Memory Makers

     Some great memories from Dorothy Clifton, BHS-48, and Mike Loehrer, BHS-64, this time.
     Dorothy sent me an action picture of her late husband, Bob (Pinky) Clifton, BHS-48. She was very surprised to see a picture of Pinky, an Iowa Hawkeye basketball star in the early 50's, on television during halftime of this season's Iowa-Iowa State basketball game. Yes, it was Pinky driving around a defender. Boone residents Ray Gragg, BHS-58, and Kenny Shuey, BHS-56, verified it, as did the Clifton's daughter.
     Ray Gragg played for Clifton when he returned to Boone after his college days to coach the Toreadors and noticed the shot of his old coach while watching the game live on TV. The Clifton's daughter, an ISU grad, had watched and taped that game and was able to make a copy of the picture and Shuey, a neighbor of Dorothy's, took that copy and made some extra copies for Dorothy. The Kornerman received one of the copies.
     Pinky Clifton is one of Boone High's greatest basketball players ever. He led his 1948 Toreador team to a state tourney berth, then became an outstanding Iowa Hawkeye player who won numerous honors, including recognition as an All-American on a team chosen by Look magazine, a popular publication of the day.
     Actually, all this about the picture was but a small part of the note Dorothy sent the Kornerman. Her main reason for writing was to ask if I had any advice as to what she should do with Pinky's BHS letter sweater, which she has kept all these years. Truthfully, the Kornerman hasn't got a clue. As mentioned before, I, myself, have lots of facts and figures about BHS sports history that I don't know what to do with.
     Dorothy concluded, "thanks for all your news about Boone and Boone folks. Very enjoyable reading."
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     Mike Loehrer sent a couple of items. One, a famous picture you've all seen of a train passing over the old high bridge west of Boone. I've seen it a zillion times but it always demands a second or third look. Then too, he sent a video, "North Platte Canteen," which was very interesting and which very much reminded me of what could have been called the "Boone Canteen." Although I was young at the time, in the 1940's, I remember when the troop trains would make a quick stop in Boone (remember the stand at that house, northwest corner of Ninth and Greene?) and patronize a canteen set up along the railroad tracks.
     Hot coffee, cold drinks, real food etc. was available and, perhaps even more important, good wishes, hugs and prayers were numerous. It was just what the doctor ordered for the young soldiers. Most were in their 20's, if that,  cramped in a train for two, three, four days while moving across the country, eating K rations and, no doubt, scared to death about what they may face in their future.
     Most were in a place they were unfamiliar with, seeing people they had never met but still enjoying just 10 or 15 minutes of time they would never forget.
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     Vern Modeland, "watching Spring coming down here in the Ozarks" wrote in reply to my recent note about the Good News restaurant. I had endorsed the restaurant with the comment, "if you haven't given it a whirl, at least give it a thought."
     Vern replied, "how about giving it a taste instead?  You need nourishment after all that spinning and thinking."
     P.S. The Kornerman noted the other day that a U-Haul was sitting in front of Bob's Burger's and taking material inside. Perhaps that's a sign that the restaurant will soon be opening. A sign on the window  still says, "opening soon."
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     Oh boy, remember the good old days of Central Iowa Conference competition.......Ames, Osky, Grinnell, Marshalltown, Newton?
     Here are the 2016 BHS football opponents: Creston/Orient-Macksburg; Bondurant-Farrar; Iowa Falls-Alden; Perry; Gilbert; Greene County; Ballard; Dallas Center-Grimes and Webster City. That schedule for next fall was just released.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Donald Josephson, Wheaton, IL, BHS-59. Was a math professor at Wheaton College.........Roseann Ostrem, 85, Des Moines. Formerly of Boone. BHS-49. Her parents were Cole and Ruby Franklin. No Boone area relatives............Merlin (Mick) Oetker, 84, Marshalltown. Formerly of Boone. Worked over 40 years for Iowa Light and Power.............Bruce Johnson Jr., 67, Akron, CO. Formerly of Boone. BHS-67. Worked  at George Rolfes Company here, moved to Nebraska and had an auto parts business. Worked at a business that restored antique autos and then started his own heating/cooling business. Boone area survivors include his mother, Geraldine Johnson, and Kelli Moore and husband, Greg, all of Boone..........Margaret Grassley, 85, Boone. Taught at Garfield, Lincoln and Page schools from 1960 until retirement in 1990. Boone area survivor is a son, James Grassley, of Boone.........Lester Campbell, 83, Ames. Formed Campbell Oil Company. Boone area survivor is daughter, Jean Carlson, of Ogden..........Pearl Meier, 96, Ames. Boone area survivor is a son, Gilbert Meier, 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.