DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Correspondence to and from Nile Kinnick, friends and family regarding his championship football season, August-December 1939

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Correspondence to and from Nile Kinnick, friends and family regarding his championship football season, August-December 1939

1939-12-14: Front

Omaha, Nebraska, December 14, 1939
Dear SB:
Upon inspection of my file I find that I wrote tou last on the 3rd,
just eleven days ago.    It seems that weeks have passed since then.
Perhaps it is only the tumultuous aeries of events that have fairly
fallen over each other to lay the tribute of the nation at your feet.
A snow ball of October has in the last two weeks increased to an
avalanche. Without any fears on the point,  I can only say that when
it finally rolls to a stop I hope that you will land right squarely
on your feet. Personally I was coming  thru the ordeal nicely and
was again beginning to follow from one  idea on my work to another,
without taking time out for a few episodes of football, until last
Monday evening.    On my way back to Adel, again, I stopped at Atlantic
for some gasoline, and in  the  station my glance fell on the announcement
of the Outstanding Athlete of the Year, which really threw me in the
end zone and I have been in a relapse ever since.    The Walter Camp 
award scarcely  raised a ripple,  and the Tribune award, yet unannounced,
will be almost an anticlimax.    This season and its aftermath have been
the most fantastic that I have ever heard of. Certainly it sets the
record as it appears to be a grand slam with a  capital grand.
And those who know the years of careful preparation realize that the
recognition which was somewhat slow in starting but finally came like
a tidal wave is well merited and fully deserved.    The appreciation of
your fine qualities off  the gridiron has pleased us more than anything.
and the response in Little 01' New York was really something to write
home about.    It is all grand.    But the  world moves and soon there
will be other luminaries taking their whirl thru the skies.    The lasting
impressions will be with those who have known you best in the past, and
possibly some new friends who have had the opportunity to solidify
fleeting impressions by visits with you off the playing field. I am
happy that you will have perhaps a little time during vacation to
let the clouds float away and to collect those gems of real value
which have been submerged in the fanfare and confetti of the past
few days. You have perhaps some  idea of the pleasure that your
friends are taking in this affair and how they rejoice  in your
well earned tributes.     It is hard for me to move around the bank
as everyone wants to talk about  it.
Last Tuesday I was in Des Moines for a conference on pastures. At
Grandma's on Monday evening the Clarkes were over for supper, and Uncle
Chas was furious about the Navy's propaganda during the flight over
New York.   When in Des Moines the next day I had lunch with Bert McGrane
and Ted Ashby.    They took me to the broadcasting station in the RT building
and the manager played the transcriptions of the Navy broadcast and of the
trophy presentation.     I had not heard the former, and  it was clear just
what was going on. The manager said he would try to make us some
records of the presentation program, which will be a splendid memento
of that trip.    Your remarks were splendid.    Benny wrote you a very
fine letter about that, and sent us a copy. Many, Many times we have
said, "How the grandfathers would burst with pride if they could be
here to witness tho glory of the final triumph."    And no doubt you
realize how much of your success has its roots in those two grand old
men. Well, more anon. Much love Pop

Saving...

Omaha, Nebraska, December 14, 1939 Dear SB: Upon inspection of my file I find that I wrote tou last on the 3rd, just eleven days ago. It seems that weeks have passed since then. Perhaps it is only the tumultuous aeries of events that have fairly fallen over each other to lay the tribute of the nation at your feet. A snow ball of October has in the last two weeks increased to an avalanche. Without any fears on the point, I can only say that when it finally rolls to a stop I hope that you will land right squarely on your feet. Personally I was coming thru the ordeal nicely and was again beginning to follow from one idea on my work to another, without taking time out for a few episodes of football, until last Monday evening. On my way back to Adel, again, I stopped at Atlantic for some gasoline, and in the station my glance fell on the announcement of the Outstanding Athlete of the Year, which really threw me in the end zone and I have been in a relapse ever since. The Walter Camp award scarcely raised a ripple, and the Tribune award, yet unannounced, will be almost an anticlimax. This season and its aftermath have been the most fantastic that I have ever heard of. Certainly it sets the record as it appears to be a grand slam with a capital grand. And those who know the years of careful preparation realize that the recognition which was somewhat slow in starting but finally came like a tidal wave is well merited and fully deserved. The appreciation of your fine qualities off the gridiron has pleased us more than anything. and the response in Little 01' New York was really something to write home about. It is all grand. But the world moves and soon there will be other luminaries taking their whirl thru the skies. The lasting impressions will be with those who have known you best in the past, and possibly some new friends who have had the opportunity to solidify fleeting impressions by visits with you off the playing field. I am happy that you will have perhaps a little time during vacation to let the clouds float away and to collect those gems of real value which have been submerged in the fanfare and confetti of the past few days. You have perhaps some idea of the pleasure that your friends are taking in this affair and how they rejoice in your well earned tributes. It is hard for me to move around the bank as everyone wants to talk about it. Last Tuesday I was in Des Moines for a conference on pastures. At Grandma's on Monday evening the Clarkes were over for supper, and Uncle Chas was furious about the Navy's propaganda during the flight over New York. When in Des Moines the next day I had lunch with Bert McGrane and Ted Ashby. They took me to the broadcasting station in the RT building and the manager played the transcriptions of the Navy broadcast and of the trophy presentation. I had not heard the former, and it was clear just what was going on. The manager said he would try to make us some records of the presentation program, which will be a splendid memento of that trip. Your remarks were splendid. Benny wrote you a very fine letter about that, and sent us a copy. Many, Many times we have said, "How the grandfathers would burst with pride if they could be here to witness tho glory of the final triumph." And no doubt you realize how much of your success has its roots in those two grand old men. Well, more anon. Much love Pop