Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Iowa Hawkeyes defeat Mississippi State 27-22 in Outback Bowl

We have posted some of this before but here is a flashback in light of today's Iowa Hawkeye bowl victory.

Of Course Frank Steunenberg attended the OTHER Iowa College in its early days as the Iowa Agricultural College in Ames. It later became Iowa State University (the Cyclones).  However, we always give a tip of the hat to the University of Iowa (Hawkeyes), our other Steunenberg and Keppel kinfolk living in that state, and of course to Nile Kinnick. In particular, we are doing so on this New Years Day (1/1/2019) after a victory over Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl. 

Iowa Farm Boy a few years before Idaho.

Cyclones ready for the big game against the Hawkeyes.

 
The all-time Iowa Hawkeye and WWII hero whose promising future was cut so short by the war. Nile Kinnick autographed this photo post card mailed from Iowa City in 1940 to my father (about age 14 at the time) in Philadelphia. PA.

My father's brother, my Uncle Bob, was an exceptional football player in his own right. Nile had been in Philadelphia to accept his Maxwell Trophy from the Maxwell Club where Bob, along with other local players, were awarded what are similar to today's Mini-Maxwell's. He met Nile (documented in news articles) at the awards banquet and I have a hunch (not documented) that he ask Nile to send his kid brother a signed photo.

Bob in the center (after all that was his position) 3rd from R or L. About 18 years old receiving his local area Maxwell award.


Bob (incorrectly written as Frank) Richards is listed in the final paragraph as a winner of the Maxwell Club luncheon award and "also were introduced to Kinnick." You will see that the article goes on to say Bob was "a member of the Zephyr team in the Pop Warner Conference." We know he was the only winner that was still high school at the time and not yet on a college team. He would later consider Villinova but WWII would intervene as it did with Kinnick. 

Here is an enlargement of that last paragraph.

Bob joined the U.S. Marine Corp. and served in the Pacific. After his 4 year commitment and the war ended, he would re-enlist and serve about 5 years with the U.S. Army in occupied Japan. Kind of brings us full circle as he would play football for Army in in the Rice Bowl on Jan 1st, 1950 against Airforce. Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium had been renamed by the occupying forces as...yep....Kinnick Stadium. 

Happy New Year 2019!

  Bob right square in the center of the center row.