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hall of fame inductions curt olson
Big man with a big heart
Candidates running for Creston City Council announced; one contested race
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a three-part series on 2013 inductees into the Creston Community Schools Hall of Fame at 12:15 p.m. Friday in the CHS auditorium.
A list of candidates vying for Creston City Council was finalized Thursday. There are four open city council seats in this year’s general election slated Nov. 5. The following candidates will be on the ballot. ■ Ward 1: Randy White (unopposed) ■ Ward 3: Ann Levine (unopposed) ■ Ward 5: Dave Koets (unopposed); Current City Councilman Larry Wagner will not seek re-election ■ Council at-large: Paul Vandevender, Kevin Downey, Gary Lybarger, Courtney Wilson ■ Park and Recreation Board: John Kawa (unopposed) Candidates who are elected will take office Jan. 2.
By LARRY PETERSON
CNA staff writer lpeterson@crestonnews.com
H
e could light up a room with his trademark cackling laugh, after feigning anger with some bellowing command as the self-proclaimed “warden” of Creston High School. On Sept. 19, 2012, Curt Olson finally met the only obstacle he couldn’t conquer in his relentless effort to make Creston High School, and the community of Creston, a better place. Olson, 68, died that day from effects of a massive stroke suffered a few days earlier. Earlier in the year, a committee had selected Olson to be inducted into the Creston Community Schools Hall of Fame as a distinguished faculty member. Because of the timing of his death and the family’s attention focused on those arrangements, the full induction of Olson into the Hall of Fame was delayed a year. His wife, Beth, will accept the honor during ceremonies at 12:15 p.m. Friday in the Creston High School auditorium. Olson was Creston High School assistant THELDA principal and acWILLIAMS, tivities director for 22 years beinducted fore retiring in into the 2004. After that, CHS Hall of he worked as a officer Fame, will be transport for the Union featured in County Sheriff’s Department. Thursday’s During his tenCNA. ure at CHS, he was a past president of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association and was a finalist for the National Athletic Director of the Year Award in 1994 while serving as Iowa’s State Athletic Director of the Year. Olson was recognized for his work in helping students stay in school, and find assistance they needed. He was also a coach of several sports in the Creston district, and was still serving as a volunteer coach for the eighth-grade football team at the time of his death. “One of dad’s heroes was his college football coach,” said son Matt Olson. “He always told pop he’d make a great junior high coach because of his solid fundamentals and work ethic. Dad told me once how much it meant to him to honor his hero by finally doing it.”
Appreciative
Olson worked tirelessly for CHS activities, and as a disciplinarian with a passion for helping struggling kids stay in school. At his funeral in the same CHS gymnasium that “Oly” worked so many hours as an administrator, Matt Olson thanked the community for allowing his father to enjoy his work. “From the day he set foot there at the old ‘Pit,’ with Ron Levine, he dug in and went to work,” Matt said. “He was
Contributed photo
Curt Olson coaches Creston/O-M eighth-grade football players last fall, shortly before he died Sept. 19, 2012, from a massive stroke at age 68.
Curt Olson, Distinguished Faculty
Afton’s new restaurant AFTON — A new restaurant in Afton opened last week. Up in Smoke Barbecue — owned by Afton native Brad Jones — began serving Friday. The restaurant is located on the northwest side of the square, 302 N. Douglas St., in Afton. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. “We have seating inside for 27 people,” Jones said. “We have Jones a walk-up and driveup window for carryout orders. We also do catering.” Up in Smoke Barbecue specializes in smoked meats like ribs, brisket, pulled pork and chicken. Those meats can be served with cheesy potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw and/or pasta or potato salad. Jones said he also offers soft serve ice cream including something he calls the Avalanche — which is similar to a Dairy Queen blizzard.
■ 1963 graduate, Manilla High
School. Overcame effects of a stroke in infancy to become a college football prospect, choosing to play at Buena Vista College. ■ Graduate of Buena Vista in Storm Lake, master’s degree from University of Nebraska at Omaha, Education Specialist degree from Northwest Missouri State University. ■ Worked 30 years as activities
allowed by the community to do what he needed to do to make that place run. Without that support, he would have looked to move on.” Matt said his father deserves the Hall of Fame honor. “He wasn’t one of those guys who gets recognition because of giving a lot of money or something,” Matt said. “His currency was time. He gave a lot of time, and he’s earned this. That was always the way he told us to do things — earn it, or you don’t deserve it.” The mindset of earning success without making excuses came early for Curt Olson, who suffered a minor stroke as an infant, which affected his left side. He walked with a limp, yet grew up working as hard as anyone else on the family farm near Manilla, and earned an opportunity to play football at Buena Vista in Storm Lake. Since he was told as a youngster he had too many physical limitations to be a full-time farmer, he pursued an education, and ended up with a bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista, master’s from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and an Educational Specialist degree from Northwest Missouri State University. He followed his passions of athletics and education initially at Pomeroy. He moved to Charter Oak-Ute in 1968. As head football coach there, his team had a 31-game winning streak from 1969-71. That was before the state playoffs began in 1972. Please see OLSON, Page 2
director in Iowa schools, starting at Charter Oak-Ute and Maple Valley in Mapleton before moving to Creston as assistant principal and athletic director in 1982. Coached Charter Oak-Ute football team to a 31-game winning streak 1969-71.
■ Past president of Iowa High
School Athletic Directors Association, earning the IHSADA “Golden Eagle” Award, NIAAA Award of Merit and IHSAA Administrator Award.
Drive 4UR School event slated Saturday in Creston Creston Automotive will host a Drive 4UR School program at Panther Field in Creston Saturday in an effort to raise up to $6,000 for Creston High School. All you have to do is test drive a new Ford vehicle and Creston Automotive/ Ford Motor Company will donate $20 to Creston High School Activities Booster Club. The funds will go toward funding ex- Benson tracurricular activities at the high school. “We know funding for school programs is hard to come by, and we want to do our part to help make sure these programs remain available,” said Rick Benson, owner of Creston Automotive. “We’re excited to raise money for the CHS Activities Booster Club.” The event will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. There is a limit of one test drive per household. Since implementing Ford’s Drive 4UR School program in 2007, more than $16 million in donations have been generated for high schools nationwide.
■ Finalist for National Athletic Director of the Year Award after being awarded the IHSADA State Athletic Director of the Year in 1994. Inducted into the IHSADA Hall of Fame in 2005.
Served as chairman of the IGHSAU Golf Advisory Board and on the board of the Iowa Football Coaches Association.
■
■ “Parade Master” of Creston parades for many years, organizing entries. ■ RAGBRAI co-chairman with
Chris Duree when the annual bicycle ride across Iowa had an overnight stay in Creston in 1997. ■ Known for his elaborate holiday lights display at his home on Higbee Street in Creston. ■ Began working as a transport
officer for Union County Sheriff’s Department in 2005 after retiring from Creston Community Schools.
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Volume 130 No. 75 Copyright 2013
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Contents
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Heloise Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Thursday weather High 83 Low 62 Full weather report, 3A