She Answered the Call

     Last time, the Kornerman sought some help in answering questions about a former Toreador swim coach. We had an idea about it and it did prove correct but it's always nice to receive further verification and Karen Anderson provided some.
     Karen has proven to be a good Korner researcher and she wrote, "you know how I love to look stuff up." Right from some BHS yearbooks she gathered some info and even a picture of the Helen Emmons we had mentioned.
     According to Karen's research, Helen Emmons was appointed heard coach of the BHS boys swim team in the 1943-44 school year. It seems that Don Cole was the coach but he left for wartime service and Ms. Emmons happened to be the best candidate to replace him.
     This is interesting. Karen said in the 1943 yearbook, its mentioned that the boy's swim club was learning to swim while carrying rifles and maneuvering through oil fire........apparently in readiness for going off to war.
     A couple times in the written material it is stated that Ms. Emmons was "reportedly" the first woman to ever coach a boy's high school athletic team in the entire country.
     Amidst the material Karen sent, there's also mention of the great BHS swimmer, Bob Anderson, who was not only a state champion but a NATIONAL state high school record holder. But, that's a story for another day.
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     The Kornerman also mentioned in the last edition that there were some BHS graduates or Boone residents  through the years that were extra successful and that we were unaware of.  The list was so long we only used half of it and promised we would add more this time so.......
     An Alvin Bartholomew was the state of Iowa light boxing champion. Mrs. A.J. Barkley helped establish the Iowa State Library Commission and for many years, was prominent in state and local library work. She served as both Secretary and President of the Iowa State Library Association. The Iowa State Department of History and Archives was founded by a former Boone resident, Charles Aldrich, who was the first Iowa curator. He was an author and an influential legislator and Aldrich Avenue, where the Kornerman spends most of his time, was named for him. Finally, the famous Life Magazine decided to illustrate the book, "One Foot in Heaven," and the author was asked to choose a minister who's life and work resembled that of his father in the famous biography. A Mr. Spence, the author,  chose Dr. Briggs of the First Methodist Church of Boone. As a result, Dr.Briggs and Boone became know to thousands of Life Magazine readers.
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     Davi Mondt Lowman, BHS-67, wrote this week from Smiling Dog Farm on the east edge of town. She wrote, "your blog reminded me of the good old days of having to walk home, in this frigid weather, from BHS. It was quite a hike all the way from BHS to Cedar Street and, God forbid, that a teenage girl would bundle up to stay warm. Oh no.....you had to look your best at all times, no hat, no clunky boots and our skirts were above the knee so our legs would be white and numb by the time you reached home."
     Larry Lindmark recently talked about Boone theatres and Davi has some more info to add to that discussion which we will feature in our Saturday effort.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Ed Statton, 85, Sun City West, AZ. BHS-48. Navy service, regular and reserves. Earned a law degree and practiced law.............Maribel Anderson, 78, Boone. Grew up in Boone. Worked as a bartender. Boone area survivors include her sons, David and Tim of Boone and Michael of Ogden, daughter Monica Miller of Boone and longtime campanion, George Smith of Boone.........Beverly McNaughton, 87, Stratford. Formerly of Boone. Worked at McCaskey's Restaurant, Pamida and retired from service at Iowa State University...........Winona McCoy, 88. Boone survivor is a grandson, Chris Carlson of Boone.........Olga Cox, 94, Story City. Boone survivor is a grandson, Jeff Matters of Boone.........Amber Sorenson, 27, Riley 10, Autumn six, Brayden four, all victims of a terrible fire in Boxholm..........Wilma McComb, 91, Ogden. Farmed with her husband, Harold, near Beaver. Moved to Ogden in 1988. Boone area survivors include her husband, Harold, sons Doug and Darwin all of Ogden and son, Alan of Grand Junction..........Carolyn Thacker, 84, Ogden. Boone area survivors include her sons Keith and Kurt and daughter Kris Henning all of Ogden, her brother, Jerry Pharoah of Ogden and sister, Linda Carlson of Pilot Mound..........Delores Bordwell, 72, Boone. Boone area survivor is her husband, Charles of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support..........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.