Three Main Topics

     The Kornerman was pleasantly surprised Sunday to receive an email from Debbie Christopher. It was a short message but very meaningful. Debbie wrote, "Hi Mo, Just letting you know (first hand) that we are closing on the sale of the golf course (Cedar Pointe) Tuesday, August 1. I'm feeling pretty secure in saying, "it's going to happen this time!!"
     She was referring to the fact that there had been previous discussions of a sale that had not been concluded successfully.
     No mention was made in the email of a prospective buyer but local auto dealer, Pat Clemons, was on hand at the club Tuesday introducing himself as the new owner.
     Many thanks to Debbie for letting me know and many thanks to the Christopher's for such a great job of keeping a longtime, local landmark viable. The course is beautiful, it appears to have lots of traffic this summer and even those who don't golf, like me, should understand that its important that a community this size provide its populus such a facility.
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     The Kornerman was a 1953 Boone High School graduate and Mel Murken was a 1959 BHS grad. After playing high school baseball, Mel went on to play the sport at Buena Vista and at Drake University. We've both had a special passion for baseball.
     We became acquainted while both were coaching Boone Babe Ruth baseball. In 1962, the Kornerman was selected to guide the all-star team in tournament play and I knew, immediately, that I wanted Mel Murken to help me with that assignment.
     So, here we were, two single guys, 27 and 21 respectively, ready and willing to guide a team of 15 "kids," 13 to 15 years of age, into Babe Ruth tourney play. Let me be clear. We had some great, great young players, many of whom went on to become important cogs in Boone High School's 1965 state championship team. But, in 1962, this group won the state Ruth championship, the regional championship, which was competition against the state champions of seven other states, and participated, along with just eight other teams in the world, in the Babe Ruth World Series in Bridgeton, N.J.. Believe me, it took more than the management of Mel and I to achieve those accomplishments. This team was very talented.
     Needless to say, it was quite an experience for two young, single guys to guide 15, even younger guys, to sites closer to the Texas border, Wellington, KS. for the regional and New York City, for the World Series, than to Boone, Iowa. Long bus rides became the norm.
     Complete disclosure. Our team lost two games in the World Series play.
     Mel eventually became an Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame coach who had five Ankeny High School teams in state tourney play, including a 1992 team that won a state title, as well as three other teams that finished runnerup in state tourney play.
     Mel and the Kornerman have only had an opportunity to get together a few times in the last many years but I just learned that he had returned to Iowa from Florida and is now living in Rippey, IA, a place where he began his coaching/teaching career.
     I caught up with him the other day via phone and the guy still has baseball on his mind. For many years, the small town of Rippey had an outstanding baseball diamond. Because it was one of the best in central Iowa, the Iowa High School Athletic Association used it for pre-state tourney play on many occasions. In fact, one state championship, the fall tournament of 1962, was decided on that Rippey field.
     When returning to Rippey, the first thing Mel noticed, of course, was the fact that the Rippey baseball diamond had really fell into deep disrepair. He told me, "the only games being played there recently have been  junior high contests and almost everything, fencing, bleachers, the diamond itself, need lots of work to return it to the wonderful facility it used to be."
    So, Mel, who has some health issues, has gathered some volunteers together and will appear before the city council in the near future in an effort to get some financing to aid in the recovery of that park.
    P.S. You can bet he's "loving every bit of his effort." After all, its baseball and he's definitely a baseball guy.
K-----K
     Here's an annual event that always attracts a nice crowd and coinciding conversation.
     Last Friday, nearly 30 ladies, alumni of Boone Sacred Heart school, gathered in Boone for lunch and to share memories of those school days.
     This event was started many years ago by the Conway sisters, Judy, BSH-55, Patsy, BSH-53, and Sr. Miguel, (Lorraine), BSH-54, who made an annual visit back to their hometown for a chance to share experiences with former classmates.
     Sr. Miguel has served in Quito, Ecuador since 1967 where she is known as Madre Miguel. She is Co-Director of the Working Boys Center there and has recently celebrated her 60th anniversary as a Sister of Charity, BVM.
     Carol Dittmer, BSH-55, and Ethel Morgan, BSH-54, organized this year's meeting.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Annabell Landis, 87, West Des Moines. Boone area survivor is her brother, Albert Sorenson, of Boone...........Steven Snyder, 35, Ames. Boone area survivors include his maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Lullabell and Ron Kruse, of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich Avenue, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.