Victory Bell of San Angelo Central High Found in Dallas After Reported Missing from Side of Country Highway

BALLINGER, TX — The Principal of San Angelo Central High School Bill Waters reported at approximately 2 p.m. that the Victory Bell was found with the help of the Runnels County Sheriff's Office this afternoon.

How did it go missing?

Saturday, the San Angelo Central High School’s victory bell went missing from the side of U.S. 67 in Runnels County.

According to the Runnels Country Sheriff’s Office, at 2:15 a.m. early Saturday morning, the Central High caravan of the football team, band, cheerleaders, and drill team were driving home from Arlington. Central had lost Friday night’s bi-district playoff game against Arlington Lamar High School at Cravens Field in Arlington.

The Runnels County Sheriff received a report that a trailer, which carries the bell, had a tire blowout, and the bell fell off the trailer.

Central staff made a decision early that morning to leave the bell and trailer on the side of the road to be picked up later Saturday. The bell and trailer were seen on the side of the road as late as 7 a.m. Saturday morning. However, sometime before 8 a.m. the bell went missing. Runnels County Sheriff said it was reported “taken by persons unknown.”

Below is a Facebook post that may offer clues:
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The Runnels County Sheriff received a call around noon from an individual reporting they saw a news story about the bell. The individual said they removed the bell from the side of the road for safe keeping in hopes of returning it to its rightful owners. The bell is currently in the Dallas Metroplex area. 

Waters said the Bell, which is being stored in a safe place Sunday, will be fetched by members of the Victory Bell Guardians Monday.