Dead Fred Sports fans come in many shapes and sizes. From the ambivalent fan who leaves the game in the eighth inning regardless of the score to avoid the annoying post-game traffic, to the fanatical fan who will gladly strip half-naked, paint themselves in their beloved team’s colors, and stand from kick-off to final gun in sub-zero temperatures. While he won’t be seen with ‘war-paint’ on his face, or waving a giant foam finger, Fred M. Vinson is one the greats among the legions of the truly faithful football fans. Fred will arrive early and stay late no matter what the score is. No matter how harsh the weather may be. Fred is there for the duration. Vinson has rarely missed a home football game at his alma mater, Centre College, in over 40 years. Which is really impressive considering Vinson died in 1953. A former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and graduate of Centre College’s Class of 1909, Vinson is the most revered member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Centre. On game days ever since his death, Vinson’s fraternity brothers take his portrait down from it’s sacred spot in the Phi Delta house, and escort his image to the game. His frat brothers show due respect referring to the man as Mr. Vinson, but they simply, and affectionately call the portrait ‘Dead Fred’. ©1999 Middlefork Press << BACK TO EXCERPTS