The Red Carpet Bowl Classic was instituted in 1962 as a postseason football game played to benefit Leo Puckett, a local high school athlete who was paralyzed during a high school football game.

          Five men from Vicksburg had a vision after seeing a need (Leo Puckett) and formed The Red Carpet Bowl Classic committee to meet the demands of that need.

          The founding fathers of the Red Carpet Bowl Classic were:

Gene Allen - former Head Coach of H. V. Cooper High School in Vicksburg.
Harold Baldwin - local businessman.
Billy Ray - former Vicksburg Evening Post sports editor.
Ray Roberts, Sr. - former Chief to the Superintendent of Illinois Central Railroad.
Travis T. Vance, Sr. - former Mayor for the City of Vicksburg.

          In 1987 the Bowl game was staged in conjunction with the first round of the state playoffs. In 1992 the game became a season opening matchup between the invited teams.