GCCC Phi Theta Kappa Students Restore Historic Victory Bell
[Garden City, KS] May 16, 2025 -- Garden City Community College (GCCC) is proud to announce the successful restoration of a long-standing symbol of school pride and community spirit, the Broncbuster Victory Bell, thanks to the dedication and leadership of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society student members.
For PTK members, the project was a powerful reflection of the organization's four pillars: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship. Through this effort, students engaged in meaningful service work, developed leadership skills, and collaborated with peers, faculty, administrators, and community stakeholders.
Originally cast in 1901, the bell was first installed in the bell tower of the historic Garfield Elementary School, where it served as the school’s primary bell for over 30 years. After the original building was demolished, the bell was placed in storage until the 1960s.
In the 1980s, faculty and students at GCCC mounted the bell on a trailer, transforming it into the “Victory Bell.” It was then used to celebrate touchdowns at Broncbuster football games, becoming a spirited symbol of school pride.
By the early 1990s, the bell also became a fixture in community parades, ringing down Main Street during celebrations. Since most parades in Garden City end near Walnut Street, where Garfield Elementary is located, the bell continued to “come home” with each appearance.
Over time, however, the bell and trailer began to visibly age, with wear and weather taking their toll. Its use at football games ended after the 2005 season, though it still appeared in community parades into the early 2020s.
In 2022, PTK members began exploring ways to restore the historic Victory Bell. By fall 2024, the project was officially underway, and with support from Gabe Winger, Assistant Dean of Technical Education and Director of the John Deere Program, a new trailer for the bell was secured.
The bell, estimated at 300 pounds, was transported to Hays, Kansas, for professional restoration, made possible by a generous donation from Skeeter’s Body Shop. There, it underwent a complete restoration process, including sandblasting, repairs, recoating, and precise tuning to D-sharp to ensure both functionality and tonal accuracy.
Meanwhile at GCCC, PTK members worked alongside faculty and students from the John Deere program to prepare a new trailer that was safer and built to last. This hands-on collaboration allowed students to apply their classroom skills in a real-world project that will leave a lasting mark on campus.
The restored bell returned to Garden City in Spring 2025, where it was mounted on the new trailer. Its first official ring took place during GCCC’s May 9, 2025, Commencement Ceremony, where graduating PTK members led the procession to ceremoniously ring the Victory Bell to signify both their academic achievement and the bell’s rebirth.
Following graduation, the Victory Bell will once again become a vibrant part of campus traditions, used during athletic events, parades, ceremonies, and other special occasions for years to come.
Garden City Community College extends its sincere thanks to the PTK students, PTK advisors Winsom Lamb and Tammy Hutcheson, Gabe Winger, Mack Hensley, Skeeter’s Body Shop, and many others who played a vital role in restoring this historic piece of campus.
Pictured left to right: GCCC PTK graduates pose with restored Victory Bell during the 2025 Commencement, Baylee Hutcheson, Nathan Peters, Roxy Stone, and Dakota Smith.
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Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.