A Joyful Time

     What a week it has been. A birthday and great NCAA basketball success.
     Hey, you viewers who live "outside" of your home state........I hope you realize that Iowa is the only state that had three basketball teams that made the NCAA field. Now, after three first round wins by, ISU, Iowa and UNI, we are still the only state with three teams "alive" in the competition. Two of the first round wins came right at ground zero but they were wins and we have more great games to watch this weekend.
     Then, of course, I had a birthday and received lots of nice greetings. An e-card from Roger and Lou Oxenford who claimed I was a young guy at 81 since they are both 89. Then too, thanks to Tom Peterson, Doug and Sheri Miller, John Kueck and classmate Carol Miller Hopkins-Pyeatt.
     John Kueck emailed from Coronado, CA and included a photo greeting written in beach sand..........a big "Happy Birthday" to me, the old Kornerman, from the sands of California.
     Speaking of John, he also sent a Little League sign he "loved." It was displayed at one of the LL parks.  It reads, "Reminders from your Child. I'm a kid. It's just a game. My coach is a volunteer. The officials are human. No college scholarships will be handed out today." That's a great message.
     Classmate Carol wrote, "please know how much I, together with many others, wish you a future of good health and happiness. Its always fun to reminisce when reading your blog. Your blog enables us to connect with those "good old days.""
     By the way, Al Roeder also emailed but, unfortunately, for some reason, I couldn't pull the message up.
K-----K
     Way back........when I was sports writing for the Boone News and announcing games for KWBG, I got to know many great high school athletic fans all around the area. One of the couples I enjoyed seeing and visiting with were the Jensen's, Lawrence and Dorothy, of the Madrid area. Recently, I noticed they were celebrating their 70th anniversary and that both were in their 90's. I sent a greeting to their Leesburg, VA address and this week, received a reply. They were very appreciative to hear from the old Kornerman.
     By the way, it was their son, Dick Jensen, who had a great Madrid Tiger athletic career as a cross country runner and basketball player, that I wrote about a lot and broadcast events he was involved in. Dick went on to become a star player on a Ralph Miller coached team (late 60's) at the State University of Iowa. He was on that great team with Fred Brown, John Johnson and others that was one of the best teams ever at SUI.
     Dick's dad, Lawrence, wrote that "Dick is now 68 and retired after a great career in computer systems, seven years developing Direct TV and the first to launch satellite radio in New York City. His sister, Barb, not to be outdone, was the first ever Ph.D from Lincoln, NE. to receive a fellowship to the General Accounting office in Washington, D.C.
    It was great to hear from the Jensen's.
K-----K
    Boone Connected Deaths: Charles Peterson, 87, Dayton. Stratford H.S.-46. Farmed southeast of Dayton............Virgil Fowles Sr., 84, Ames. Worked as a fireman and then had an insurance business. Boone area survivor is a brother, Darrell Fowles of Boone..........David Coe, 73, Ames. Was involved in the family business, Coe's Floral and Gifts in Ames. Was a competitive driver at the Boone Speedway for several years.
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/support..........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.