RALEIGH — There is only one official Richmond Senior High School Raider mascot who plunders the sidelines on Friday nights in the fall; and he’s now been voted the best high school mascot in the state of North Carolina.
The Richmond Raider, embodied by Ellerbe native Kenny Thompson, was named HighSchoolOT.com’s “Mascot of the Year” during the second HSOT Honors award ceremony earlier this week.
Thompson, who took over the role as Richmond’s mascot at the start of the 2010 football season, graduated from Richmond in 1996. He explained that he’s always been a strong supporter of the school’s athletic programs, and that his love for the Raiders and Richmond County has grown over the last decade thanks to serving as the mascot.
“By no means is that me,” Thompson laughed when asked what it’s like to be a gun-toting, sword-waving Raider on the sidelines. “I’m a quiet person by nature, but when I’m on the field, the players and fans see a rich tradition. When I get out there and the gun goes ‘boom,’ that lets everyone know the Raiders are ready to go.
“It’s an honor to win this award and represent Richmond County,” he continued. “I don’t see myself as just the Raider because it’s more than a mascot — it’s a tradition. We’re a dominant team in the country, and people know about us. We’ve had a lot of big names to come out of this town.”
Ten summers ago, Thompson was approached about filling the historic Raider mascot shoes by J.C. Hodges, who had previously served as Richmond’s booster club president. The spot had been vacant for many years since the retirement of the long-time original “Mr. Raider” Charles Brownley.
Brownley had held the post for nearly three decades from 1972 through 2000, and is written into the Raiders’ lore along with the team’s seven state championships. Following his death in 2000, Brownley has since been memorialized at Raider Stadium with a lifelike statue in his honor.
Thompson’s attendance “at every football and basketball game no matter what” seemed like a good enough reason for him to take the plunge. Apprehensive at first about getting out in front of one of the largest high school football crowds in the state each week, Thompson soon let those worries go as he fully embraced the role and the legacy interwoven into his cap.
“At first, I thought being the Raider mascot was going to be tough,” Thompson admitted. “But I have really come to enjoy it.
“I remember they had a pre-game ceremony before the first game to introduce me,” he recalled. “I was given Mr. Brownley’s necklace kind of as a token of the job. I still wear it to every game, and I hope to one day pass it on to the next Mr. or Mrs. Raider, whoever it might be.”
Thompson added that Mr. Brownley’s widow, Mrs. Claudette Brownley, “makes a point to visit” him during every game and that she faithfully sits in the reserved section at Raider Stadium during home games.
While he enjoys dressing up in full costume on fall Friday nights complete with knee-high boots, a Raider green tunic and a feathered pirates’ cap, the last decade has become much more for Thompson, 41, than just being the Raiders’ biggest and loudest cheerleader.
He’s seen not only as a part of the team by the players and coaches, but Thompson’s role as the mascot also serves as a staple of Richmond County’s heritage.
“For me, it’s all about relationship building with kids and the community,” Thompson explained. “Being out there and representing our school and our kids — it’s a hometown thing. We’re such a small community, and I’m glad to be a part of it. All we’ve got on Friday nights is Raider football.
“One of the things I enjoy the most is the kids and players,” he added. “I meet new kids every year and I like to keep in touch as they go on to college. I also try to bring a small gift every week give it to the little kid in the crowd and take a picture. I do all of this for them.”
The HSOT awards ceremony was held at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts last Saturday, as 41 awards were given out, but Thompson wasn’t able to be in attendance. While helping a friend at a local racetrack, Thompson got a text message from his daughter, Summer Thompson, who is a rising junior at Richmond.
He explained that he initially thought it was a joke, but confirmed it through HSOT’s tweet. The Richmond Observer retweeted the announcement, along with a photo of Thompson, shortly after the announcement.
In early May, Summer Thompson also let her dad know he’d been nominated for the award. To determine HSOT’s winner in all categories, voters could cast one vote per day during a month-long voting period, which concluded earlier this month. Also nominated for “Softball Player of the Year” was RSHS senior pitcher Greyson Way.
As the Raider football program continues its summer workouts and has its first home 7-on-7 scrimmage scheduled for Thursday against Cape Fear High School, Thompson is sharpening his sword for his 10th season on the sidelines.
“This year I want to try and get sponsors to make a t-shirt that I can throw out to fans during the games,” Thompson closed. “I like the idea of putting my hat on the shirt with the smoke from the Raiders’ entrance on it. I’m looking forward to another good year as the Raiders’ mascot.”
