A TREMENDOUS DAY

     Where do we begin? So much to relate and fear that, somehow, we will miss mentioning someone or something that should be mentioned. Will do the best I can using a fuzzy 83-year old recall.
     Mo Kelley Day was fantastic. Beautiful weather and more participants than expected. I mean after all, we had great weather on a weekend day with the Boone County Fair underway and, of course, this is a time for reunions of high school classes and families and weddings and various other attractions.
     Needless to say, the Kornerman and Jo were "blown away" by the tremendous show of support.
     And, it just wasn't the hands-on support.........we received cards and letters and emails and calls from all corners of this country. Mayor John Slight told me he couldn't believe the number of calls he had received in past weeks from all areas of the U.S. regarding the event
     In addition to the many Booneites and other Iowans, John and Linda Hinz, Steve Shaler and Larry Lindmark came from Minnesota, Joe Fontanini from St. Louis, Ronnie Nunn from Arizona, Jim Jewett from California and Jodi Wilhelm Fagerland who lives in Hawaii. Let me make it clear......I won't claim they all came strictly for my event. Some were probably in the area for various other reasons.
     I took a quick look at out-of-staters we have heard from. Nebraska, California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Kentucky, Utah, Idaho, Florida, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Ohio and South Carolina representatives have sent best wishes.
     Wife Jo was the recipient of a beautiful flower arrangement and both she and I were decorated with boutonnieres. Mike Loehrer provided special Mo Kelley Day pins for everyone to wear. In a bright red, Mo Kelley Day, July 21, 2018, was inscribed on them.
     Mike Sundall acted as M.C. for a short program. He praised the committee that put the event together. Mayor Slight proclaimed Mo Kelley day and also presented me with a beautiful.....its not a plaque.......I don't know what to call it......its glass and the name and date etc. are inscribed.....its just beautiful.
     Two old KWBG compadres spoke briefly. Mike Pace, the Iowa Realty television spokesman who was, for many years, the M.C. for the nationwide Powerball drawings, and Larry Kelley had some remarks about their radio history with the Kornerman and Marty Dannatt gave an update on the event's financial situation.
     I want to mention a couple things that were "extra special." Iowa icon Gary Thompson was in attendance. He and Dan Gable are probably two of Iowa's most famous athletes. Gary led the Roland Rockets basketball team to three state tournament appearances, 1951-53, with a second place finish to highly powered Davenport, 50-40, in '51 to fourth place finishes the other two years. AND THAT WAS IN A ONE-CLASS TOURNAMENT. Then, at Iowa State, he became a first team All-American in both baseball and basketball. In one of the most famous athletic stories in Iowa sports history, he outscored 7-1 Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain and led the Cyclones to an upset of the top-ranked Jayhawks at the old ISU Armory. The Kornerman always chuckles when thinking about the 7,000 seat armory and the fact that probably 100,000 ISU fans have always insisted they were "at that famous game."
     Anyway, even in later years, Gary was famous as a longtime college basketball analyst on all the major TV networks. He worked with all the famous network announcers......Enberg, Musberger, etc. etc.
     Gary and I are both 83 and he's had some health issues but came over from Ames and his visit excited everyone in attendance.
     Then too, Marty Dannatt read a letter from the radio/tv voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Gary Dolphin, that brought tears to these old eyes. His tribute was so special. I also received a very nice note from Jim Goodrich. Remember Jim, the old United Community basketball star who set a new state scoring record during his high school career? He now serves the Athletes in Action group in Iowa City. He leads the University of Iowa athletic teams in prayer and also is available for any counselling any Hawkeye athletes desire.
     Marty said that three beautiful mongrammed benches with "A Tribute to Mo Kelley" engraved on them had been purchased and paid for and there was over $3,500 donated monies still available.
     The Kornerman will be deciding in the days to come which local charities will receive portions of that money. I can tell you immediately that the Boone County Humane Society will be on that list as I honor my dog, Holly, that we lost a few months ago. We're also thinking about the Boone School Foundation and the Boone Booster Club as possible recipients. When we make the actual donations we will give you viewers/contributors a full accounting. By the way, we would accept any suggestions you may have for the distribution of that excess money.
     Regarding the benches. After the event, at a very beautiful, renovated Cedar Pointe Country Club, we went to Memorial Park to get our first view of the benches. One is already there and we may place another there. We are actually trying to get a handle on where to put the other one or two benches. There are some favored places that have a policy that doesn't allow such placement and the Kornerman completely understands that. It could open up a real "can of worms" and many other similar requests could follow.
     The Kornerman concluded the program with some brief remarks. I've had the honor of speaking at some great events before some huge crowds and, with microphone in hand, have always felt very poised and confident. This was different.....a lot different. I don't feel like I did an excellent job but I tried my best to honor wife Jo for her support and thank all those who had any part in this recognition.
     Special thanks to Mike Loehrer, Tom Peterson and the event committee.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Shari Ann Gillespie, 80, Boone. She married Archie Gillespie in 1963 and the couple moved to Boone in 1973 to operate an auto dealership. That was sold in 1999 and the couple retired. Shari began service to the community as a new member of the city council in 1997 and continued that service for 18 years. Two sisters and a brother survive.........John Dolph, 77, Ogden Home. He worked in several Iowa communities. Survivors include his wife, Ann Luna, of Texas and a daughter, Tamath Luna, of Ogden. Other children surviving are Jennifer, Mike and Danella..........Harvey Thompson, 97, Ames. Began serving the ISU faculty in 1950. After living in town, Harvey and his wife, Alice, moved to a farm southeast of Ames in 1974 to raise quarter horses. In 1994, they moved to a retirement home in Ames. Wife, Alice, is a survivor as well as a daughter, Bonnie Snovelle, of Boone. A second daughter also survives.
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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......kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.