DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Correspondence concerning the commemoration of Nile Kinnick, 1941-1997

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Correspondence concerning the commemoration of Nile Kinnick, 1941-1997

1989-07-11: Page 01

[NILE KINNICK SR. TO BOB HOBBS]      July 11, 1989
Dear  Bob:
You have beat me to it!  To the renewal of our correspondence,
that is.  A review of my letter files show that we covered about everythi[ng]
in our letters of last August--November, that I have been glad to review.
And life here has progressed since, as it always does.  The
winter passed gracefully, but with little moisture.  The I988 crops on
the farm were much better than we expected after the dry summer. And now
we are faced with the same situation, a rain deficiancy.  I called Mike
Mikkelson, the Dane operator who has been there 45 years, and he told me
yesterday that they had no rain at the farm either.  That is, nothing like
a real rain; just a sprinkle or two. Peter is the manager now, but I still
like to ride up with him and retain the right of inquiry.
. The expected happened on April 3rd last.  Eli asked in the family
which now includes Jean, Peter and Betsy, and also a couple of old friends
Charley and Margere Durham, for a birthday dinner.  96 seems incredible,
there it is, and I don't feel any different.  The days roll by in good
order, and I try to earn my board and keep with two or three hours doing
something that needs doing around the homestead, and make it to church
twice a week.  No complaints.  I tire easily but my remedy is to take a
folding lawn chair with me, some times, so I can sit and rest.  That puts
me back in motion after five or ten minutes.  Try it some time, if you
feel the need.
I hope to feel like making a trip to Iowa City, with Peter, next
October 6th for the reunion of the '39 Ironmen,  Al Couppee urges me to
come if I feel like it.  And Charley Durham has promised to send us in his
7 passenger plane, if we go. There is another angle that I only learned of
lately: A National Lettermen's Club at Iowa University.  I don't remember
anything about it.  A "Mailgram" received a couple of weeks told me that
Nile had chosen for a signal honor, I'm not sure what ( and Al Couppee has
told me that Prasse has been choosen also).  The Mailgram said the pre-
sentation would be September 15-16, three weeks before the Ironmen reunion
So I am trying to learn what is going on.  I think the Athletic Department
is having something special on Oct. 7th relating to 100 Years of Football
at Iowa.  No doubt there will be light on all this soon.  I don't look
forward to making two trips in three weeks.
That diary of your grandfather Daniel Andrews is a gem.  I'm glad
you have the transcript, and the details of his life during the Civil War.
It will be a priceless record that you will refer to often.  I am reminded
of my father during those years. In I963 he was 14 years old and was the
only boy left to help his father on a 400 acres farm, while his two older
brothers were in the Union Army.  Then my grandfather died suddenly and
left my father alone on the farm.  Therefore he had only the short winter,
after the crops were harvested.  So he got only as far as the 4th grade.
Compared to the education opportunities available to our folks in those
days, our opportunities fifty and sixty years later are fantastic.  I
wonder if we made the best of those opportunities?
And speaking of opportunities.  That goes for the families we
have around us now.  I see that you keep in close touch.  Don't miss any
opportunities.  If you let them go by, thay may be lost forever.  I don't
numbers only, like Ted and Lee.  That's only one measurement. But make the
most of what you have.  Now Peter and Betsy, being almost 35 and 33, have
not plans for families, that I know of.  Do you suppose my line is on the

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[NILE KINNICK SR. TO BOB HOBBS] July 11, 1989 Dear Bob: You have beat me to it! To the renewal of our correspondence, that is. A review of my letter files show that we covered about everythi[ng] in our letters of last August--November, that I have been glad to review. And life here has progressed since, as it always does. The winter passed gracefully, but with little moisture. The I988 crops on the farm were much better than we expected after the dry summer. And now we are faced with the same situation, a rain deficiancy. I called Mike Mikkelson, the Dane operator who has been there 45 years, and he told me yesterday that they had no rain at the farm either. That is, nothing like a real rain; just a sprinkle or two. Peter is the manager now, but I still like to ride up with him and retain the right of inquiry. . The expected happened on April 3rd last. Eli asked in the family which now includes Jean, Peter and Betsy, and also a couple of old friends Charley and Margere Durham, for a birthday dinner. 96 seems incredible, there it is, and I don't feel any different. The days roll by in good order, and I try to earn my board and keep with two or three hours doing something that needs doing around the homestead, and make it to church twice a week. No complaints. I tire easily but my remedy is to take a folding lawn chair with me, some times, so I can sit and rest. That puts me back in motion after five or ten minutes. Try it some time, if you feel the need. I hope to feel like making a trip to Iowa City, with Peter, next October 6th for the reunion of the '39 Ironmen, Al Couppee urges me to come if I feel like it. And Charley Durham has promised to send us in his 7 passenger plane, if we go. There is another angle that I only learned of lately: A National Lettermen's Club at Iowa University. I don't remember anything about it. A "Mailgram" received a couple of weeks told me that Nile had chosen for a signal honor, I'm not sure what ( and Al Couppee has told me that Prasse has been choosen also). The Mailgram said the pre- sentation would be September 15-16, three weeks before the Ironmen reunion So I am trying to learn what is going on. I think the Athletic Department is having something special on Oct. 7th relating to 100 Years of Football at Iowa. No doubt there will be light on all this soon. I don't look forward to making two trips in three weeks. That diary of your grandfather Daniel Andrews is a gem. I'm glad you have the transcript, and the details of his life during the Civil War. It will be a priceless record that you will refer to often. I am reminded of my father during those years. In I963 he was 14 years old and was the only boy left to help his father on a 400 acres farm, while his two older brothers were in the Union Army. Then my grandfather died suddenly and left my father alone on the farm. Therefore he had only the short winter, after the crops were harvested. So he got only as far as the 4th grade. Compared to the education opportunities available to our folks in those days, our opportunities fifty and sixty years later are fantastic. I wonder if we made the best of those opportunities? And speaking of opportunities. That goes for the families we have around us now. I see that you keep in close touch. Don't miss any opportunities. If you let them go by, thay may be lost forever. I don't numbers only, like Ted and Lee. That's only one measurement. But make the most of what you have. Now Peter and Betsy, being almost 35 and 33, have not plans for families, that I know of. Do you suppose my line is on the