….”The Rest of the Story”

6/26/08
Florida Vs. FSU
By Sid Riley

When I wrote the story a couple of weeks ago relating the events of the Chipola Area Gator Club’s annual meeting and banquet I accidently got caught up in the sometimes near-violent emotions that exist in the rivalry between that group and the FSU fans. I will now try to extricate myself from that dangerous position.
At the banquet door prizes were given to lucky ticket holders. The prizes were beautiful serving trays with the Florida logo in vivid display. A well known ex-State Farm rep and avid Florida Booster was in charge of the door prize arrangements.
Knowing that Bill Hopkins, who is a correspondingly avid FSU fan, would be in attendance, this ex-State Farm rep rigged the tickets so that Hopkins would be the winner of the last prize. The trick was to make Hopkins think that he would have to take a Florida decorated serving tray home with him. Actually, they had purchased an almost as attractive Florida State serving tray for the trick.
When Hopkins heard his ticket number called he first tried to get his lovely wife, Omega, to go to the front to claim the prize. When this didn’t work and the prize givers continued to urge him to come claim the prize, Hopkins finally began the long journey to claim the unwanted award. He removed his handkerchief from his pocket in preparation of having to handle the Florida laden object.
As he neared the front they uncovered the tray and displayed the FSU colors and logo that adorned the tray to him, he was surprised and overjoyed. And contrary to information this writer had been given…the tray was spotless and had NOT been soiled, distorted, or marred in any way by overzealous Florida booster. "Hoppy" took the tray home to join his countless other FSU items.