WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley proclaimed Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 as Patrick Mahomes Day in support of the legendary Wildcat.
“Today is the day that we come together as a community and celebrate a major accomplishment from one of our star exports, somebody that came up and spent time in the City of Whitehouse,” Wansley said during a ceremony Friday. “(Mahomes) is another one of our examples of one of our kids that’s going out into the world and doing great things.”
The proclamation comes as Whitehouse native and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Mahomes gets ready to take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
The first time a proclamation was made was four years ago and since has become tradition.
Sunday will mark Mahomes’ fourth Super Bowl appearance in six years as a starter.
Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph“I think it’s important not to be complacent about it,” Wansley said. “To recognize it for the amazing thing that it is. Just because it’s happened before doesn’t mean that it’s not an amazing accomplishment for Patrick as a player and for us as a community to be able to celebrate somebody that makes it to the highest level.”
Outside the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Whitehouse has been getting ready for the Super Bowl. With painted windows, local restaurants preparing for Super Bowl watch parties, and many retail shops selling shirts and gear, the city of Whitehouse is ready for the big game.
“It’s a big draw to our community,” Wansley said. “It’s definitely something that brings us all together with kind of a common, shared purpose and goal.”
Sunday will mark Mahomes’ fourth Super Bowl appearance in six years as a starter. Mahomes has racked up a notable amount of accolades and recognition at just 28 years old.
Patrick Mahomes in high school as a Whitehouse player
Tyler Morning Telegraph file
The 2014 Whitehouse graduate saw success in his high school athletic career, including on the football field. Mahomes had 4,619 passing yards, 50 passing touchdowns, 948 rushing yards, and 15 rushing touchdowns as a senior.
Mahomes was rated by Rivals, ESPN and 247 Sports as a three-star football recruit and was ranked as the 12th best dual-threat quarterback in his class. He received offers from Texas Tech, Rice, and Houston, ultimately committed to Texas Tech University.
In 2017, Mahomes entered the NFL as the 10th overall pick in the first round of NFL Draft.
“The NFL is a really competitive place and when you make it to the top of that organization, you’re truly somebody special,” Wansley said. “So, it’s great to have somebody that represents our community there in the NFL.”
Now in his seventh season with the Chiefs, Mahomes is a two-time regular season MVP, six-time Pro Bowler, one-time Offensive Player Of The Year, two-time First Team All-Pro and one-time Second Team All-Pro.
Famous Whitehouse Wildcat, Patrick Mahomes
Courtesy
“On the field that he performs at the highest level,” Wansley said. “Off the field, (he has) the (15 and the Mahomies Foundation), he donates a lot of money and a lot of time and resources into childhood literacy. That’s one of his biggest passions and that foundation definitely raises a lot of money to meet that end.”
Mahomes has made surprise visits to his hometown, spending time with student-athletes and even gifting them with shoes.
“He understands where he is and what he’s doing and to get his job done,” Wansley said. “But more importantly, to me, he hasn’t forgotten where he comes from and what that type of interaction would have meant to him at that age.”
Patrick Mahomes II smiles as he puts on a Kansas City Chiefs hat for the first time during an NFL Draft watch party at Lago del Pino in Tyler, Texas, on April 27, 2017. Mahomes II was the tenth overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft for the Kansas City Chiefs after a trade with the Buffalo Bills.
Tyler Morning Telegraph File
As for the mayor’s predictions for the game?
“I think that San Francisco is capable of getting some momentum and scoring a lot,” he said. “And I think that Kansas City is capable of pretty much following the touchdown. Patrick loves to make a touchdown on that opening drive. That seems to be where they go out there. They set a tone, they’re… up to doing it and I think that’s how this one will go: Kansas City scored on its first drive.”
Since becoming the Chiefs starting quarterback, Mahomes has led the team to six consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances from the 2018 season through the 2023 season, an impressive feat for someone who is not yet 30 years old.
“It’s up to the 49ers to kind of keep up with them along the way,” Wansley said. “There’s some great playmakers on the 49ers side, they have a lot of talent in a lot of different areas, but Kansas City… they’re kind of hard nosed in running the ball. It’s gonna be a great game. It’s gonna be fun to watch Kansas City win the Super Bowl.”
The Super Bowl will air on CBS19.
