TAKEN EM' FOR A SWIM

     A great memory from Jim Grabau, BHS-63.
     He wrote,"I'm looking forward to your recognition on July  21st. You did a great job in all the things you have been involved in (too many to mention). I remember when you would drive us to swim meets and then write about the meets in the BNR back in the 60's."
     Jim added, "That brought to mind a story of my swimming experience at TCU (Texas Christian University) in Fort Worth, TX. My senior year, in 1968, after six months of training in the Marine Corps Reserve, I was taking a Water Safety Instruction Certification Course. The swim coach asked if I would like to swim on the swim team that only had five swimmers and had been formed about two years before. I said "yes" and trained with them. We won the first meet TCU had ever won  against Sam Houston State. Our pool reminded me of the old Boone High pool and was in even worse shape. At the end of the season, I asked the coach if he had a criteria for lettering and he said,"no." I asked if we would all get letters and he said, "no, you didn't practice as long as the others." I really didn't think I deserved it but I had to ask."
     In conclusion he wrote, "fast forward about forty years and I started getting email's from the TCU Letterman's Club. When I was 70, I wrote a letter to the current swim coach and asked if he would check and tell me if I was a letterwinner. I told him the same story and he wrote back saying,"yes, I was listed as a letterman." I told him I never received the letter and he sent me a framed letter from TCU. I think they just wanted dues but I thought it was a funny story. The WSI Certification helped get me hired to manage the Western Hill Swim Association and coach their age group swim team."
     The Kornerman says, "what a great memory. Yes, as Jim reminded, I, the Kornerman did, in those days, help transport the BHS swim team to their out-of-town meets. I did the same thing for the Toreador cheerleaders in basketball and football. Here's the skinny. The school needed to get those units to those out-of-town events and knew that I would be "heading that direction" so it solved their transportation problem. Meantime, I enjoyed the company AND doubled up on mileage income. Both the newspaper and the school would pay me so much a mile for doing this deed. It was a good thing for both of us."
     "Of course, not many schools had pools and offered swim programs in those days and I often wondered if other newspapers Sports Editors actually covered, in person, out-of-town swim meets. Keep in mind though, this was almost sixty years ago and high school sports programs were much more limited than they are today.......fewer girls programs, no soccer etc.etc.......so, not as many sports programs to cover."
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     Curtis Dale Jr.Cox, BHS-63, wrote, "thank you for the article about my brother, Bob "Pinky" Clifton. I was three at that time and, of course, don't remember too much of his high school basketball. I do remember my parents coming to the old Franklin School and taking me out of class to go to Iowa City to see him play. Those are great memories. Keep up the great stories you share with everyone."
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     Gary Knox says he "still has grocery stores on the brain." He wrote, "remember carryout boys? Another large store in the vicinity of  east of Central Christian Church? Might be off a street. I was pretty young and my mom got several bags of groceries there. The owner or manager was at the checkout and asked my mom if I was strong enough to carry them to our car. He said if I wanted a job as a carryout I should try. Thinking I was old enough, I took the challenge. The sacks had canned goods in them and I thought my arms would drop off by the time I struggled to the car. I, obviously, wasn't old enough. I decided not to make carryout my career. As an older teen, I worked for a custom baling crew eventually so I redeemed myself."
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Emalou Hoff, Altoona. Born in Boone to Maurice and Gladys McLuen.........Linda May Jacobs Rahto, Luther. Has lived in Luther the last 25 years.........Rita Seeman, 89, Ogden.........Paula Duncan, 48, Boone. Moved to Boone in 1998. Has been with her husband, Mike Kroll, since 2001. He and a sister, Susan Casey, of Ogden survive........Debra Kay Hurt, 61, Boone........Marilyn Beckett, 94, Boone. BHS-42. Was a telegrapher at several locations. In 1944, married Roy Beckett. They farmed, then she worked at Ward's, Donnelly's, for Dr. Jack Cummings and in the Boone County Hospital business office for 17 years.........Charlotte Nelson, 70, Boone. Earned a Political Science degree from Northwest Missouri State. Worked her entire life for the elderly and special needs people. Served many years as Director of the Boone County Work Activity Center. Retired in 2008. Married Murray Nelson in 1980. A daughter, brother and two sisters survive........Merle Leichliter, 79, Boone. OHS-58. Served in the National Guard. In 1960, married Karen Fitzgerald. He worked many years at John Deere prior to retirement in 1991. Boone area survivors include his wife, Karen, and daughter, Natalie Moorman, both of Boone. A son and another daughter also survive.
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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.