WONDERFUL TRIBUTES

     Kevin Durant of the National Basketball  Association Golden State Warriors has certainly earned status as one of the top superstars in that league.
     He's a former teammate, at Oklahoma City, of Nick Collison and when  the OC Thunder retire Collison's jersey on March 20, Durant says he'll be there.
     Durant's departure from Oklahoma City in 2016 was met with criticism from many NBA fans and made him public enemy number one in Oklahoma City. It also led to a feud with former teammate, Russell Westbrook, who is still starring for the Thunder.
     Durant, who was Collison's teammate for nine seasons, was quoted as saying, "that group was so special, that whole group from 2010 until I left, it was special. Its about time for us to let go of all that "extra" stuff and just come together, especially around this time, because of Nick."
     After two-year All-State recognition at Iowa Falls High School and first team All-American recognition at the University of Kansas, Nick Collison was never an all-star and not even a regular starter in the NBA. However, his play survived 15 seasons, all with the same team, in that very competitive professional circuit.
     He did that by screening for Durant and others, rebounding and playing defense, roles that usually don't dominate the headlines. His steady and workmanlike play earned the praise and even "love" from the Thunder administration and Oklahoma City fans. Seldom do NBA players complete a long career as a member of just one franchise, especially when they don't earn superstar status.
     It will be a genuine "lovefest," from his former "bosses," former teammates and Oklahoma City fans and community when the jersey retirement takes place.
     This is one of several recognitions for Collison. Toward the end of his playing career, during the 2017-18 season, Westbrook, at a contest, brought Nick to center court, praised his contributions to his team and community as well and acknowledged that Collison had decided to end his playing career.
     There's always been lots of Boone interest in Collison, the son of former  Boone High School Toreador student athletes, his dad, Dave, and his mother, Judy Peterson Collison, both BHS 1972 grads. In addition, there are many other Collison connections in the Boone area.
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     Thanks to Kathleen Wheelock for the Abbott-Costello video and Dino Rosene for the hilarious Julie Andrews parody on one of her most famous songs. Very entertaining.
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     Nelson Tompkins provided some material on Walmart.
     (1) They have a profit of $20,928 every minute. (2) They're bigger, saleswise, than Home Depot, Kroger, Target, Sears, Cosco and K-Mart combined. (3) They are the world's largest private employer with 1.6 million employees. (4) They have 3,900 stores. 1,960 are super centers, 1,000 more than five years ago. (5) Ninety percent of Americans live within 15 miles of a Walmart.
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     And from Charles Schultz, "the smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect. It means I appreciate what I have and what I have been blessed with. I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Maxine Spencer, 96, Boone...........James Johnston, 86, rural Boone. Married Joann Carlson in 1954. Earned a degree in Animal Science from ISU. Was a teacher, farmer and consultant. For 35 years, operated Johnston Farm Business Consulting. Retired at age 79. Survivors include his wife, Joann, of Boone, two sons and two daughters.........William Murray, 87, Dayton. Married Esther Knox of Madrid in 1952. Worked in manufacturing and construction. Survivors include his wife, Joann, of Dayton, four sons and three daughters.
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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.