By Levi Gilbert
It is six hours before kickoff.
The preparation for today’s game began right after last week’s game. After all, football never stops.
The guys run down their mental checklist, constantly checking to make sure today’s game plan runs smoothly. After one last run-through, it’s time to head to Estes Stadium. That’s where the real action begins.
It’s time to tailgate. Bill and Harold Helton are Conway born and bred.
The brothers grew up in Conway four blocks west of the University of Central Arkansas. Both attended UCA – Harold attended the university from 1968-70 and Bill attended Irby Elementary School on campus in the 1950s.
Harold first began tailgating in 1978, and Bill was quick to join. The two brothers began with a small grill, a folding table and a couple chairs set up in the south end zone. But just as UCA football has grown and evolved through the years, so too has the tailgating experience in the 501 area.
“A lot more people are coming out now,” Harold said. “The growth is phenomenal. People are having fun.
“I’ve talked to people who have been to games in Fayetteville and tailgated, and they’ve said they have actually had more fun tailgating here [at UCA] than in Fayetteville. So that says a lot for what we’re trying to do here at UCA.”
The Helton tailgating crew has moved its location about 10 times since 1978, before settling on the edge of the practice field west of Estes Stadium. What began with a handful of people has blossomed into an event that draws in 30-plus regulars for every home football game.
“When Lu Hardin came on board is when [tailgating really began to grow],” Bill said. “I think it’s going to continue to get larger. The key has been getting the support from the students and keeping them here on Saturdays for the games.”
The Heltons now use a 16-foot box truck for all the equipment required for tailgating – 10 folding tables, 30 chairs and a much larger grill! The experience has grown to the point that the Heltons opened a scholarship to help fund and continue the expansion of UCA athletics. They expect to reach the endowment mark of $25,000 later this year.
“This is our third year with the scholarship,” Harold said. “It’s based strictly on donations from people coming through to eat. We’re not out there hitting people up for large donations.
“Used to, the support wasn’t that great for UCA. We’ve worked on trying to get people out here, and as the support has grown, people are wanting to get involved with tailgating. We’re getting drinks and food donated now. The community’s mindset has changed.”
Bill and Harold understand the importance of the Conway community’s support because both depend on the community to make a living, as well as to expand tailgating. Bill owns Helton’s Wrecker Service and a U-Haul franchise in south Conway, while Harold owns a check-cashing business and another U-Haul franchise in north Conway.
“We’re big UCA fans, and we display a lot of paraphernalia in our businesses,” Bill said. “One thing is that we ask people to come out and support the schools because that is what makes Conway grow.”
Bill and Harold both agree that encouraging student involvement during and after their time at UCA will be the key to continued growth in the years to come.
“We don’t mind other schools getting supported in Conway,” Harold said. “But if you went to school and graduated from Conway, then you need to support UCA. You need to give money, wear purple and support the Bears as best you can.
“People talk about it now more than ever about the atmosphere at this school, and the students being involved. The biggest deal is to keep the students involved. We have to concentrate on making the tailgating experience better. We can’t be satisfied with the status quo. Make it better and improve it, and it’s going to grow tremendously.”