By Tina Jackson
10/14/2024
in honor of disability employment month I would like to share the story of a Developmentally Disabled man in my community who has earned the affection of everyone who knows him.
BULLDOG
If you have ever been to a Lawrence County High School football game to watch the bulldogs play, You have no doubt seen or heard the teams biggest cheer leader and supporter, Doug Vanhoose. Doug is a Lawrence county icon. He is known statewide as Bulldog.
Doug was born with learning difficulties and the doctors predicted a short life span, but it did not keep him from becoming a beloved, hard working member of our community at age fifty two.
Twenty seven years ago, Bulldog started attending the high school football games and cheered the team from the side lines. He became such a constant fixture at games that the coach started giving him jobs to do to help the team. He carried equipment, kept the players supplied with water and towels.
Year after year he has befriended and traveled the members of the varsity football team. Just by his presence and friendship he has taught countless young people to accept differences and a good work ethic. When you ask him what he thinks he has taught the teams, he will say he taught them, respect.The coaches over the years have kept bulldog involved with the football team and have nothing but admiration for him.
The community of sharing group decided to honor him as a valued teacher and friend to the youth in the community with a pizza party with all the coaches from over the years present to tell stories about their time with him. We gave him a framed certificate and a framed poster of a group photo to thank him for his years as a community leader.
One of the coaches told a story about being at an away game and trying unsuccessfully the gate to the locker rooms because he had forgot his coaches pass. They continued to try to talk their way in the gates until Bulldog came around the corner to join the coach. The guard saw bulldog and said, “Oh are you guys with Bulldog? Go on in the gate then.”
Bulldog still talks about the pizza party. One of his long time friends, A sports writer suggested they make Bulldog tee shirts to sell. When asked what he would do with the proceeds, He said, I would use it to bring people from the nursing home to home football games.
We are lucky to have Bulldog to help us celebrate the youth of our community. We all hope that he is still giving us his gifts for many years
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