Originally posted by Haley Watt on September 22, 2022

This year’s Grand Marshal is a Putnam County classic and a long-time Midget fan and supporter! Born and raised in Putnam County, Ed Brundage grew up in Midway and still lives there today. He went to elementary school at Central City, a country school in the west end of the county, until around 4th grade when the country schools in the west end of the county were consolidated into a brand new facility called West Putnam School. Eddie graduated from West Putnam in 8th grade and then started making a name for himself at Unionville High School, especially in athletics. He was also a member of the U Club, FFA, Student Council, and Science Club. 

Some of his favorite memories from high school were made during Homecoming week. As a football player, proudly sporting the number 10, he always looked forward to the week’s festivities. He told us, “I always appreciated the community’s support, especially during Homecoming week.” Eddie shared that he always looked forward to the big game and the dance. He reminisced that back then they probably didn’t have concussion protocol as they do nowadays and he remembers getting walloped in a Homecoming game and then not really remembering the dance after getting knocked out and feeling a little cuckoo from what was most likely a concussion. 

Eddie was a 3 sport athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track. He shared that back then if you wanted to participate in football and basketball, you were expected to go out for track. Eddie said, “we didn’t have baseball back then, but it was always my favorite sport. You could catch me and Jerry Valentine throwing a baseball around at track practice. The coaches didn’t seem to mind as long as we went out for track. It was a different time.”

In the 1980s, Marcus Hounsom, Superintendent of Schools, told Eddie they needed someone to take over the summer softball program. Eddie told Mr. Hounsom that he would think it over and maybe coach a team. Mr. Hounsom chuckled and told him, “I didn’t mean one team, I meant three.” Eddie explained that summer softball back then was for ages 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. Eddie kind of laughed as he shared, “I agreed and coached those groups for a while for what we called Raider Ball, and we started traveling. To be honest, we got our butts kicked the first 3 to 4 years, but it wasn’t just about softball. It was about teaching these girls things about traveling, about how to dress, speak, and act at a fancy restaurant. To have table manners and class. To give them the opportunity to experience life outside of a small town.”

When talking with Eddie during our Grand Marshal interview, Mrs. Klinginsmith told Eddie that she remembered him coaching her in his last year of coaching Raider Ball. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to play for him and experience the gift of the comradery, skills, and memories made during that season of life. Mrs. Klinginsmith had spoken with some former Raider Ball teammates and they had shared their appreciation for the way Eddie always made sure the girls had transportation and a place to stay, even if their parents couldn’t make it to all of the travel ball games. Eddie responded, “It's just what you do. I didn’t give it a second thought. I figured the girls had to sacrifice a lot of their time and effort to be able to play and wanted to make sure they didn’t have to worry about how to get there.” He told us, “Raider Ball was more than just the game of softball. It was teaching the girls how to commit, overcome, communicate, work as a team, give back, and become confident, resilient young ladies. I’ve seen them grow up to be successful in life and hope Raider Ball was part of that.”

One of his former players, now a teacher at Green City, Mrs. Jennifer Rouse Peavler, shared with us that she remembers one of his favorite quotes was, “Look sharp, play sharp.” She also expressed her gratitude for the time Coach Eddie poured into the Raider team.  Peavler stated, " Eddie gave me the opportunity to play in a very competitive environment with some outstanding ball players as well as experiencing new places every weekend! I owe so much of my success with softball to Eddie for all the knowledge and skills I developed by being part of the Raiders team! Such wonderful lifetime memories and friends were made!"

Janara Halley Sims, a 1994 PCHS grad, told us, “I will always be grateful for the opportunities Eddie provided for us through Raider Softball!! Through this experience Eddie allowed us to become the best softball team and players we could be.” 

Jonette Dixon, PCHS Class of 1992, and former Raider team player shared, "Eddie Brundage was one of the most influential people to me in the world of softball and exposure to the best competition. Eddie had an amazing reach of contacts to get us to the best tournaments in the Midwest. He was a positive and loving coach that cared deeply about his players and built amazing teams. I treasure my time with Eddie and all the amazing women that I was lucky to play with from Unionville and around our surrounding area. We had an incredibly successful club program and an outstanding school softball program, and Eddie was a big factor in this. He gave of his time, money and knowledge. Thank you Eddie! You are appreciated! Much deserved honor."

Another community member shared, “Ed paid a lot out of his pocket to make sure those girls had a chance to play, a place to stay, and meals to eat. Not everyone would have done that, but he helped teach lessons for life.”

We asked Ed about his family. He emphatically said, “I have the best family! They’re great!”

Ed is married to Pat Brundage. Together, they have 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. Their children are Brenda Fowler of Blue Springs, Reggie Brundage of Unionville, Greg Hepler of Dunlap, Illinois (close to Peoria), Beau Hepler of Kearney, and Brooke Henders of Yorkville, Illinois. Eddie enjoys spending time with his family when he’s not delivering mail for the US Postal Service. He loves taking his grandkids on 4 wheeler rides and watching them experience farm life where he grew up. He enjoys cheering on his grandkids at all of their sporting events he can make it to. 

We asked Ed if he had any words of wisdom for our students now. He told us, “Enjoy all the activities, clubs, and life in high school. Before you know it, you’ll be old like me. It goes by quickly, so make good friends and lots of memories!”

Please give a warm Putnam County congratulations to Eddie Brundage, UHS Class of 1969 graduate, and our 2022 Putnam County Homecoming Grand Marshal!