: Retired, former oil field salesman