For complete story, click here. (671KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (597KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (376KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (415KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

JEFFERSON CITY - While President Bush, politics and the Show-Me Games were getting the attention in Columbia Friday, high school coaches were the topic of conversation 30 mils down the road in Jefferson City Saturday. Chillicothe's football coaching legend Bob Fairchild was among 21 high school football coaches that were inducted into the Missouri High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Nearly 300 attended the special luncheon at the Ramada Inn in Jefferson City.

Click to enlarge

"It's a great honor. I've been fortunate to be surrounded by great assistant coaches, dedicated athletes, a progressive school system and a supportive community over the years. It takes everyone working together to build a winning tradition," said Fairchild. Attending from Chillicothe were Fairchild's wife, Karen; his two sons, David and Perry; and Hornet assistant coach Phil Willard and wife, Debra.

Fairchild: A Winner
Bob Fairchild's name is synonymous with winning football. An incredible 32-year career record of 258-59-5, five state football championships, two state semifinal appearances add up to Hall of Fame credentials. In 29 years at Chillicothe, Fairchild's charges have compiled a 238-55-3 record. He was named the 1991 state 3A Coach of the Year after his Hornets steamrolled over Herculaneum, 40-12, in the state 3A championship game in Springfield. Fairchild has also been named 4A Coach of the Year and Kodak Coach of the Year. Fairchild is a graduate of Chillicothe High School and Northwest Missouri State University - Maryville.

For complete story, click here. (454KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (529KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

Bob Fairchild, Chillicothe High School's legendary football head coach, announced today that he is retiring from that post after 35 years. Fairchild, in an exclusive interview with the Constitution Tribune Wednesday before delivering his letter of resignation to school Superintendent Dr. Scott Huddleston, disclosed his decision to step down, ending an illustrious 38-year career which produced 307 victories.

"There was not any one reason why," he told the C-T during the lengthy visit. "I don't think a person leaves a job they've had for this many years just for one reason." However, the 65-year-old state and nationally-recognized coach said the toll of the years of devoted labor to the students of the school - he served for 22 years as assistant high school principal, as well as athletic director and football coach - and the weight of personal events in the past 18 months had finally caught up with him. "You get tired eventually, even with something you really love," he related. "Fall is the best time of the year to enjoy life, I think, and (because of the demands of football coaching) I've never had a chance to do that for 50 years."

For complete story, click here. (463KB PDF file).
Continued...click here. (390KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006. 

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (440KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

CAPTION: Coaches Dream. CHS coaching legend Bob Fairchild is all smiles after posing with some of the greatest running backs ever to play at Chillicothe High School. Pictured left to right are three-time All-Stater David Macoubrie, the school's all-time leading rusher for 19 years, who rushed for a school-record 2,024 rushing yards his senior campaign; the great John "Butch" Davis, who was a threat to score any time he touched the football and holds the school record for most touchdowns scored in a single season (29); Coach Fairchild, 287 wins at CHS and 307 career wins; David White, the most versatile athlete ever coached by Fairchild; and Wyatt Pickering, who became the school's all-time leading rusher with over 4,000 yards.

C-T Photo by Butch Shafer

Former Chillicothe High School football players, young and old, gathered in force at the Chillicothe Elks Lodge No. 656 last Saturday night to pay tribute to the man and coach who built an amazing winning Hornet tradition, one recognized state-wide, in his illustrious 35 years here. They came from all over - Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri and on down the line. Many looked as if they could still don the red and black colors of CHS.

Memories are forever and those fond bone-crunching, teeth-chattering experiences and gridiron celebrations were reminisced by all Saturday night with exuberance, excitement and laughter. Many of their football war stories grew like fish stories as the night went on. It was football camaraderie at its best. And fun was had by all.

The Man Who Made It Possible
No one enjoyed the special event more than the coach, the teacher and the man they came to honor - Bob Fairchild, whose disciplined but caring hand, knowledgeable and inventive football mind, and gutsy attitude laid the foundation for one of the most talked-about football programs in the state. His record speaks for itself:

Career Highlights - Coach Bob Fairchild

This would be the last hurrah for the highly-respected Missouri football coaching Hall of Famer and 1993 National runner-up Coach of the Year who retired this past June. It was a fitting tribute for the coach, the teacher and the man who gave this community a shot in the arm when he walked on the scene in 1963 and the instant success of his football program generated a new community excitement and certainly a new outlook as being aggressive and progressive.

For the complete story, click here (413 KB PDF file)

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

For complete story, click here. (529KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Football Camp, June 28, 2001
Click for a closer view

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (449KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top

For complete story, click here. (472KB PDF file).

Courtesy of Chillicothe Newspaper Archives Copies of the Chillicothe newspapers from 1889-2006.

Return to Top