LARRY KELLEY SEEKS BAND FLASHBACK

     In the last edition, we mentioned hearing from Larry Kelley, BHS-64, about the '64 September class reunion.....their 55th.
     We layed out some bare details.....September 20-21, Friday night at Puntenney's home and Saturday at Cedar Pointe with Belluci's  pizza as a special attraction.
     Now, let's lift some more details from Larry's email. He's decided to "one more time" put a band together for that weekend as a special memory for the class of '64.
     He wrote, "am trying to get the old Tel-Stars back together for that weekend. I might try to find a location in Boone where my band can play late Saturday night and was hoping the Tel-Stars, that Steve Stock and I started up in high school, could sit in and do a couple of numbers. Unfortunately, Steve doesn't play drums anymore. Bob Carlson is still deciding as of this writing and Paul Clark, who is still involved with music and receiving awards for his work, hasn't decided. We've lost contact with Paul Jackson. I still have the red sport coat the Tel Stars wore...."can't button it, but it still fits...sort of." My current band still plays the golden oldies from the 50's and 60's along with some country and newer hits. It's a three-piece band and plays  mainly in Central Iowa."
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     We recently wrote about Bucky O'Connor's coaching achievements at BHS and the University of Iowa and the tragic auto mishap that took his life.
     Vern Modeland, BHS-50, has reacted. He wrote, "I hope those who recall Bucky's death put the time in place regarding driving and death. There were a lot more fatal accidents those days than now. Vehicles have come a long way in design and safety features. The streering columns in cars of that time were a solid shaft that became a spear when it was pushed back at the driver. No safety bags then. Or safety belts. The streering column came straight back at your chest and did awful damage as my mother, who was a nurse at Boone's hospital then, related many times. Plus, the higher center of gravity in our cars at the time, lack of power steering or non-skid brakes made a difference. Those narrow highways, where paved, had curbings that contributed to where a skidding car might go. Lots of things we take for granted these days, or weren't even aware of if your driving began in later years. As son of a hospital nurse and too long a newsman who was at too many accident scenes, I wish for mandatory driver training before licenses are granted or renewed. Attention to reaction, vision, physical condition and physical review in our older years should be required too. That's my take."
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     The Kornerman's memories of former Toreador state basketball championships brought this query from John Kueck, BHS-61. He asked, "why such low scores? Do you have any insight?"
     John then related some of his own thoughts, "my speculation is that  grade schools lacked basketball hoops. There were no junior high sports. Therefore, shooting skills were only developed in the gym in the high school. During my high school days, I  had a basketball hoop at home as did my neighbors and we shot baskets hours upon hours. My five-year old grandson has a hoop and plays hours at a time even at his young age. He can make 50-percent of his shots from close range."
     The Kornerman says, "I think you nailed the answer......many more opportunities to participate in and improve in. I would assume in the 20's, even the younger set was required to work hard in helping  provide a family income.....whether it was on the farm or and basketball was not the number one priority that it and other sports command these days. Then, I must add too......for whatever reason, athletes these days are just much more superior......like it or not. In their day, there were some standout individuals just as their are today BUT comparing skills of those in the 20's to those today...……...there's a monumental difference."
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS:  Alma Johnson, 95, Boone. Earned a nursing degree and  was an RN at the Boone County Hospital and for Dr. Gerald Sutton. Married Joe Johnson in 1945. Boone area survivor is a daughter, Peggy Mahoney, of Boone...…..Lori Newcomb, 57, Boone. BHS-79. Enlisted in the U.S. Army and was discharged in 1983. Was a homemaker. Boone area survivors include her mother, Helen Newcomb, sons, Jeremy and Brandon Kline, and brothers, Monty and Andy Newcomb, all 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...…
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.