Surprises

     Earlier this week, just after a Board of Directors meeting at Worldwide Korner headquarters, the Kornerman was sitting in his corporate office when the Chief of Security called to say there was someone at the main gate. We just offer tours of our facilities in certain hours on certain days and, of course, the cafeteria and gift shop are also inoperative at times, but I had a feeling this may be a special visitor that should be allowed entrance and it was.
     Mary Longworth stopped by to check out our headquarters. We had a very nice visit and much appreciated her interest. Mary was in the area to visit with friends like Cay Herald in Boone and Caroline Herman in Ames. The Milwaukee area is home to Mary, except for the winter months when the family moves to Florida for a time.
     We always look forward to visitors at Worldwide headquarters but, of course, we must insist on the preliminary passage of thorough background checks.
     Seriously, it was great fun to see and visit with Mary who is just as attractive as we remember her those few years ago as a BHS student.
K-----K
     Just last night at the Tic Toc restaurant we had another surprise visit. Jerry Smith, BHS-56, was on hand with his wife, mother and aunt enjoying some Iowa cuisine.
     Jerry and I were attending Iowa State at the same time in the late 50's. In fact, we had sack lunch together a few times in the bleachers of the old ISU Armory. That provided a few memories.
     Jerry taught at the college in San Luis Obispo in California for many years prior to retirement. His mother still lives in Boone at age 95 and that, as well as visits with other Boone area relatives draws Jerry back to his hometown on various occasions. He's also come back for class reunions although he was in Australia at the time of the most recent one and missed it.
K-----K
     For you out-of-state viewers, reflection would indicate that one of the biggest changes in your old hometown has to be the huge advancement of our college, Des Moines Area Community College. Of course, their is no current comparison at all to the enrollment figure of the time the school was Boone Junior College. When I was a BJC student in 1954 there were less than 100 enrolled. Now, it's in the thousands. Facilities have been constantly updated......but not enough to keep up with the huge increase in enrollment.
     In the last few years, a brand new and wonderful baseball diamond has been built for use by the Bears and now, a new softball field will be getting underway as the weather becomes suitable for construction.
     This information brings the Kornerman to what I originally intended to mention. Congratulations to the DMACC softball team, which just finished third place in the NATION in their division. The softball program was only added three or four years ago and has already produced a pair of teams who have earned national recognition, equal to what Bear baseball and basketball teams have earned.
     The school, of course, draws lots of students from in-state but the various athletic programs draw from far and wide and, on occasion, from outside the 48.........tennis players from Brazil and baseball players from Central American countries have come to "little ole'" Boone to further their education.
     Remember third floor of the high school building and the old Franklin school building, Dale Peer, Robert Heyen, Dean Thornburg, Billy Devaney and others? Quite a change through the years.
K-----K
     Boone Area Deaths: James Dake Sr., 77, Des Moines. Grew up in Boone but lived his adult life in Des Moines.............Susan Anthony, 68, Ogden..............Stephen Cree, 83, Iowa City. Services held in Boone...........James Curvin, 77, Boone. Jordan High-59. Worked at Firestone in Des Moines but most of his working life was spent with Percival Manufacturing until his retirement in 1989. Boone area survivors include his son, Steve, grandson, Steven, and his sister Jean Peterson all of Boone.............James McDermott, 86, Laguna Beach, CA. Tennis and basketball star at BHS. After military service attended the University of Iowa. He founded and owned numerous businesses prior to retirement.
K-----K
     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.