Saturday, January 16, 2016

Some History, Sports History

     We're going back 75 years but even though that was a long time ago, it boggles the mind (the Kornerman's mind anyway) to think of the numerous changes that have occurred from then to now.
     These thoughts were prompted by that famous column that often appears in the Boone News Republican highlighting things that have happened locally 25, 50, 75, 100 years ago. The column is called, "A Look Back."
     According to that column, on January 14 of 1941, Boone High School and it's old, original swimming pool hosted the Iowa State High School Swimming championships. Can you imagine?
    Alright, perhaps, it wasn't that big a deal back then but the Kornerman can't help but make a comparison of that and today's much more modern facilities. The Kornerman remembers taking P.E. classes in that old BHS pool. The tidbit in the BNR states that the BHS pool was "a 60 x 20 regulation  pool, with four swimming lanes and a fan seating capacity of 300" which was determined to be "adequate for state competition." Regarding that seating, I recall that it was "cement bleacher" seating. I and a pillow experienced it as late as the 60's when the current, new pool was but a dream.
     It was indicated that, in the immediate past, the state meets had been held at the Iowa State College pool and that 14 to 15 of the state's high schools would be sending teams to the 1941 event.
     Yes, four lanes. The most recent Iowa state high school meets have been held at the State University of Iowa pool, prior to that the Beyer Hall pool on the ISU campus and, in even more recent years, at the Marshalltown YMCA pool, all which feature eight lanes, a "must" when you have a possibility of representatives from 40-50 swim programs in the state competing. Last the Kornerman knew, 24 in individual and/or relay events earned berths in the state meet, which seemed logical.........eight lanes, 24, or three heats for final qualification. And, of course, these more modern venues all have provided much more seating capacity than our old BHS pool.
     Too bad it isn't possible to go "back in time" and show the current crop of high school swimmers how it "really" was back in those "good old days."
     How about this special addendum?  I'm depending on an 80 year old brain here but the name "Helen Emmons" is popping in my head. At about that same time as the hosting of the state meet here, the late 30's, early 40's, there was a lady, "I'm thinking Helen Emmons" who was the BHS boys swim coach. I don't believe there was an organized girls swim program at the time. Anyway, I recall it being reported "back then" that this "Emmons thing" caused quite a stir. That it was the first time ever, in the USA, that a woman had ever coached a boys high school athletic team? I'm just reporting what the word was, "back then." If anyone out there in Kornerland can verify or correct any of this info, the Kornerman would be glad to hear from you.
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     Throughout my career the Kornerman has had an opportunity to research and report about Boone High School graduates who have made "us" proud. I'm sure our viewers realize we are a big Boone braggard........perhaps even to a fault.
     Anyway, while perusing this state swim meet thing, I came across, in an old BHS scroll, a page called, "Boone's Hall of Fame," which told of many BHS grads or Boone residents who had made a name for themselves in various ways, even nationally. Of course there were the usuals........Kate and Jack Shelley, Mike Enich, the Wilbur brothers etc. and others I have known about and have reported about in years past. However, there were some others in this new found material  the Kornerman had never known, heard or reported about.
     Here we go......I'll list a few today and have some more for next Wednesday. You've heard of Pyrex I'm sure,.......a form of glass that can withstand sudden changes in temperature without breaking. It was discovered by Martin Nordberg, a research chemist for Corning Glass Company and a BHS graduate. A Frank Wilcox was, for many years, a successful actor on the Broadway stage. Main Boucher was a Parisian dress designer and Yolanda Prosperi was a famous designer for the Nellie Don Dress Company. Those three were all BHS grads. The Kornerman is somewhat familiar with famous author McKinlay Kantor but I never knew he lived in Boone for a short time. Another famous author, Bess Streeter Aldrich, was a former Boone primary teacher and Paul McCrae, writing from Washington D.C., had his political articles distributed throughout the nation.
     More of this next time.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Johnny Weber, 67, Ames. Formerly of Boone. BHS-66. Talented artist. Among many other local artistic achievements, Johnny designed and executed the railroad mural on the north side of the Eckstein's building, southwest corner of Ninth and Story. He was also the designer of those famous, limited edition Kate Shelley and Northwestern Railroad collector plates........Jim Marsh, 82, Jewell. Former Athletic Director/coach at South Hamilton High School.......Gwendolyn Craven, 90, Boone. Boone area survivors include three of her eight children, Kevin Majors, Tammy Hougham and Jeff Craven, all of Boone.............Abby Hand, 91, Boone. Pilot Mound High-41. Worked at telephone companies in Ames and Oklahoma and farmed with her husband, Lavern (Dutch) Hand, near Napier. Was an accomplished musician who played various instruments with local bands. Drove United Community school bus for many years. Boone area survivors include son Jerry of Ames and daughter, Sue Stolte, of Boone...........Robert Larson, 84, Boone. Was an electrician, eventually operating his own company. Boone area survivors include daughter Vicki of Stratford and son, Robert Junior of Boone...........Kenneth Carlson, Boone. BHS-60, Worked at the DOT, then Rolfes Company before starting his own Carlson Electric in Boone. Later, worked at the NADC lab in Ames before being disabled in 1994. Boone area survivors include his wife, Patricia, and his son, Jeffrey, both of Boone.
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