RAMBLINGS

     Just a plethora of this and that.

     The Kornerman understands the 80th birthday celebration of the classes of 1958 surpassed all expectations. Loren Frazier reported the final totals......29, including 18 classmates, three from the classes of 1959 and ten spouses or friends.

     The last pre-report we had heard, there were just a dozen or so indicating they would be attending. However, there were many who made late decisions to attend. How did I know before hearing Loren's final official report? Steve Shaler of Saint Cloud, MN. and Larry Ford, also a Minnesota resident, stopped by our house after the event and brought me "up to date." 

     Those two were among those not on the original list of potential attendees and Steve mentioned several others who were there that hadn't been listed earlier.

     So, apparently, it was an excellent reunion and the weather cooperated beautifully. Loren said, "people were excited. They loved the facility and were saying they want future get-togethers."

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     Was sorry to hear of the passing of Don "Red" Houser who died at 90 in California.

     That certainly brought back a great memory. "Red" graduated in 1949 and I was four years later in 1953 and, as an eighth grader, was "awed" by good athletes like he was at BHS. "Red" went on to ISU and participated in two or three sports there, including football.

     Wouldn't you know, I clearly recall seeing, in person, the first Cyclone football game of "Red's" career there. It was against one of the Dakota schools at old Clyde Williams field and believe or not, "Red" I believe on the initial kickoff, ran it all the way back for a Cyclone touchdown. Wow, did this young Boone kid (me) have wide, excited eyes the result of that play by an ex-Toreador hero.

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     More memories. Fellow KWBG alum Larry Kelley (no relation) sent me a real memory maker.

     It was a picture of a KWBG radio log that I had filled out for Wednesday, Decoration Day, May 30, 1962.

     The log, of course, showed all the on-air programs, their times and all of the commercials that were to be aired during the programs. The times of all the programs and commercials had to be logged in at the time they were aired.

     It was fun to see the on-air schedule....Mo's Show, a DJ type program, was shown in addition to the famous 11 a.m. Bulletin Board news show announced by Signe Shaler and sponsored always by Wester Furniture. There was also a Mary Blane show. I don't remember that.

    The commercials? Oh my gosh, there were tons of them.....all of the old businesses......Hamilton Hardware, Boone Dairy, Grahams, Duke Lindstrom cleaners, Duffy Appliance, Vogler-Nieman Chevy, H & M  Tires, Citizens Bank and even some out-of-city sponsors like Anderson-Erickson, Strand Bread and Knoxville Speedway. And this was just in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon.

     Also interesting was the fact that all of the commercials showed how much they cost. Most were less than $2.00 but that Bulletin Board, which was a 15-minute newscast, cost Wester's $5.25 each day.

     That was a lot of fun for these old eyes to see. 

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     Awhile back we heard from my old northside neighbor, Patty Donovan McDonald, BSH-58. 

     Patty has been a resident of the Tulsa, OK area for several years and she wrote about the pandemic related teaching situation there. "I'm scheduled to start school doing a long-term Kindergarten substitute job for a teacher on maternity leave. I retired in 2010 after 40 years  of public school teaching, 12 years in Iowa at Urbandale, Stratford (1962-69) and Hudson, while my husband finished up at UNI. Then I followed up with the 28 years here, which have schools in Tulsa and Broken Arrow. I still enjoy teaching but without all the meetings."

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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Yvonne "Bonnie" Huber, 89, Boone. Beautician in her early years. Worked in food service at ISU and was a housekeeper at UNI until retirement and a move to Boone. Two daughters survive, including Cathy Marsh of Boone........Arnold Geske, 92, Boone. Service vet. Married Lucile Waligorski in 1955 and the couple lived in Fairbank, IA. Moved to Clear Lake in 1980 for Arnie to work for the railroad. Was transferred to Boone in 1986 and retired in 1993. He loved swimming at the "Y" and competing in the Iowa Games and Senior Olympics. He also did some work on damaged homes for Lutheran Social Services. Survivors include a son, daughter and brother.........Nancy Reilly, 66, rural Ames. Gilbert HS-72. Married Terry Reilly in 1973 and they settled on an acreage near Ames to engage in farm work. Nancy earned a degree from ISU in 2003. Survivors include her husband, three girls, a boy, two sisters and a brother.........Richard Ahrens, 74, Boone. BHS-64. Boone JC. Was a police dispatcher and then joined the police force in 1973. Served as an officer for 15 years and then another 15 years as a detective and Assistant Chief. Retired in 2002. Married Martha "Toby" Haaland-Givens in 1993. Survivors include his wife, two sons, a brother, Robert Ahrens, of Boone, a sister, Joyce Myers, of Boone, a brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law and some good neighbors, Karl and Cindy Hunter.

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     Worldwide korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments......kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.