Jeff Courter's recent memories of Boone's Eisenhower connection has resulted in some response from Vern Modeland, BHS-50, and Robert Atherton, BHS-65.
Vern talks about the close contact he had with the Eisenhower's when they were in Boone. He wrote, "the Carlson's (Eisenhower's relatives) lived directly across the street from my school chum, Bob Donaldson's family. So, it was fortuitous that Bob and I got to have more than a nodding aquaintance with the General, especially during Mamie's stay-over at the Boone County Hospital during her brief illness. In fact, the Des Moines Register managed a photo of "Ike" and I catching up with the affairs of the world. It was taken in the alley east of the hospital where the ER entrance was. I remember him as so kind and generous in carrying on a dialogue with a 12-year old, no matter how dumb to him at the time the questions might be."
Vern added, "speaking of presidents, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was also a visitor to Boone. During his re-election tour west, via the Chicago/Northwestern, his special car was briefly paused at the tracks and Story Street, where the old wooden tower used to be occupied by the person who manually controlled stopping traffic for the trains. Mom hauled me down to be in the crowd who heard FDR expound on something important while the railroad changed crews."
Bob Atherton wrote, "I am currently reading David Eisenhower's book "Going Home to Glory" It brings back memories of me sitting on the curb at Eighth and Greene in the mid-50's to wave at Ike and Mamie. Here in Denver, I frequently ride my bike through Mamie Eisenhower Park and I've played pickle ball at the Eisenhower Rec Center. I just set up a Rotary meeting at the Eisenhower Chapel in the former Lowry Air Force Base. They even have a pew marked with a plaque for "Ike" and Mamie."
Bob also mentioned that he talks with Tom Hokel in Breckenridge frequently. Bob said Tom is a master model railroad enthusiast. "He has apparently built some scale models of Boone and Stanhope buildings for his incredible train room. You might want to check out on Google, Tom Hokel, Pine Ridge Railroad. He loves trains and Boone railroad history, Bob wrote.
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The Kornerman is asking for prayers for Jack Mustapha, BHS-65, who is hospitalized in the metro area and "fighting for his life." Jack, of course, is the greatest baseball pitcher ever in Boone. Jack is a state baseball Hall of Famer. Bob Atherton wrote, "he was tough to hit, even when we were 12 years old."
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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/death notices......http://kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com.
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