Jefferson City couple celebrates 50th anniversary as Chiefs near Super Bowl

From left, Nancy Rau, Leslie Baker, Brian Baker, Laura Rau and Gary Rau celebrate this year's championship run for the Kansas City Chiefs during a recent visit to Kansas City. Gary and Nancy are from Jefferson City and are longtime Chiefs' season ticket holders who celebrated their 50th anniversary on Friday, just a few days after the 50th anniversary of the last time the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
From left, Nancy Rau, Leslie Baker, Brian Baker, Laura Rau and Gary Rau celebrate this year's championship run for the Kansas City Chiefs during a recent visit to Kansas City. Gary and Nancy are from Jefferson City and are longtime Chiefs' season ticket holders who celebrated their 50th anniversary on Friday, just a few days after the 50th anniversary of the last time the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.

A Jefferson City couple who are longtime Kansas City Chiefs fans are hoping to celebrate the team's second Super Bowl win alongside of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Gary and Nancy Rau have lived in Jefferson City since 1972. They grew up in nearby California, where Nancy's father owned a hardware store. She and Gary met in high school and have been together ever since.

They were married Jan. 17, 1970, just a few days after the Chiefs won their only Super Bowl on Jan. 11, 1970.

Gary has worked at JC Industrial Supply, where he is general manager, for 48 years. Nancy was among Lincoln University's first nursing graduates.

Gary has had Chiefs season tickets for 21 years, and last weekend, the family celebrated the Raus' anniversary in Kansas City - which coincidentally allowed him to see the Chiefs win a playoff game against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.

The family will return to Arrowhead again Sunday for the AFC Championship Game, anticipating a win and a return to the Super Bowl, Gary said.

"We have a daughter who lives in San Francisco who is flying in for the game," he said. "We got the family hotel rooms in Miami for the Super Bowl if they win on Sunday."

The Raus' son-in-law, who is a Denver Broncos fan, has converted for now to rooting for the Chiefs and will be at the NFC title game between Green Bay and San Francisco, Gary said.

"We've seen a lot of great players, from Lenny Dawson to Patrick Mahomes," Gary said. "It's been a long time, and we've been close to going back a couple of times now. Those trips back to Jefferson City are longer when you lose, but much more satisfying after a win. I think we've got a good group and can go all the way."