CATCHING UP

     Time to look back....and forward.....to things we haven't previously mentioned in the Korner. 

K-----K

     We had a wonderful experience Saturday evening during Pufferbilly. The classes of 1965 were meeting over the weekend and had a gathering at Cedar Pointe. Jo and I were invited to attend.

     Originally, I had one of those "we're too old" moments, but after receiving some encouraging calls, we decided to go....and that was a great decision.

     We had a wonderful time seeing some familiar faces and learning about their families and life experiences. 

     One sad note. On one wall was a huge chart with pictures of every single member of that class who had passed.....and, unfortunately, it was quite a number. The mid-60's did boast some of BHS/BSH's largest classes ever.

     We just stayed an hour or so and were very happy we attended.

K-----K

     The Korner received a nice note from Pamela Byerly Watkins. Some time ago, we had mentioned in the Korner some material sent to us by Gary Knox, UC-58, regarding his connection to the Byerly family.

     Pam wrote, "I am writing about your Boone, Iowa blog. While doing some online research on my family history, I came across your posts, and I have read many with great interest. Virgil Byerly Jr. was my father and Virgil George Byerly and Bessie, my grandparents. You have a fantastic memory because your story is correct about my dad shooting the winning shot from center court! I have not been in Boone for a very long time. I believe the last time I was there must have been in the 1980's when my grandmother died. My father passed away in 2006. After he left Iowa State, where he played basketball for the Cyclones, he served in the Air Force and also earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He died in Atlanta,GA where he had resided since 1974."

     The Kornerman says, "when I replied to Gary Knox I mentioned that Virgil Byerly, BHS-49, was a good Toreador athlete, who excelled in basketball but was also an outstanding half-mile runner. Later, he did play basketball for the ISU Cyclones. I was 14 years old when I attended that Boone game at the ISU Armory and, as a wide-eyed youngster, was thrilled by Virgil's half-court, winning field goal in a tournament game. Obviously, for me, it was an unforgetable moment."

K-----K

     For John Hinz, BHS-64, and Tom Peterson, BHS-67, the 1959 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby brought back some "great" memories. They both sent me a video of the battle that year between Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle and Jackie Jensen of the Red Sox. Mantle won, 9-2, and they had another matchup years later with Mantle again victorious, 13-10.

K-----K

     While we're on sports, Lester Ross, BHS-67, wrote, "Boone Boomers: What a great day! We played six hours of back-to-back-to-back baseball in 90-95 degree heat! We went 4-1 in the Iowa Games and WON THE BRONZE!! Great group of kids and coaches! Thank you APC for sponsoring us, Coach Nate, and Coach Kurt for all their hard work, but, most importantly, the friends and families that support those awesome kids."

     The Kornerman says, "Lester was referring to participation in the Iowa Games a few weeks back."

K-----K

     Everett (Ev) Hickman, BHS-54, was a year younger than the Kornerman and I have no recollection of the two of us working together at KWBG. In fact, I guess I'm assuming that he did do some work at BG sometime.

     Anyway, he went on to Drake University after his high school days and had a long and very successful career announcing news on WHO radio. He had a great "news" voice and great knowledge of the news. Ironically, one of his most significant tributes occurred when he was selected the winner of the Jack Shelley Award......which I proclaim has always been awarded to Iowa's number one radio announcer. Shelley, of course, happened to be another Boone native who had excelled as a well-known news announcer at WHO years before Ev arrived there.

     Ev died in November of 2019 and his daughter, Marianne Hickman, informs the Kornerman that a memorial service for her dad will be held on September 4 in Boone, Iowa. A graveside service will be held at Linwood Cemetery at 10 a.m. with a Memorial Service at the First Presbyterian Church  at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at the church immediately following the service.

K-----K

     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS:  Robert (Bob) Siders, 70, Boone. BHS-69...........Charity Jacobsen Blakeman, 31, Jefferson. Formerly of Boone. Perry HS. Married Luke Blakeman in 2018. La'James International College and owned Mane Event in Des Moines. Worked at Franklin Elementary in Boone. Survivors include her husband, parents, John and Linda Jacobsen, a daughter and two sisters.

K-----K

     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/death notices.....

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