More often than not, the comments are real and widespread.
Oftentimes, even some Boone citizens have been known to ask, "What do they do out there?" and/or "Why is that even in Boone"?
But here it is, an imposing early entrant from Highway 30, along South Story Street, into Boone, Iowa proper....... without much fanfare.......AND, its the only one of its kind in Iowa.
I'm speaking of the Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association which kept me, the Kornerman, gainfully employed for 30 years.
After breaking ground, primarily in Des Moines from 1904 until January 29, 1944, the IHSAA settled in Boone, now in its 82nd year right here. Originally, the Boone home base was the building on the northeast corner of Eighth and Keeler streets, currently occupied by the Doran Law firm. In 1975, a new building, with expanded space, inside and out, became the "new home" of the Association and it retains its operation there today at the south side entrance to Boone.
Promises made, promises kept. Bernie Saggau, Executive Secretary of the IHSAA in 1975, indicated to city officials that the new facility would be a "showcase" for the entrance to the city with its more modern building and well manicured grounds. And it has been, just that.
The IHSAA had its origin when, in the early 1900's, at the annual meeting of the Iowa School Principal's and Superintendent's club, a three-man committee recommended formation of the organization. That committee had drafted a series of rules and regulations for the general and definite control of high school athletics throughout the state.
Basically, the school's of Iowa and their athletic programs were completely rudderless at that time, without any concrete rules and with no control, whatsoever, over how they were, individually, conducting those programs.
Perhaps as expected, the early years of the IHSAA were not easy. The task of trying to keep as many as 1300 schools on the same page and happy with this monumental change, actual rule guidance, was a herculean task. And it took someone with a strong will, strong leadership skills.......bordering the stance of a dictator and a willingness to stand firm despite the possibility of intense criticism for such a vast change of direction.
The choice was made and, for those times and troubles, it was a great one. I, the Kornerman, without hesitation say, "I think this Boone man, Lyle T. Quinn, "saved the beginning formation of the IHSAA and moved its ultimate goals forward." His "iron fist" approach was needed and, with time, it absolutely worked.
Lyle T. Quinn was born in Carroll but graduated from Boone High School in 1925. He played football, served in several class leadership positions and was on the debate team. He even became a BHS faculty member in the late 1930's. He began his 27 year career with the IHSAA when named the Assistant Secretary, February 24, 1940. On March 11, 1941, he was named Manager and in November of 1941, he was chosen Executive Secretary.
Mr. Quinn was re-elected to the top position in 1944, 47, 50 and 1953. Bernie Saggau joined the Association as Assistant Secretary, October 14, 1963. In July 30, 1967, Mr. Quinn passed away and on September 9, 1967, Saggau, who had been successfully groomed to the "Quinn way" by Quinn, was named his replacement.
In answer to, "how did the IHSAA settle in Boone?" Mr. Quinn never really left "home." The offices or office of the IHSAA was in Des Moines in earlier years and from the time he was hired, February 24, 1940, until January 29, 1944, he was a commuter, from Boone to Des Moines. Granted, the office and personnel were much smaller in those days but on that January weekend, he'd had enough. The Des Moines office was simply and abruptly closed, apparently without dissent, and his devotion to Boone began the following Monday.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association Constitution outlines the rules and regulations governing boys high school athletics in Iowa, including membership, eligibility, and competition guidelines. Although there are numerous similarities, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is a separate operation, serving the same schools as the IHSAA but with different leadership, different challenges, and in a Des Moines Metro location. It just so happens that the State of Iowa is the only state with separate high school athletic controlling organizations and its been a different but successful arrangement.
Member schools pay a meager enrollment fee and the IHSAA survives financially by securing all the money raised.....via gate receipts.... whenever one of their postseason events......state tournaments etc..... are played. For regular season play, the schools are "on their own" financially and structurally.
In turn, for those postseason events, the collected admissions go directly to the IHSAA for facility operations of the Boone office AND subsidiary expenses, such things as mileage reimbursement to member schools who travel for tournament play and, even occasionally, reimbursement for schools or individuals forced for overnight stays and even competitors meals. Awards for team or individual achievement are also costly expenses. Member schools or, on occasion, others, such as colleges, who host postseason events, are provided substantial "rent" money etc. for use of their facilities.
Hiring and assigning game officials is a major part of the Association's work. Individuals who officiate member school events are licensed, provided educational assistance through rules meetings, and, at tournament time, are provided information as to what tourney games they will work, if any, and the location of the event. They are compensated for their tournament work and provided travel expense. Its the member school's responsibility to hire and compensate for officials who work regular season contests.
Needless to say, through the years, mammoth changes have been made to daily operations of the IHSAA, mainly via technological developments.
I retired in 2000, 26 years ago, and in my time, although I did do various other things, a couple of my main duties involved football playoffs and state wrestling. Football playoffs began in 1972 and I was assigned to keep track, week by week, of every team in Iowa, their won/loss record and their point total determined by a system that determined playoff consideration.
In wrestling, as soon as pre-state tourney results were determined, it was my job to use a set format that eventually led to what qualifier would oppose what other qualifier in a first round State Tournament berth in each weight class and division.....1A, 2A etc. That information gathered also gave us the details needed for a quick turnaround in preparing printed programs for the state event.
In my day, this type of work was done freehand by pen and legal pad while now, through advanced technology, a press of a button can, perhaps, even more accurately, provide all the qualification answers needed and much quicker.
P.S. I hope I've been accurate in the material I've provided BUT my experiences go back many years so, perhaps, some of the things I've mentioned have been changed with the passage of time. So, please give me a break if some mistakes have appeared.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 30 years, 1970-2000, with the IHSAA. It was and still is, I'm sure, the number one organization of its kind in the USA and I'm extremely proud to have been a part of it. AND, the fact that its been located all these years in my hometown has doubled the pleasure.
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.....https://kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com.
