Milan Jackson

While I have a very good memory, I do have reference materials at home. I have a 1955/56 city directory. Also have 1946, 1949, and 1953. I am looking for one from the early 60's but no luck so far. I do remember Bill King. My mother worked at the Fashion Shop around the corner on Main from King's. We had lunch there many times and she would send me over there for carry out if the ladies decided to eat at the store. So I am not so amazing, I cheat. (laugh)

Jack Habich

I'm glad Judy came through for me on the restaurant on Monroe Street which assured me that my once good memory about Bloomington was not totally down the drain.  I was about to stick my neck out and call it "Chili King", but then thought that maybe I'd been to too many towns with joints called "Chili King".  Good to hear there was a King in the name.  Since it was a Steak 'n Shake, I presume it had a white front as I remember it.  I know I had chili in there a couple of times, I believe they had a chili sign in the window, and that's why I thought of it as a chili place...."Chili King" if you will, lol.

Yes Mel, Steve did take Ms. Stein's art classes, and I too think she would have some pride if she saw his work.  He was often working on some very good Mad Magazine-style art, but that's OK if it helped him develop the skills to do some pretty outstanding logos, book covers etc.  Also, he was an accomplished photograper as it pertained to his work.  I remember he sneered and had a few choice words for a waitress who couldn't get a good picture of us with what had to be a (his) $1,500 camera.  Is Holt the new coffee making Chester..bad knee and all?

Yes Rod, I remember Antrum, his uncle had a print shop not far from me, and we talked about his motorcycle wreck.  Antrum was a scary legend from Pekin when we were 15 years old, but like you know horse racing, I know this wrestling stuff and will have to correct you and maybe change your perspective on a couple of things.  Next time.

Milan Jackson

Happy Birthday Cheri Wombacher Welch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ed Stanfield

Takin Malinda out on her boat this afternoon... #3 son and #2 grandson will be with us. She graciously allows me to drive her around to where ever she wants to go :)

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Milan,

You are still THE MAN on this history stuff.

Jack,

You will never change my perspective.  I have watched the WWF and WWE for many years and I know all about the REAL Wrestlers in this world.  Ha! Ha! Ha!  If you remember when Coach Bowers did that weight loss in wrestlers thing for his Masters, you, (Yes Jack Habich), were head and shoulders above everyone else on the reflex machine.  The one with three red lights.  Bowers used to say you were just out guesssing the machine until he set and did everything to fake you out.  Guess what, didn't work.  Just think Jack, you could probably have been a really good Hockey Goalie.  You were quick and focused.

Ed,

That going boating is absolutely great.  That is exactly the kind of positive reinforcement she needs.  Wonderful, just wonderful.  Keep the faith my man.

Harriett (Holly) Rust (Wood)

 Rod,

I didn't know about your connection to my Dad and brother or my brother-in-law.  Peg and Bill are still married with 5 kids and 11 grandkids.  I agree, he is a super guy.  He was a great addition to our family.

Helen,

We live up I-70 in Golden...the turn off where you first see the mountains.  It is called the Buffalo Herd exit.  Been here or in Evergreen since 1979.  It was our compromise as Joe Tom is from Dallas and we spent 1969-1979 in Dallas, Arlington, and Huntsville, TX.  I didn't have big enough hair or ruffly enough clothes to keep living in Dallas.  :)

Jack,

I agree that Steve would make some joke out of my comment such as all he had to do was become desperately ill for me to reconnect with him and the  rest of you.  His sense of humor was always a treat.  We shared some fun memories thanks to you.

Judy,

Give Sue and Mike my love.  They are both in my prayers.

Everyone,

I am looking forward to seeing many of you August 6th.  I have a hectic June with 2 daughters having surgery (in CT and OR), a daughter moving to Texas, daughter and grandson visiting, and a 9 year old granddaughter coming to spend 10 days while her mom works on her thesis.  I thought it would all calm down when they all grew up, but I guess with 7 kids there is always someone needing something.  But my greatest joy comes from being a mom.

Have a thoughtful and enjoyable Memorial Day!!

Milan Jackson

Speaking of Holly and history, her mother was more than interested in local history. They even named a display room in the museum after Holly's mom. A very popular and involved lady.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

 Holly, we'll try to make an effort to look you up one of these days.  Sounds as though you aren't far from where we live.  Our son and family live in Westminster so we make it up there every couple weeks or else they come to visit us.  Gee, we've lived here since 78 and didn't even realize you live so close.  We're going to B-ton on June 11 for a few days but won't make it back to the Aug. 6 Class Reunion, darn it!  Oh well, it would be a bit much to head back that second time within a month and a half so will catch everyone hopefully at the next Class Reunion!

You're so right about grandkids and family keeping us busy!  Our kids keep us busy too, but we love every minute of it!  Isn't it great that we're able to enjoy our grandkids!!!!

Milan Jackson

Happy Birthday Vicki Daugherty Kasper !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Jack Habich

Yes Rod, I remember Jim Bowers getting his Masters off our '62-'63 team.  I think he termed it "The Effects of Weight Reduction on High School Wrestlers".  I would have called it "Can HS Kids Still Perform Under Conditions of Deprivation and Starvation"?  I remember the resting pulse rate, the step test, and then again the pulse rate.  And yes, I remember the contraption with the lights and the button you had to press when you saw the red light. Or was it the green light?  I do remember how he tried to trick me because he thought I did it too fast by comparison.....what he didn't know was that I, like a conditioned rat, thought you got food and water as a reward for pressing it quickly.

Eye/Hand speed/coordination was never my problem.  Having enough air left in the third period was.  Hockey or Soccer Goalie might have been my thing....at least you could eat three squares a day.

What else did we do in addition to the to the above mentioned?

I'll get back to you on Antrum.  I might still have some clippings in the basement.

Jack Habich

Steve Wilson had an older brother named Jim, who was on the wrestling team.  One night prior to the morning weigh-in, Jim got up feeling groggy and really, really dry.  He went to the bathroom, filled the sink with cold water and stuck his face in there just to wet it.  He couldn't stop, opened his mouth and drank up the whole sink.  Next morning he was way overweight.  A furious Coach Bowers immediately kicked him off the team.

The Wilsons had bad luck with wrestling teams.  A few years later, Steve Norton and I were the cause of Steve getting kicked off as well.  That story another time.

Milan Jackson

Bobby Builtwell. :)

Cheryl Turner (Hitzner)

Holly - Peg & Bill Wetzel lived in my grandmother's home on Grove Street for years.  I worked at Livingston Law Firm, where Bill is a partner, for years also.  Before they sold the house on Grove Street, I asked Peg if my cousin and I could go through the house again.  Of course, Peg was very gracious and allowed us to do so.  So many memories came back to me about my grandmother.  I hadn't been inside that house since I was 6 years old.  Even though many changes had been made to the house, the Wetzels kept the entire integrity of the home.

Cheryl Turner (Hitzner)

Rod - I'm still looking for the newspaper clipping about the Chili Parlor.  Haven't forgotten you.

Jack Habich

Milan, might that be like PHYSICAL ED?  Ed Pointer, that is.

Milan Jackson

I don't know how Jim Bowers got the nickname Bobby Builtwell. You'd have thought it would have been Jimmy Builtwell. :)

Jack Habich

"I didn't have big enough hair or ruffly enough clothes to keep living in Dallas.  :)"

Holly,  I know exactly what you're talking about.  I spent a lot of time in Dallas in the early 70's.  They would have mile high hair and some serious outfits just to drive to the corner to get milk.

Jack Habich

Milan..Bobby sounds better.  I  had forgotten about the nickname until you brought it up.

Milan Jackson

Thank you, Veterans !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Jack, Milan,

Some of us called Bowers Jungle Jim, but he really just loved being called either one, Ha! Ha!.  I remember he always said that if he saw us out without a stocking hat on, we were off the team, and as you'll recall, he wore one all the time.  I think he may even have slept in it.  Then there was Coach Wood, known as Woody.  Here is one that goes way back.  Old Howard Saar, who coached Baseball was always called Howdy Doody.  Don't know why, but all the HS guys, when we were in 8th. and 9th. called him that.  Harold Garret tused to have a nick name, something to do with legs, but I can't remember.  Speaking of Mr. Garrett, I do remember two things about him.  If he saw you running in the hall, he could reach out, grab you between the neck and shoulder blade and bring you right to the floor.  Then one day in gym class, Wayne Kearney told him he could do more dips on the bars than he could.  Well, Wayne did do quite a few as I remember, but then Mr. Garrett jumped on the bars and absolutely blew him away.  When he stopped, he looked at Wayne and said, I could do more, but when you think you're ready again, come see me.  Of course, Wayne said he could have done more, but he thought he did enough to beat him,  Right Wayne.

David Long

Semper Fi to all the Marines out there!

Milan Jackson

I saw in yesterday's Pantagraph that Steve Pearson died. He was Jim's son and was only 31. Also was a guitar player like his dad. Jim was one of the best lead guitatists in town but wasn't much at moving with the beat. He was a talent.

Jack Habich

Rod, I've got some homework for you before I can make my case about Antrum.  First, check out:

http://www.ihsa.org/activity/wr/records/ybyyr2.htm

This gives you the top four Il wrestling finishers per weight, from 1960-69.

Then, I don't know if you are aware of it, but BHS has a terrific web page, especially as it pertains to sports.  The wrestling section is off-the-charts thorough.  Go to "History" and  "Hall of Fame" etc. to give you an idea how much the program progressed from our day.

http://www.district87.org/BHS/athletics/Wrestling/BHS%20Folder/Homepage07.htm

Then we can talk, son.

Milan Jackson

 There was a guy in the late 50's or early 60's named Peachy Warren. I think he was from Pekin. He was a great wrestler. My brother-in-law, Dave Peavler, had to wrestle against him. I think Dave lost.

Jack Habich

Milan..Dave Peavler is seen in the 1957-'58-and '59 photos so obviously it was the late 50's.  I checked the state top four qualifiers for those years and Warren is not listed.  I'm sure he was good though..all the Pekin guys were good for a number of years.

A guy from Bloomington, Dick Menken, did come in in 4th place at 145 lbs. in 1959.  It was a long drought before anybody scored that high again.

I remember Bowers used to talk about him.