DO WE TRULY REALIZE WHAT WE HAVE HERE??

     The Boone Campus of the Des Moines Area Community College just completed a graduation ceremony for over 200 students. Then too, the Bears women's softball team, to great acclaim, just earned third place in the Division II NATIONAL softball tourney, completing a season that featured well over 40 victories and just two defeats.
     Yes, I, the Kornerman, a proud 1955 graduate of DMACC's forerunner, Boone Junior College, is admittedly biased. However, as I review these recent events and also notice the eerie campus silence of another passing year there, I find myself questioning, "do we (the Boone community) truly realize what we have here? There are summer classes offered but, in comparison, campus activity at this time is limited.
     With the help of a great website offered by Jerry Manriquez, BSH-57, I've done some research.
     Some 2,500 students participate in Boone campus activities per semester and over 75 fulltime jobs are provided on campus on a regular basis. A variety of programs give students a two-year head start to an eventual four-year B.A. degree elsewhere. OR, there are two-year programs offered and completed there in civil engineering technology, nursing or accounting. In addition, with the aid of the University of Northern Iowa, a B.A. in elementary education can be obtained in two years on the Boone Campus alone.
     Facility upgrades have been frequent and eight men's and women's sports are offered. Anybody notice those fairly recent apartment buildings? They'll house 208 students.
     Needless to say, the latest Boone Campus is not close to your grandma and grandpa's version.
     Boone Junior College was founded in 1927 and occupied the third floor of the "original" Boone High School. It eventually went on its own at the old Franklin elementary school but in 1969, moved to and became a part of DMACC. In that year, Claire Abbott was the college Dean, there were 21 instructors and 410 students. My 1955 class had graduated 28.
     It was fun to look back at some BJC yearbooks and realize how many of our citizens have taken advantage of the school through the years. It is actually stunning. While perusing, I guess it was about 1947 that I started recognizing some of the individuals in the BJC graduating classes. Stan Redeker, Dick Lantz and Charles Eastlund accepted degrees that year.
     It makes me wonder if it would be possible to find a BJC graduate from pre-47 that is still alive?
     Finally, again,......"do we (the Boone community) truly realize what we have here" and furthermore, is there anything more we can do to truly honor and show appreciation for this tremendous asset we have?"
K-----K
     Some pearls of wisdom: (1) Will Rogers said, "we could slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through congress". (2) Groucho Marx commented, "I was married by a judge but I should have asked for a jury". (3) A cardiologist's diet......if it tastes good, spit it out.
K-----K
     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Clayton Rullestad, 74, Boone. Was the Supervisor of Grounds for Iowa State University for many years. Boone area survivors include his wife, Nancy, and son, Craig, both of Boone. Two step daughters also survive..........Dorothy Wynia, 96, Story City. After graduating from Drake University she taught at Madrid and then Johnston..........Beverly Barnes Rinker, 86, Ames. She married Bob Rinker in 1952. Both were ISU graduates. In 1957, after Bob had served in the military, they came back to Boone County to farm  the Rinker family land south of Beaver. Two sons and two daughters survive. Boone area survivor is a daughter in law, Kim Rinker, of Ogden..........Barbara Jones Manriquez, 79, Fresno, CA. BHS-57. She married John Manriquez in 1961. Survivors include two sons and her former husband, John.
K-----K
     Woldwide 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.