As the World Turns

     Mel Murken, BHS-59, surprised me with a call from Florida this week.
     Mel and I go back to the 60's..........specificially 1962. That year, the Kornerman was selected as the Boone Babe Ruth Baseball League All-Star manager and I, in turn, selected Mel Murken to be my right hand man. The Kornerman was 27 and Mel was 21, neither of us were married, and we ended up that baseball summer trying to keep a group of 13, 14 and 15 year olds under control while we traveled with them to Hampton, Iowa, followed by Wellington, Kansas and finally, Bridgeton, New Jersey. Yes, that team won the Iowa championship, then the regional title, which featured seven other state championship teams. That provided the opportunity to become one of just eight Babe Ruth teams  in the world to compete in the Ruth World Series in New Jersey. Full disclosure......we lost both games in New Jersey.
     Its fun (I think) to roll back the names of some of the guys (kids?) on that team........Ted Hora, Mike Harris, Steve Crandell, John Hendricks, Marty Rinehart, Mike Culver, Les Hohanshelt, Jerry Hamil, Sandy Mahood, Jim Hitsman, R.D. Boschulte, Charley Lind, Jim Smelcer, Jack Mustapha and, surprisingly, I zipped through those names pretty quickly BUT, wouldn't you know, I'm one short. Eventually got it! Don Riker.
     Back to Mel. After playing baseball for Bill Sapp and the Toreadors, he played at Drake University and eventually became an Iowa High School Baseball Hall of Fame coach after a very successful career as the Ankeny High School coach.
     A couple years ago, Mel was back in the Boonetown area for a family reunion and we had time for a good remembrance.  He promised that another reunion will be coming up and he will again stop by to see, "the oldtimer." In the meantime, he just wondered, "how you doin,'" and we discussed our various ailments.
     A stepson and family and a daughter and family have moved to Florida much to Mel's delight and yes, he does spend some time going to major league baseball spring training games at various sites in Florida.
     It was great to hear from him.
K-----K
     Remember the Lippert family? The construction firm, which began and was very successful in Boone, eventually moved to Oklahoma. Our coffee group obtained a pamphlet about the firm and included were some pictures of various projects they had been involved in through the years. One, was a picture of a Fisher Manufacturing Plant they apparently constructed in Boone in 1930. None of our group had any remembrance of Fisher Manufacturing. Among other things,  Lipperts built the original Boone swimming pool in McHose Park. Names that come to mind are Linda, Bruce and Walt Lippert. Any of our viewers have any knowledge of Fisher Manufacturing in Boone in the early 30's?
K-----K
      You know and the Kornerman knows that Boone is a hotbed for auto racing. Many of our citizens are involved in some way or another. Just want to alert those interested that there was a lengthy but terrific story about your craft in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, dated January 29, 2016.
     The story banner reads, "Motorsport drivers spend more than most make in a year to compete."
     The story begins by explaining that, "the sport can provide a measure of sticker shock for the uninitiated" but that those involved are aware of that and for them, "the value is the same as spending money on fishing, hunting, boating or any other hobby a person finds."
     There are several quotes in the story from Kyle Brown of Boone, who owns and operates Harris Auto Racing here. The story really gets detailed about the costs involved in racing and the Kornerman knows the Boone area folks who participate in the sport would really enjoy reading it. The Kornerman picked it up on the Gazette website.
K-----K
     As long as we're at it, here's another Kornerman recommendation.........especially for you folks who grew up in the Elvis era.......the 50's and 60's. Don't think this is just another bit of Elvis memorabilia. There's much more than that including lots of cars from that era. Its a  20 minute presentation and the collector will blow you away with the numerous and various pristine vehicles from that era that he possesses. I promise, you've never seen anything like this.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u9xFqL-3kfy or if you're really interested, contact me and I may be able to send it to you.
K-----K
     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Janice Evelyn Kalbach, 79, Menlo. Born in Boone. Parents were Alice (Hunter) and Gilbert Bentley Sr.. Raised on a farm north of Ames and Gilbert HS-55. Attended Boone Junior College, 1955-57...........Jack Mickle, 87, Boone. Longtime professor at ISU. Boone area survivor is his wife, Kathleen.........Doris Frazier, 92, Boone. Moved with her late husband, Max, to Boone in 1955 when Max was involved with the Archway Cookie Company. Doris was a homemaker.........Dora Karwoski, 95, Boone. Boone area survivors include her husband, Marion, and son, George, both of Boone.........Jane Hanel, 87, Boone. BHS-48. Boone area survivors include her husband, Darrell, and daughter, Diane Olofson, both of Boone........Raymond (Bud) Pepper, 92. Born in Boone County and lifetime farmer in Boone County. Roland-Story HS-43.
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.