Orville Harris
Down below are some pictures and information of the time-frame and Orville Harris.
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A pep band battle still rings after 62 years Sioux City Journal By Tim Gallagher MANNING, Iowa. Two callers chimed in with the same tale following my Sunday column on the pep band experience in Iowa's basketball post-season. For years, I'm told, pep bands were a bit of a touchy subject at the boys' state basketball tournament. It was back to 1948, when Manning's musicians were good. Maybe too good. I should note officials running the girls' and boys' state basketball tournaments in Des Moines do encourage high school pep bands to play. Bishop Heelan's musicians played Tuesday, as did the Storm Lake High School band. The bands don't get to play in games leading up to the state tournament. I think they should and said so in Sunday's column. It prompted calls from Jim Hollander of Sioux City and Merritt Ewalt of Storm Lake. Both men read the piece and clued me in on events of 1948. Both believed officials did away with pep bands for a few years at the state tournament following a 1948 controversy involving musicians from tiny Manning and those from Davenport Central, then the state's largest school and a power-house in boys' basketball. I tracked down Bill Roberts, Manning High School's principal trumpeter at the time. He's 79 and residing in Newton, Iowa. Roberts said his school's band, 20 members strong, took its cues from Orville "Bud" Harris, a jovial instructor who pressed the musical envelope at the time. Harris also danced while his band's sound filled tiny gyms of that time. "We played modern stuff, not the marching band or concert band music others might have played," said Roberts, an all-state musician featured in the band's rendition of "Stormy Weather!' Before the state championship game, the Manning band broke into song as their Bulldogs took the court to warm up before 16,500 spectators at The Fieldhouse in Iowa City, site of the state tourney. "One minute into our number, the Davenport band - 100 pieces I'd say - started playing from the balcony and they overrode us pretty bad," said Roberts, now retired. "Well, the crowd didn't like it and they let 'em know!' Most fans, according to Manning basketball players Merlin Rostermundt and Dan Peters, were leaning toward the underdog small school anyway. Davenport's rather unsportsmanlike opening musical display convinced nonpartisan spectators to fully lend support to Manning. It got worse, said Roberts, when tournament officials asked the Davenport band to play the "National Anthem." The request came with a caveat. "Officials said they were going to turn The Fieldhouse dark and keep only a spotlight on the U.S. flag. The Davenport director said they couldn't play without the lights as the kids couldn't see their music." Harris said his musicians would gladly play the nation's song in darkness. They had it memorized. "From then on, any time we played the crowd applauded," said Roberts. "When Davenport played, they didn't. It was unfair, but that's what happened." Manning won the game and the one-class state title, 43-36, scoring an upset over Central in the kind of David vs. Goliath clash made famous in "Hoosiers." "I can't tell you the basketball team was any better or worse because of the band" said Peters, 79, and retired in the Carroll County community. "But I do know there were people who came to our games just to hear the band play." Hollander and Ewalt said the pep band was the finest they'd ever heard. Director Harris gave nine radio interviews that week and had to explain repeatedly that his band members were high schoolers, not professional musicians. "We played at all the home games and, yes, we even played whenever there was a game in Manning, whether Manning was playing or not," said Roberts. "Things are a lot different now." Maybe not. Manning, now part of the IKM-Manning School District, has an undefeated boys' team playing Tuesday in the state tournament in Des Monies. The pep band will again accompany the squad, as it did 62 years ago. "The kids love playing at the state tournament,"
said Don Struve, band director. "They're courtside at Wells Fargo in the
biggest game of the year. They're ecstatic about it." The Iowa High School Athletic Association does what it can to prevent a "battle-of-the-bands" scene from erupting and swaying the crowd the way it may have long ago. The organization equips each director with headphones. Said Struve, "They let us know when we are to play!" |
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Thanks to Manning!! ---- Because of the loud Pep Band (directed by Orville Harris) and
one tune in particular they played --- "Hold That Tiger" --- Pep bands were banned from
State Basketball games after 1948.
Dan Peters was on the team and his 'wife to be' Lois Wilhelm recalls ------- Thus, the ban on Pep Bands. |
Since Orville Harris' 16-piece pep band was the center of entertainment during all sessions of the state tournament, we thought readers might like a few inside facts about the experiences of the group. Here are some random thoughts as told by Bud (Paul Whiteman of Manning) Harris.
It was heard many times that some fans were certain Manning had hired professional musicians to bolster up the playing ability of the group.
A total of nine radio interviews were granted by Harris and he had to explain each time that the school also had a concert band and that the pep band was just a play ground for student musicians.
Autograph seekers lined up one night along the railing in front of the band. An old lady from Iowa City cried on Harris' shoulders saying that "Billy Roberts plays 'Stormy Weather' so beautifully." After she took a look at him she exclaimed," ... and he's so handsome, too!"
Among the many requests was one for "Jim" when the kids played and sang "Happy Birthday." Who "Jim" is wasn't ever determined.
Surprise came to many fans when the band was able to play "The Star Spangled Banner," in concert style.
Kids in the band didn't know people were • ? • ? ! • ' the Davenport band. Actually they were in awe of that fine band of nearly 100 pieces. Only thing they knew was that they were playing what the people wanted and had enough showmanship to put it over.
Grand finale for the pep band was the jam session in the street in front of the Jefferson Hotel where the crowd sang with the band. "Four Leaf Clover," Too Fat Polka," and swooned to Robert's rendition of "Stormy Weather."
Ralph Hagedorn got tickets for the band down on the floor next to the court on Friday to put on their show where more people could appreciate it.
One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to the art exhibit at the university and the museum.
April 10, 1952
Manning Monitor
Orville W. Harris
Versatile Band Master
Here Seven Years
One of the best known, busiest and best loved men in Manning is genial bandmaster, Orville W. "Bud" Harris. Mr. Harris is not only well known in Manning, but all over town and in several other states. He has been band director in Manning seven years and his bands and students have received worth while recognition each year.
At ball games, his pep band is as much of an attraction and source of entertainment as the game itself. It is also an incentive to the team. At the 1948 state tourney, which Manning won, though the smallest musical aggregation attending, it received the most attention and publicity. Mr. Harris is a master showman and entertainer. He catches every eye, and those who have not seen him in action have a treat in store.
Through Circumstances
Mr. Harris says that he did not intend to go in for music
education, but through circumstances, drifted into it and found it more
interesting than adding long columns of figures.
He attended high school in West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he played flute in the band, violin in the orchestra, and alto sax in dance bands, He played violin in the Milwaukee Sinfonietta orchestra and piccolo and clarinet in the Milwaukee recreation park band.
In high school, he was for four years a member of the swimming team, which won the state championship. Before attending the University of Wisconsin, extension in Milwaukee, he worked for various small dance bands around Milwaukee.
Acted As Life Guard
Later he attended Milton College at Milton, Wisconsin. The
college needed a flute player one year, an oboe player the next, so Harris
filled in, also playing sax around the countryside.
During this time, he worked as a life guard and swimming instructor. He
graduated in 1941 with a BA, degree, major in public school music and minors in
English and social science.
He organized a school band at South Beloit, then taught at Laona, Wisconsin, in the Nicolet National Forest. While teaching at Cashton, Wisconsin, he married Miss Maxine Hurley, who had played and sung in a college dance band. She was his partner when they won all the jitterbug dancing contests around the country.
Mr. Harris states that he was slightly slimmer in those days, and blames the loss of his figure on his mother-in-law, who was a wonderful cook (his wife does a fine job, too). Joel, the first Harris son, was born at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Mike in Manning.
Masters Degree in 1950
Mr. Harris began graduate study at the University of
Wisconsin. He then came to Iowa and Manning, sight unseen. While here, he has
attended school each summer and received a master of music education degree
from the Vandercook College of music in Chicago, in
1950.
At Manning he has developed the pep band and the Unison Flag Singing Corps. The marching band is a great favorite at the state fair and has played at nearly every carnival and county fair in this part of the state.
A combination of showmanship and musicianship is stressed by this versatile leader. His band won the Ida Grove Pop Corn Festival trophy three years, Drake Relays trophy both times entered, and the Legion parade contest with the ceremonials team two years.
It has played at the Texas-Iowa girls' basketball game and its twirlers and flag swingers provide entertainment at the Drake Fieldhouse.
Each spring a large number of students participate in the state contests. In 1949 the Manning Schools, under Mr. Harris, won more firsts than any school in the state.
Inspires Confidence
Harris is a good leader because he inspires confidence and
respect in his students. He has as much fun as the youngsters and his
good-natured grin is always noticeable. He is not only proficient in music but
excels in other things. He is an excellent conversationalist and is well
informed. He bakes delicious bread and is willing to compete in this field with
any housewife. This is not the extent of his culinary art. Some of his
concoctions would meet the approval of an epicure. His proficiency also extends
to the field of art and his drawings and cartoonings
are something to see.
Mr. Harris has developed a great deal of local talent, and done much for the Manning community. He will make two public appearances in Manning soon. He will act as master of ceremonies for the Western Iowa Sportsman's association annual court show at Firemen's Hall in Manning on April 15 and 16.
He is chairman of the annual Coon Valley band festival, to be held in Manning at the high school on April 18. The evening program will include bands from all schools. After the concerts, directors of the eight schools will form an orchestra to play for a student dance. They are Orville Harris, Manning; Hugh Eiche, of Glidden; Fredrick Taylor, of Bayard; Vincent Johnson, of Scranton; Orrin Spaulding, of Guthrie Center; Delvin Carver, of Audubon; Merle Jacobsen, of Coon Rapids; and Robert Meyers, of Manilla.
March 20, 1948 Manning 43 vs Davenport 36 in the Iowa City, Ia. Field House.
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Davenport "Blue Devils" (Regular Season 22 & 1) School enrollment 1992
Front Left to right -- |
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Manning "Bulldogs" (Regular Season 31 & 2)
Rear (Left to Right) Coach C. W. Steneker, Jerry Knaack, LeRoy Kienast, Dan Peters, Assistant Coach Bill Anderson, Leland Kienast -manager |
Class of 1948 (50th reunion)
Left to right -- Bob Koch, Merlin Rostermundt, Willis Lohmeier, Dick Geith, Royce Rowedder
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Manning Monitor October 31, 2002 The late Lou Bohnsack, who was a standout athlete at Manning High School and Iowa State Teachers College and then went on to a career in education and coaching, was recently inducted into the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. Bohnsack, who died in 1974 was a brother of Elvera Gardels of Carroll. At Manning, he played on the 1948 state-championship basketball team, and the following year he earned All-Southwest Conference honors in football and basketball. In his senior year, he earned second-team all-state honors in basketball and fifth-team all-state in football. He turned down offers from the University, of Nebraska to attend Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) from 1949-53. At Iowa State Teachers College he played football, basketball and baseball. As a football center he was named first-team all-conference in 1951 and '52, first-team Little All American in 1952 and honorable mention All-American in 1951. He declined an offer from the Cleveland Browns to join their spring training camp. After college he was head football coach and girls basketball coach at Reinbeck from 1953-55. In 1955 he became head football coach and boys track coach at Ida Grove. In 1960 he became head football coach and athletic director at Fairfield. He moved to Estherville School District in 1965 to take the positions of middle school and high school principal and assistant superintendent. He remained at Estherville until his death in 1974 at age 42. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Iowa State Teachers College in 1953 and his master's in school administration from the University of Iowa in 1965. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, of Iowa City, and two children, Jan and Jim. |
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Regular November 25 Manning H 67 (Rostermundt 21pts) December 2 Manning H 27 (Farrell 10pts.) December 5 Manning A 57 (Koch/Rostermundt 12pts.) December 9 Manning A 52 (Rostermundt 21pts.) December 12 Manning A 61 (Farrell 17pts.) December 16 Manning H 43 (Rostermundt 16pts.) December 19 Manning H 46 (Farrell 16pts.) January 5 Manning H 30 (Detlefsen 17pts.) January 2 Manning A 30 (Rostermundt 14pts.) January 9 Manning A 67 (Farrell 13pts.) Coon Valley Tournament January 12 Manning H 51 (Farrell 14pts.) January 13 Manning H 58 (Koch 12pts.) January 14 Manning H 63 (Farrell 19pts.) Regular January 16 Manning H 53 (Farrell 18pts.) January 20 Manning H 48 (Farrell 20pts.) January 23 Manning H 51 (Rostermundt 14pts.) January 27 Manning H 29 (Farrell 14pts.) January 30 Manning A 33 (Farrell 16pts.) February 6 Manning H 39 (Farrell 12pts.) February 7 Manning H 21 (Rostermundt/Bohnsack 5pts.)February 10 Manning H 29 (Farrell 11pts.) February 13 Manning A 51 (Rostermundt 21pts.) February 17 Manning H 66 (Farrell 20pts.) February 20 Manning H 57 (Farrell 16pts.) February 23 Manning H 62 (Rowedder 16pts.) February 27 Manning H 71 (Rowedder 34pts.) Tournament March 3 Manning 46 (Rowedder 19pts.) March 5 Manning 67 (Koch/Rostermundt 18pts.) Tournament March 10 Manning 31 (Koch/Rostermundt 9pts.) March 12 Manning 45 (Koch/Rostermundt 19pts.) Tournament March 17 Manning 43 (Koch 15pts.) March 18 Manning 43 (Rostermundt 13pts.) March 19 Manning 45 (Farrell 15pts.) March 20 Manning 43 (Rostermundt 11pts.) |
Season Irwin 18 Carroll 28 Lake City 24 Coon Rapids 24 Glidden 30 Denison 23 Scranton 31 Wall Lake 35 Atlantic 23 Bayard 30 Manning Glidden 26 Audubon 18 Manilla 27 Season Mapleton 33 Harlan 28 Manilla 20 Boys Town 42 Carroll 37 Grand Junction 25 Moorhead 12 Ia. School for Deaf 24 Guthrie Center 26 Denison 26 Audubon 19 Manilla 23 Coon Rapids 21 Denison Ida Grove 31 Harlan 26 Atlantic Mo. Valley 26 (OT) Creston 24 Iowa City Livermore 34 Galva 34 Sioux Center 35 Davenport 36 |
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Back Row: Dick Geith, Merlin Rostermundt, Jim Farrell |
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Left to right -- picture above & below: LeRoy Kienast, Dan Peters, Jerry Knaack, Willis Lohmeier, Merlin Rostermundt, Royce Rowedder, Bob Koch, Dick Geith, Louis Bohnsack, Jim Farrell |
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Player |
Total Points |
High game |
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Jim Farrell |
491 |
34 against Coon Rapids |
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Merlin Rostermundt |
420 |
24 against Coon Rapids |
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Bob Koch |
266 |
18 against Harlan |
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Royce Rowedder |
121 |
16 against Manilla |
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Dick Geith |
161 |
12 against Audubon |
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Louis Bohnsack |
82 |
8 Audubon/Davenport |
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Willis Lohmier |
45 |
9 against Lake City |
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Jerry Knaack |
17 |
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Dan Peters |
4 |
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LeRoy Kienast |
2 |
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Don "Tom Cat" Mohr |
5 |
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Manning Monitor
Bert McGrane Praises Style of Play
McGrane's lead to his story about the game follows:
Iowa City, Ia.—Manning, the storybook team that never had played in a state basketball tournament, bounded over the finish line here Saturday night with the championship of Iowa in its possession.
In an amazing finish, the unheralded Bulldogs from Carroll County carried little Bill Steneker, their 33-yearold coach, onto the court a moment after toppling favored Davenport, 43-36, to receive the championship trophy before 16,500 roaring spectators.
The dramatic climax ended one of the great pressure battles of state tournament history with Manning winning on merit from a foe that had been virtually conceded the title.
The Bulldogs, a state tournament stranger, had gone virtually unnoticed as they toiled through the early rounds.
They sprang into the title picture in the semifinals when they nailed Sioux Center, but they were merely facing the guillotine in the final, most fans thought, when they advanced on Davenport.
And right then Manning demonstrated its invincible fibre.
It met the big favorite on even terms and yielded nothing. The Bulldogs over-hauled an early Davenport lead and shot it out, basket for basket much of the way.
There were moments when Davenport's great outfit gunned to the front, but never by more than a point after the opening minutes.
And each time Manning Countered with precision scoring that sent the Blue Devils back in the rear.
In the end it was Davenport that lost its poise. Within two points of Manning and the finish just two minutes away, the Blue Devils forgot the defensive fundamentals in their frenzied effort to square the score.
And Manning, the new-comer with the poise of a team that plays for championships every day, simply shot passes through the openings for baskets that settled the tournament.
Never a Contender
This was the team that never had been a contender, a team that never had qualified to play in the tournament.
And on its first appearance the Bulldogs blistered the floor with their speed, unsteadied Davenport with their smartness and beat the Blue Devils with their accuracy and basketball brilliance.
Manning used only six players, and all of them were vital parts in a championship array. This was a money team that played its best when the stakes were highest.
Stange Stopped
There was Merlin Rostermundt, racing rifling his passes, snatching rebounds And Jim Farrell, the 6-foot 4-inch center who had the 6-foot 6-inch Tom Stange to contend with and handled the assignment well.
Jim Farrell and Bob Koch each hit in the opening minutes to erase Davenport's 4-3 advantage and with a minute to go, Dick Geith sank a pair of free-throws to put Manning on top, 9-6.
Champs Trail
Farrell notched another Manning goal on a rebound just before the initial period ended with the defending champions trailing 11-6.
A Dream Come True for Team
The champions of 1948 had a dream, and it has come true.
As some of the more ardent basketball fans in this wonderful town of Manning can remember, some four years ago when the new champs were in their freshman year in high school, they can recall some of the statements made by the players. All statements that were made at that time were realized in this one game. "We are going to state when we are seniors!" Now these boys are seniors, and they not only went to state, but they won it!!
When these boys were freshmen they lost only one game, and that being an overtime to Denison's second team. Manning tried to enter an invitational tournament, but were rejected because they already had enough teams. This of course, made some of the players mad, because they wanted to win a trophy to put up in the junior high trophy case.
As the other years passed, these boys grew up with their eyes on that state tourney berth.
Then their chance arrived — they had won a berth in the state tournament by blasting Creston in the sub-state finals by a score of 45-24.
The first game of the state tournament for them was against Livermore, a class B ball club. The boys could hardly believe that they had won a place in the final tournament, therefore, did not play a very outstanding game, but managed to win 43-34. The second round was against Galva, and again the Bulldogs lacked fight and punch fans had seen all season, but also again they managed to pull through 43-34.
After this game was over the Bulldogs' popular coach had a few words with the boys. It would have been wonderful if everyone in the state could have been at this meeting. The finest coach in the state gave his boys a little talk, reminded them of their freshman dreams and of what they now had in their power to do if they wanted to. In this meeting, after the coach had stepped out, the Iowa University athletic trainer told the Manning boys that they had the finest coach in Iowa, and that they had no reason to let him down now. This line of reasoning really went to the hearts of the boys.
The next day the boys lay around the hotel with a heavy and sad heart, but at night, low and behold, thunder broke loose. There was just no stopping this hustling bunch of boys. They defeated Sioux Center 45-35.
Now was their chance.
Tomorrow night they were to play Davenport in the state tourney finals. This was it!
The boys stayed around the hotel all day Saturday thinking about the game. When Saturday night came, these boys really set the Iowa field house afire. They tore the great Davenport zone defense to shreds, and defeated the Blue Devils 43-36.
So there you are, Manning. This dream of 1945 came true. Not only to get to state, but to win it!! Congratulations, boys!!
2000 FANS WELCOME CHAMPIONS HOME
The program at the high school was sponsored by the Manning Chamber of Commerce, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, fire department and the Western Iowa Sports-man Association.
C.M. Johnson, chamber president, performed the duties of master of ceremonies, introducing the coaches and members of the team: Bill Steneker and Bill Anderson; Merlin Rostermundt, Jim Farrell, Bob Koch, Royce Rowedder, Dick Geith, Whitey Lohmeier, Louis Bohnsack, Leroy Kienast, Jerry Knaack, Danny Peters and club manager, Leland Kienast.
Mr. Johnson stated that the boys had done more to publicize Manning in one short season than all the others had done in the past 63 years.
Mayor R.B. Kelsey turned over to the boys the proverbial keys of the city, stating that they had earned them. Commander Bill Petersen of the V.F.W. stated that it could not have happened to a better team or a better coach.
Dr. J.L. Loucks, Commander of the American Legion, stated that the boys brought to Manning the right kind of publicity and that it was brought by the right kind of boys. Paul Vollmer extended congratulations from the Manning Fire Department and Henry Popp of the Western Iowa Sportsman, stated that the town was mighty proud of such an aggregation.
Maurice White of the Tribune sports staff stated that he told everyone in Iowa City and Des Moines that he was a next door neighbor of the famous Bulldogs. His home is in Manilla.
The Manning champs were sold short along the entire route of the state tournament with odds as high as 20-1 favoring Davenport but they came in for their share of honor, justly earned and deserved here Sunday afternoon and evening.
Cheer leaders who lent them moral support all through the year were asked to rise and take a bow. They are Ruth Behrens, Marian Godiksen, Donna Rae Strathman and Mary Ann Rothfolk.
Sharing in the honor was Orville (Bud - Paul Whitman) Harris and his group of swingsters who made such a hit at Iowa City and gave so much support to the basketball squad.
The group played several selections for the appreciative audience. Mr. Harris stated that this group is "peanuts" after being accustomed to play before thousands. He said that he had told his charges that they were going over to blow our tops. "We left our tops there" he concluded.
Henry Dethlefs, who had been high school janitor for many years, and knows things inside and out, states that he was not surprised at the outcome. Coach Steneker simply outsmarted them.
Coach Steneker stated that the fact that they were champions had not soaked through yet. He said that they had two bad nights and two wonderful nights but that the boys were wonderful the whole way through.
Supt. Koch admitted they had dreams of getting to the state contest but never dreamed that the dreams would come true. "
Both officials thanked the Manning community for the support given the team and its leader and for its loyalty all through the season.
Highlighting the gathering was a skit under the direction of F.J. (Bud) McMahon and L.J. (Si) Nickum. Mr. Nickum as minister led the funeral procession of Davenport's casket, following were some thirty grade age boys and girls all bearing placards with the names of towns, which had fallen victim to the Bulldogs this season.
Following the program at the high school the basketball squad, and the pep band members, the cheer leaders, Mayor and Mrs. R.B. Kelsey, Supt. and Mrs. K.B. Koch, Coach and Mrs. C.W. Steneker, Assistant Coach and Mrs. W.G: Anderson and Mr.& Mrs. Orville Harris and the heads of the sponsoring organizations and wives were guests at a chicken dinner honoring them at the Sportsman Club. Several newsmen and photographers were also present for the dinner.
A brass band greeted the returning champs at Glidden. Included in the band were Eddie Fischer, George Fischer, Ed Callen, Arthur Rix, Donald Petersen, Hap Dusenberry, Earl Roberts, Bill Sander, Stuart Hugg of Denison and Leonard Schechlinger of Carroll. When the caravan arrived from Iowa City, some of the members of the pep band joined the group.
