This month we feature the high school recollection of Ken Maier, who
graduated from Thorp High School in 1961. He is the son of the late John
and Helen Maier. Ken married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Alger
’61, who is the daughter of the late Edmund ’40 and Ethel Frinack Alger
’39. His high school activities included football, Sophomore Class
president, FFA, baseball, track, school plays, Sadie Hawkins king, prom
committee, prom attendant and Letterman’s Club.
About his school days in Thorp, Ken says:
“I was graduated from St. Bernard Catholic Grade School in 1957. There
were 6 boys and 7 girls in our class, but not everyone entered Thorp
High School that fall. Gordon Baldeschwiler and Bill Ruff went on to the
seminary in La Crosse, and I went to, McDonell High School in Chippewa
Falls. Some of you may recall an event that fall that produced a major
impact on our educational system in America – the Russians launched the
world’s first satellite, Sputnik. Of course, that same year, the
Milwaukee Braves won the World Series over the Yankees.”
“The next fall, 1958, I entered Thorp High School and discovered how
friendly and helpful the students and faculty were. Some friendships are
lasting a lifetime. At that time, Thorp High was a blending of many
small country schools, two parochial schools, and one public school.”
“Our 1958 football team was coached by Mr. Ray Gripentrog. Our record
was 6 wins and 3 losses. Coach Grip was a master of the gadget plays and
mind games. I remember one time he had our two halfbacks switch jerseys
before game time because he noticed next week’s opponents had scouts in
the stands. He left us the next spring to coach at my former high
school, McDonell. His teams there did well, but they lost to Thorp in
1959 and 1960.”
“In 1959, we had a new coach by the name of Mr. Bill Lowe, a former UW
Badger who held the Badger record for the longest interception return
for a touchdown. He returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown
against Purdue in 1954. It is still a record after 52 years.”
“Our senior year record in 1960 was 8 wins and no losses. We had a great
young coach in Mr. Roger Hedrington, who was assisted by Mr. Jack
Tetzner. Our team held many accomplishments. My favorite recollection is
that we gave two very good teams, Owen-Withee and McDonell, their only
loss of the season. We held 4 teams scoreless. It would have been 5 if I
had not centered the ball over Rich Boie’s head into our end zone giving
Abbotsford their only score. We had talented skill position players.
Larry Ciolkosz and I were named All Cloverbelt Conference. Rich Boie and
Chuck McQuillan were named All Conference, All Northwest and All State.
Two juniors, Stan Wargolet and Ted Wojtkiewicz, were great contributors
and were also named All Conference. We had underclassmen that were
emerging stars, such as Denny Haas, Bill Alger, Joe Keating, and the
‘best freshman you ever saw,’ Gary Bandor. If we had, had a playoff
system in place at that time, there is no doubt we would have fared
well.”
Note: Coach Hedrington coached at Thorp from 1960-61 through 1967-68.
During those eighty football seasons, his teams compiled a record of 51
wins, 14 losses and 2 ties. His 1960 and 1963 teams each finished at
8-0, plus, the 1962 and 1965 teams each had only one loss.
“In the fall of 1961, when East Berliners were building their wall,
Freedom Riders were being attacked, and U.S. military advisors were
being dispatched to a place called Vietnam, I enrolled at St. Norbert
College in West DePere, which I chose because of its excellent football
program. Marquette had just dropped football, which gave St. Norbert an
additional influx of good players.”
“I played only a short time for one of the best college coaches in the
country, Howard ‘Chick’ Kolstad. He had great motivating skills and
grandiose goals of playing Notre Dame and Wisconsin. One of his famous
quips was as follows: ‘I love you like a brother, but the only reason
you are starting is because I haven’t anyone better.’”
“The Green Bay Packers lived on campus during summer training camp, and
I received daily doses of Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, and Paul Hornung
in the hallways and cafeteria.”
“After graduation in 1965, I married my high school sweetheart, Peggy
Alger. We have had four miracles in our lives, our children, and they
are generating more miracles with 7 grandchildren. My work career did
not turn out as expected as my high school ambition was to be an English
teacher and football coach. I did however have the honor of coaching the
offensive line at St. Norbert in 1979. I worked as an office supervisor
for two international companies and two regional companies, retiring
from KI (Krueger International) in 1997.”
“My wife, Peggy, does not like talking about herself, so I will proudly
tell you that before she retired from a rewarding nursing career in
2001, she founded the only free-standing hemophilia treatment center in
the United States.”
“We still get back to Thorp several times a year. We subscribe to The
Thorp Courier, and I look forward to the Old Item, ‘Moments in Time,’
the editorial, and the sports coverage. I do not recognize that many
names anymore, but I can tell that the traditions and family values of
small town America are alive and well in Thorp, Wisconsin USA.”
Kenneth L. Maier ‘61
Congratulations, Ken and Peg, on your achievements and wonderful family.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
REMINDERS TO ALL THORP ALUMNI: If you would like to share your memories,
please send them to:
TAA at PO Box 75, Thorp, WI 54771
TAA email address:
thorpalumni@gmail.com
Phone number: 715-669-3698
2007 All-Thorp Reunion: Fri. and Sat., July 6-7
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