Willis Field — On Thursday, Italy ISD School Board members Jon Mathers, Curtis Riddle, Paul Cockerham and Italy ISD maintenance crewman Michael Chambers, each a former player for the Italy Gladiators and graduates of Italy High School, began painting the endzones at Willis Field in preparation for the Homecoming football game Friday night.

Making a tough job look easy, the group was all smiles and having plenty of fun while they worked. Being past players, Cockerham and Chambers relived their glory days by high-stepping across the fabricated, 4 squared, frame which was used to mark the areas to be painted, as if the frame were a row of tires.

Going with a gold and white checkerboard pattern, players and fans are sure to be impressed with the amazing effect.

Mathers organized the project drawing from his past experiences as an endzone painter in the Highland Park area of Dallas. CDL Help, owned and operated by Mathers and his sister Julie Richie-Mathers, also a graduate of Italy High School, donated the materials which included 32 gallons of paint.

Patterned after the classic checkers board game, the design should help inspire the Gladiators as they exit the Jimmy Davis Memorial Field House and move one step closer to becoming the kings of the district.

As the four man paint crew worked diligently on the field, local artist Ray Don Mitchell was down at the field house where he painted a Gladiator Head and the words, “Jimmy Davis Memorial Field House,” on an outside wall facing Willis field.

Today, Chambers will be painting a giant letter “I” at centerfield and will also repaint the stripes and yard markers on the field as well.

“Thank you Jon, Curtis, Paul, Michael, Ray Don and the entire Italy ISD maintenance crew for your efforts. The field looks amazing!”

Go Gladiators!