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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... PREP FOOTBALL Medford Linebackers closes up shop Support club formed in 1961 took on many projects Comment By Staff reports MailTribune.com By Staff reports Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 7:43 PM By Staff reports Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 7:43 PM » Social News The Medford Linebackers, a support group for high school football 54 years, will dissolve its organization, according to a Monday press release. The Linebackers’ fundraising and fall luncheons were an integral part of the prep football community. However, in recent years, the organization has seen attendance at its weekly luncheons drop off significantly. “Making the decision to close the doors for the Medford Linebackers wasn’t easy. It was made with many heavy hearts in the room,” Linebackers president Tom Ersepke said in the release. “But in the end, it was a unanimous decision of the Linebackers leadership. We all agreed it was the right decision to make. In short, the time had come to hang up the cleats.” Since 1961, the Linebackers supported many athletic facility needs of the Medford School District. The organization was formed by Medford business leaders to raise funds for construction of the west grandstands at Spiegelberg Stadium. Other facility projects spearheaded by the club included the original seating in 1966 of what is now the North Medford High basketball gym, the lighting of Bowerman Field and the soccer field in the early 1980s, installation of all-weather tracks at Hedrick and McLoughlin middle schools in 1999 and the installation of the artificial surface and the resurfacing of the track at Spiegelberg Stadium in 2004. The club also played a role in the creation of the Medford Sports Hall of Fame in the 1970s. “There were numerous community leaders who were involved with Medford Linebackers going back to 1961 with Bud Parsons and Paul Havilland,” said Ed Singler, the Linebackers program chair and a past president. “It was a club that was very much needed in Medford in its early days. Booster clubs weren’t as active like they are today, football ruled the town and it was really one community supporting one school.” The role of the Linebackers began to change in 1986 when Medford split into two public high schools and later began to include the two private high schools in the fall lunch program. Its efforts were divided between multiple schools, and booster clubs started filling a need that Linebackers once did. “Our community is much different today than it was in the 70s and early 80s,” Singler said. He cited the variety of boys and girls sports available, the community backing spreading to four high schools and households with both parents working. It all adds up to “having a real impact on Linebackers’ role,” he said. “Our group worked hard for Medford for many years and did some wonderful projects that so many in our community benefit from today. Linebackers served a vital role for many years in Medford, but the time had come to shut ‘er down.” By Staff reports MailTribune.com By Staff reports Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 7:43 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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