Mountain Grove alum Charley Douglass was this year’s Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade.
Out of seven boys from the late Bill and Betty Douglass, Charlie is number four. For 27 years from 1957-1984, there was a Douglass boy playing football at Mountain Grove.
On the field for Mountain Grove Panthers, Charley was No. 83 and was a four-year letterman.
In fall of 1970, under the coaching staff of Carl Williams, the team scored 485 points in 10 games and only allowed their opponents to collectively score 45. That year Charley received second team All-SCA end.
In fall of his senior year in 1971 he received first team All-SCA End, All-Ozarks End and Class 3A All-State as an end on the first team.
The Mountain Grove Panthers went 10-1 undefeated in the SCA for both 1970 and 1971, losing in the state playoff semi finals.
After high school Charley went on to play college football receiving a scholarship to the University of Missouri, where he lettered as a freshman as well as remaining three years of his college career.
A 1976 press release from Mizzou stated “No. 82 tight end Charley Douglass is known as a very strong, outstanding blocker by his team and coaches.”
In Charley’s senior year, he tied for fifth in the Big 8 Conference for touchdown receptions.
Also, in July of 1976, the Mountain Grove newspaper stated that Charley signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions. Later that year, Charley fractured his ankle, ending his outstanding football career.
