Message Forum

Happy Birthday Jack Habich !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05/31/11 09:51 PM

#1261

Don't forget breakfast tomorrow at Shannons :)

06/01/11 12:20 PM

#1262

Terry (Max) Maxwell

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!! Have a great day.

06/01/11 12:30 PM

#1263

Thanks Max....soon as I get done going through the check list that was left with me this morning.

06/01/11 09:19 PM

#1264

Happy Birthday Marie Foley Patrick !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06/01/11 09:20 PM

#1265

Happy Birthday Charlie Crabtree !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06/02/11 12:57 PM

#1266

Jack,

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!. I knew yesterday was it, but I was under the weather and slept pretty much all day. One of these Texas early summer colds. I really enjoyed the two links you listed. I looked a lot for something like that, but could never find it. I guess the point you're making to me is that Antrum was never a state champion, and I just almost can't believe that. However, after looking over the BHS Wrestling link, I really have a hard time, and I mean a hard time with the All-Time list or Hall of Fame I guess it would be. I'd like to set down at the round table with who ever put that together and see just what they based some of those on. When and if we get together again, I'll give you my theory on the best of the best in every sport. I've had some good discussions, (arguments), so far. I win some, I lose some. Of course when I lose, it's always to some young gun who thinks all athletes of the past could never compete today. They may be right in years, but not in theory.

06/02/11 02:06 PM

#1267

Rod, we may be at risk of boring the Message Forum audience to death with our old war stories. I did, however, go to trouble to find these clippings so I'm posting them. :) Certainly, Pekin was a powerhouse, and you were right, Antrim took on Penn at 145 lbs. our Jr. year and Holt our Sr. year at 165 lbs. I conveniently had the flu on the above, so Hostetler got the honors.

06/02/11 02:14 PM

#1268

I'm not suggesting that a guy who blanked Penn and Holt, was better than any of us at that time and died some 46 years ago was a chump. I'll let you know later what I'm suggesting.

06/02/11 05:17 PM

#1269

As I remember it, and my memory is rather foggy, Pekin started their students in wrestling in grade school and our first experience was as freshmen. They just had a better program than ours until we caught up. I am still in touch with an old friend that I saw in one of your clippings, Doug Stearns. He's been one of my best friends for many years.

06/02/11 05:46 PM

#1270

You've got that analyzed to a T, Milan. That was the whole enchilada.

I remember Stearns well, but the strongest remaining memory I have of him is him shouting instructions to me from the bleachers once and then saying "you got it, Jack". Of all the voices, that's what I heard. Ask him, he may still remember.

06/02/11 08:32 PM

#1271

I went out for wrestling in my sophomore year but it didn't work out for me. Billy Marquardt liked having me as a dummy to hone his skills. He was good. My problem was the need for money and the fact that Jim Bowers didn't like his wrestlers to work. Money won out. That $0.50 per hour was just too inviting. (laugh)

06/03/11 08:38 AM

#1272

Does anyone remember Bob Burton? Someone called me and asked why Bob wasn't listed in here.

06/03/11 10:13 AM

#1273

Gerald (Jerry) Plummer

Wrestlers? My recollection is a bunch of dripping wet guys in sweats when attempting to disrupt two-a-day swimming workouts during the holiday season. Coach Bert would never allow us to let them leave dry and while getting thown in the pool was likely their idea, for the swimmers it only resulted in a boosted chlorine level...wrestlers would understand why.

Oh well, what do you expect when a primitive sport like wrestling collides with a cerebral sport like swimming?

06/03/11 10:30 AM

#1274

Milan, I remember Bob Burton but not from the last couple of years of HS.

06/03/11 10:37 AM

#1275

You're not entirely wrong Jerry, but I'll tell you, Bert would have enjoyed coaching the sport.

Once in Decatur (or was it Champaign?), you guys got done early and he came over to watch us. The man was yelling, moving around the mat perimeter and totally animated....you would have thought he was the coach. Bert always liked combat, and used to let locker room fights play out. "I don't see anything", said Bert.

06/03/11 12:39 PM

#1276

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jack and Jerry,

Even though I was never on a team, I think I had Bertagnolli for just about every gym class for three years. Didn't he once play pro-football with the Detroit Lions? He was a great guy but tough as nails. He wanted us to not only be physical but courteous. Once after intermural volleyball with the girls, Bill Rusk ended the class by kicking the ball up into the loud speakers in the center of the gymnasium. Bert didn't say a thing, but when we hit the showers and went to the half-door to get our towels, Rusk went to have his name checked. Then it happened...Bert opened the half-door and slammed Bill's still dripping wet body (and he was a big guy) against the tile wall with a whopping thud. None of us ever thought of showing off in front of the girls again. I still see Bill sinking to the floor wondering what happened. Couldn't do that today, huh?

I remember Bob Burton and wondered the same thing. Just checked the year books and he was in Mrs. Calhoun's homeroom in '62 and '63, but in '64 he was in a junior homeroom with Miss Hansen. Guess he was held back in Sr. year and probably graduated with the class of '65. Maybe someone could track him down.

06/03/11 12:42 PM

#1277

Jack - You are right about Bert. I remember he taught most swimming classes, and if a fight broke out, he let it go until the blood clouded the pool.

Milan - I also remember Bobby Burton. He had a younger brother Donnie. They lived right behind the HS on one of those streets. I ran with Bobby off and on. Then he just seemed to vanish. I'm not sure if he ever graduated with us or not.

Doug Stearns. Really nice guy. Help me out Milan. Doug had a younger brother, that still plays music around town. Sort of a solo folk, jazz guy I think. Anyway, I ran into the brother a few years ago around X-Mas when we were back. I really didn't remember him very well, but he knew me and we got to talking. Said Doug lived in Arlington, Tx. which is very close to me, but unfortunately, I never hooked up with him. Do you know if he still lives in Arlington? Oh, Milan, have you eer talked to Carroll Lane? How is he doing.

06/03/11 12:51 PM

#1278

Mel - That part about - couldn't do that today, huh. You got that absolutely right. That's not the only problem with some of these kids today, but it's definitely a big one. I have known a few young Teachers down here and they have some stories that you would never think possible. That's a whole other issue. Could take days to resolve.

06/03/11 01:03 PM

#1279

Ed - Since I was not on this web at first, I'm not sure about the entire condition of your wife, I as recall, she is fighting Liver cancer. Is this correct? I have some info for you. A couple of night ago, I listened to a news report featuring a woman with Stage IV Liver cancer. She has been taking a research drug for 10 months. At his point she is feeling great and doing great things. Of course, this is experimental, and not everyone reacts the same, but Oncologists are very encouraged with the results. If this is what the battle is about, I'll send you the link to read about the woman, Tonya Hughes, and the research center where she was at. It's a great center. They are connected to Baylor and M.D. Anderson, two of the largest Cancer Centers in the U.S. If the liver is not where the battle is, let me know and I'll start to research other areas. Live each day. Love each day. Keep the Faith!!!

06/03/11 01:33 PM

#1280

Kevin Stearns still sings around the area.

06/03/11 02:00 PM

#1281

Jerry Dehart

check the obits for both bobby and donnie burton they also lived at corner of market and white oak rd when we were in grade school.

06/03/11 02:51 PM

#1282

I knew Donnie died a short time ago, but I didn't know about Bob.

06/03/11 02:53 PM

#1283

I talked to Carroll Lane Wednesday. He just had a knee replacement and is getting along better. He remembered you and I am supposed to tell you hi back.

06/03/11 02:58 PM

#1284