Tickets available for Katy HS booster 'Night of Champions'

Tickets are on sale for the Katy High School Athletic Booster Club's first "A Night of Champions" football kick-off celebration scheduled for Aug. 16 at the Merrell Center.

About 800 tickets are on sale for $25 per person for general seating and $250 for a reserved table of 10. Tickets can be purchased at www.katyabc.org and with cash or checks only at Brammer's Athletic Warehouse, 5017 E. 5th St. Event co-chairwoman Deb Haring said about 75 percent of the available tickets for reserved tables were sold as of July 2.

The fundraiser will run from 6:30–8:30 p.m. with a prime rib buffet-style dinner, silent and live auctions and a variety of guest speakers, including players and coaches from the first championship win in 1959 to the present.

Jorge Diaz and Eric Heitmann, former Katy High School football players, will attend the event and share their experiences playing in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers, respectively.

"We're trying to make something that's really fun and special and include the whole community," said Lynne Foley, KABC co-officer for communications.

Evening festivities will celebrate the Tigers' past seven state football championship wins and plans for the future. A highlight reel will be featured and will include memorable quotes from alumni as well as film from past football games. Memorabilia such as autographed items will be auctioned to the highest bidders.

"(This event) is a great way to say, 'Here's where we came from, and here's where we hope to be,'" Haring said.

Funds raised at the event will go toward enhancing athletics facilities at KHS, including construction on a new archway structure in the entrance walkway engraved with "Home of Champions" and a life-sized bronze sculpture of a tiger.

Foley said additional unused funds could be used to supply "wish list items" for coaches that are not able to be supported through the regular school budget.