When Shots Were Fired in Boonetown

     There's been lots of noise recently about guns and the Kornerman has a story to share about how a gun effected my family right here in Boonetown. If you're old enough and have been a Boone resident from "way back" you may remember it. At the time, it was a big story, even statewide. Here goes.
     My parents owned the Superette Grocery at 521 17th street, one of several such neighborhood stores in the 1950's and 60's. On Saturday night, November 5, 1960, my dad, Clinton Kelley, was the victim of an armed robbery.
     His store closed at 8 p.m. and just like clockwork, my mother turned on an outside light and waited for dad to arrive home. The back door of the store, at the north end of the building, was, perhaps, 40 yards from the back door of the house at 1710 Crawford.
     With a money bag and a couple bottles of pop in his hand, dad backed out of the store, set to begin the short walk home and, immediately, someone approached from behind and indicated "this is a holdup."
     I can recall my dad always saying if there ever was such an occurrence, there would be no resistance at all. HOWEVER, as he turned to hand the money bag to the robber, panic apparently set in,........the robber sensed his victim was turning on him for battle and fired off a .22 calibre automatic rifle which hit the money bag and dad's middle finger on his left hand.
     There was simply no choice then, a battle ensued.
     The two grappled around, each seeking possession of the weapon. Both fell over a fence behind the store, the robber on top of dad and the weapon in between. It was estimated the gun was fired four more times with two of the close range shots hitting dad in the abdominal/stomach area.
     Actually, the gun eventually jammed. Police indicated it still had 12 cartridges left.
     At that point, the commotion, including my mother's screams and the shots being fired, brought a response from some neighbors but the robber was able to flee.
     Dad had numerous blood transfusions and a three-hour surgery. Dr. Louis Greco, who performed the surgery, told me later, "we didn't know immediately what we were dealing with........just that we had some severe wounds. Our only option was to enter the initial wounds and follow the flight of the bullets, repairing as we went. He was one lucky guy that the bullets just missed major organs that, had they been hit directly, would have resulted in his death."
     It took awhile, but in early February of 1961, two young men, who lived in the area, were charged with robbery with aggravation and, eventually, were convicted and served time in prison.
    My dad, 50 years old at the time of the shooting, eventually recovered and lived 43 more years with what had to be a terrible memory and an immovable middle finger on his left hand, a stark reminder of what had occurred on that November night. Mother had a good, long life as well. She lived to be 91.
     I, the Kornerman, also have memories of the event. I was 25 at the time, just back from a stint in the military and on that particular night, was at the Rialto watching the original, "Magnificent Seven" starring Yul Brynner,........that is until I was called home for an emergency.
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     An update on the story in the last edition about the disappearance, 40 years ago, of  Boone resident Norma Maynard.
     Thanks to Janelle Henry for informing us that Mrs. Maynard was not divorced as we had stated. Janelle wrote, "I was talking to my mom about Mrs. Maynard and we believe she was not divorced. Her husband had died. They lived only two blocks from us. I remember Mr. Maynard always having peppermint candy for me at the auction sales."
     The Kornerman says, "Janelle is absolutely correct. As we look back at material concerning this story, it does say that Mrs. Maynard was recently widowed. In fact, she vanished just two weeks after her husband's death."
     One other addition I noted. There is a publication called, "Iowa Cold Cases" and in that material, it states that Mrs. Maynard's son, Carl, told police that his mother "took a bus and left the area." That, of course, is another part of the story that has been disputed by the author, who is skeptical that a bus ride was ever involved."
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     Four days to go.
     Ross Hanson, BHS-74, and Bernie Lewiston are both anxious. They're wondering what this latest countdown is all about.
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      LATE WORD.....received word, via his son, of the death of Robert (Bob) Harvey, BHS-50. Mark Harvey, BHS-83, informed us that his father, a builder until the age of 77, is survived by his wife, Margaret Atherton Harvey, BHS-50, and a daughter, Lynn, BHS-80. The Harvey's were married in 1955.
      BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Geraldine (Jerry) Bell, Boone. Was 15 days shy of celebrating  her 102nd birthday..........Henry Calonkey, 77, Stratford. Boone area survivors include his ex-wife, Linda Calonkey, daughter, Susie, and son, Henry, all of Boone........Paul Jensen, 90, Ames. Formerly of Ogden. OHS-45. Born in Ogden. An ISU grad, a member of the Army Reserve and also, active military duty. Was the City Engineer at Oskaloosa, then a civil engineer for several midwest companies. He married his wife, Dixie, in 1945 and they had four children. In 1996, Paul retired and he and Dixie moved to Ogden. Boone area survivor is his wife, Dixie, of Ames.............William (Bill) Hull, 81, Boone.........Deloris Christensen, 82, Boone. She married Cameron Christensen in 1953. Cameron passed away in 1980. Deloris worked at the Hamilton County Hospital for 30 years before retiring in 1995. Three daughters survive, two of them, Christy and Tracy Christensen, of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.