As Austin “Spanky” Swint pondered how he could honor his former coach and mentor Corey Keathley, he immediately thought of the signature bucket hat that Corey always wore. Spanky then came up with a way to honor his former coach and to inspire the Wartburg Central High School Bulldog football team, who were hit hard this week by the passing of their beloved Offensive Coordinator. Spanky took to social media, encouraging all Wartburg fans to wear a bucket hat to the Bulldogs game with Rockwood Friday evening as a way of honoring Corey. Spanky’s idea took hold, especially with many of the Wartburg students, and bucket hats were sprinkled throughout the visitor’s side of the Rockwood football stadium.
Gavin Keathley, Corey’s son, donned one of his father’s many bucket hats to honor his dad at the Wartburg vs Rockwood football game. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
Spanky Swint, 2018 graduate of Wartburg Central High School, came up with the idea of encouraging fans to wear a bucket hat to the Rockwood game Friday evening to honor the Bulldogs fallen Offensive Coordinator, who was noted for his signature bucket hat. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
Madison Holley, All-State basketball player for the Wartburg Central Lady Bulldogs, flashes her signature smile from beneath a bucket hat as she joins in honoring Coach Corey Keathley. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
Cade Brown, a former Oakdale High School football player and Wartburg resident, joined in honoring Coach Keathley by donning a camouflage bucket hat. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
Bailey Bunch was one of many Wartburg fans who wore a bucket hat to honor Coach Corey Keathley who succumbed to cancer on October 9. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
Keith Haynes responded to the call by Spanky Swint to wear a bucket hat in honor of Coach Corey Keathley, who died on Wednesday. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
Dane Francis found his own way of honoring Coach Keathley by wearing a shirt with Corey’s consistent message to his players – “Every play, every snap, best effort”. [Photo by Noah Barnett]
