Golden Plains Credit Union once again hosted its annual Blackout T-Shirt Sale in 2025—an event that has become a fall tradition not just in Ulysses, but across Kansas. This year’s sale sparked a wave of curiosity: where did the Blackout event actually begin? To answer that, I reached out to former Golden Plains employees who proudly recalled how a simple idea grew into a statewide celebration.
The story began in 2009, when John Ledesma pitched the idea of a Blackout shirt to the Big Orange Booster Club. As the original concept creator, he helped design the first shirt, which was given to the Ulysses football and cheer teams at no cost. The following year, Sherry Annis brought the idea to Golden Plains Credit Union Vice President Debbie Bell, who agreed to sponsor the project. From there, Sherry led the charge—organizing shirt designs and coordinating sales that quickly became a community draw.
What started small soon grew into a phenomenon. Lines for shirts wrapped around the block, and GPCU employees enlisted their families to help keep up with demand. The turning point came when a Ulysses Blackout shirt was spotted on a beach in Mexico, proof that the spirit of the event had traveled far beyond Southwest Kansas. From that moment, the project spread to every Golden Plains branch across the state, turning it into a company-wide tradition.
Over the years, the event has carried deep meaning. The largest sale came the year after longtime UHS coach Jason Kenny’s passing, when an incredible 3,000 shirts were sold in his honor featuring the “JK” mark. More recently, the Blackout has evolved into a full community celebration, complete with a DJ, food trucks, and a packed stadium on game night.
What began as an idea is now a lasting tradition—a symbol of community pride, teamwork, and the spirit of Ulysses that shines brighter each fall Friday night under the stadium lights.
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