© December 27, 2009
IN THE SHADOW OF THE COURTHOUSE: MEMOIRS OF 1940s WRITTEN AS A NOVEL (2003) was written as a snapshot of an important era in American history, an era that is long gone now with many of the faces and facts already fading away, but never dying. It was true across America, and Clinton, Iowa. The courthouse neighborhood was but a reminder of the strength, resiliency, purpose and passion of ordinary people called on to do extraordinary things in a time of war (WWII).
Many readers have asked me over the years to provide actual pictures of the era and the young people I write about with so much affection. That is my purpose here. I hope wherever you are that this helps you remember your own roots, which bring forth similar memories.
ST. PATRICK’S CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAM (1945 – 1946)
From left to right: Jim Holle, Bobby Witt, Bill Christiansen; back row, Jim Fisher and Bing Shepherd. Jim Holle went on to play basketball for Clinton Junior College, Bobby Witt for Illinois Normal, and Bing Shepherd and Bill Christiansen for Iowa State University.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP COURTHOUSE TIGERS OF THE CLINTON RECREATIONAL LEAGUE, SUMMER OF 1944:
From left to right front row: Dick Morris, Bill Benson, Phil Leahy, Bobby Witt, Dick Dunmore, Russell Annear; second row, Jim Fisher, Jim Holle, Walt Ferguson, Ken Tharp, David Cavanaugh, Chuck Holm; back row, Gus Witt, Jack Dunmore, Lyle Sawyer; front row, Rock Carver and Jackie Fisher. The baseball bats spell “CHT,” which stands for the Courthouse Tigers.
Phil Leahy was honored with being Clinton's first recipient of the Niles Kinnick Academic and Athletic Scholarship at the University of Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. Bobby Witt was three years a starter on the Clinton High Basketball Team, and a First Team All-State basketball player his senior year for the Stat of Iowa. Jack Dunmore and Gus Witt were professional baseball players on their way to the Major Leagues when their careers were interrupted by military service in W.W.II. Lyle Sawyer became an acclaimed high school teacher in Mexico and the United States. Chuck Holm and Bobby Witt became high school teachers and coaches. Bobby Witt is in the Illinois High School Hall of Fame of Coaches.
THE COURTHOUSE TIGER COACHING STAFF (in front of the Clinton County Jail):
Left to right: Lyle Sawyer, Gus Witt, Jack Dunmore, and Deputy Sheriff Jim Gaffey. In front of the group is Gus Witt’s dog, Hoimen, the Courthouse Tiger mascot.
FAST FORWARD TO 2009
Left to right: Taylor Fisher and Gus Witt. Taylor is my grandson and a baseball player at Camanche High School, Camanche, Iowa. Gus Witt has coached the baseball team at Mount St. Clare College, which then became Franciscan University. Today, it is an on-line university of some 20,000 students. Taylor Fisher is a senior in high school looking forward to playing baseball in college. Imagine some sixty years ago Gus Witt was coaching Taylor's grandfather over at the courthouse, and he still hasn't lost a step today.
FINAL WORD
Commentary on all these people can be found IN THE SHADOW OF THE COURTHOUSE.
Be always well,
Jim
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