LETTERS FROM RON AND LARRY

   The Kornerman recently chronicled the Ames connection with Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow.

   Reading that material in the Korner was Ron Hopkins, BSH-59, who lives in Edmonds, Washington. Ron's an ISU graduate and noticed a lengthy article in the Seattle Times about former ISU football coach Jim Walden and his connections with the Burrow family.

   Ron thought the Kornerman might find the story interesting so he kindly sent me a copy of the full page article. Thank you Ron.

   Editor's note: This can get a bit confusing so let me first explain that.....James Burrow is the father of Jimmy Burrow who is the father of Joe Burrow.

  The story contains lots of ins and outs but starts when Walden is hired as a high school football coach in Mississippi by Jim Burrow's father, James, who was a high school principal. Jimmy Burrow was one of Walden's quarterbacks on that high school team.

   Walden's biggest coaching break came when he was hired as a football staff member at the University of Nebraska in 1969. With Walden's influence, Nebraska awarded a football scholarship to Jimmy Burrow, who became a standout safety for the Cornhuskers.

   Next up, Walden became a football staff member at Washington State University. Jimmy Burrow followed Walden to WSU, serving as a graduate assistant and earning a Master's Degree in Education Administration. Walden eventually became the head coach  at WSU from 1978-86.

   Jimmy Burrow followed Walden to Iowa State in 1987 and stayed in Ames, even working six years as a high school coach, after Walden resigned in 1994. AND, during his time in Ames, in 1996, Jimmy and his second wife, Robin, whom he had met in Ames, became the parents of Joe Burrow, the Super Bowl quarterback.

   The story was very enjoyable and actually leaned more to Walden's long coaching history. Ron Hopkins wrote, "Jim Walden was a much liked and respected coach at Washington State where he spent most of his career. He was a very good person and I was sorry to see him leave ISU.  I continue to enjoy your blog and sincerely appreciate your efforts."

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   Here's another of Larry Lindmark's memories of his days in the Boone area. Larry, BHS-63, wrote, "The Boxholm Swedes are mentioned, occasionally, in the Korner. After graduating from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago in 1971, my first call was to Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt, south of Fort Dodge. Two of my church members were Chuck Will and Donnie Peterson who both played for the Boxholm Swedes. I was even invited to play with the Swedes. What a great way to interact with members of my congregation, by playing softball with them. In the early 1970's, home games were still played on the diamond near the Boxholm school. Tom Trueblood, who worked for the local grain elevator, served as the manager. Gary Paulson of Ogden was one of our pitchers. Many of our league games were played at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge which was a fairly new complex at the time. One summer, the Swedes even played the Des Moines Hot n' Tots at the McHose Park diamond.The one armed pitcher, Ray Schoenrock, who was mentioned in a previous Korner, was throwing for Ames during my couple of seasons with the Swedes. He would bat for himself, swinging the bat with one arm and while pitching, he would put the ball in his arm pit preparing for the next pitch. I still have my #5 sleeveless Swedes jersey on the wall in my basement room along with my green cap. The Swedes of the early 70's were not as strong as the earlier powerhouse teams led by pitchers Gene and Dean Olson and Darryl Zunkel but it was still a great time to play fast pitch softball."

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   BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

   Lester Lee (Les) Shepherd, 65, Boone. Hampton HS-75. Army vet. Married but was later divorced. Was then common law married to Beth Liddick in 1999 and they separated after 15 years. Did construction work and then spent 20 years at the Fareway warehouse. Survivors include his mother, a half-brother, a half-sister, several daughters and his life partner, Beth Liddick. Services in Boone.

   Jane Elizabeth Baldwin Beers, 54, Minnesota. BHS-85. Earned an Associate Degree from DMACC. Married Brian Beers, BHS-85, but they, eventually, divorced. Graduated from St. Catherine's University School of Nursing in St. Paul, MN with a Bachelor of Science degree. As an RN, she spent most of her nursing career at Park Nicollet Urgent Care in the Minneapolis area. Survivors include her mother, Joyce Baldwin, of Boone, a daughter, two sons, her sister, Anne Baldwin, of Ames and her partner, David Neubauer. Services in Boone.

   Rochelle (Ginger) Roby Miller, 79, Cedar Falls. Born in Boone. BHS-60. Earned an associate's degree in computer programming from DMACC. Worked in Des Moines as a programmer until retirement. Survivors include four adult children, three of them, Pete, Angela and Kristine Miller, all of Boone. A sister, Marie Miller, of Boone also survives. Services in Boone.

   Carol-Faith Jones Cooper, 89, Des Moines. Born in Boone. 

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