This is the ‘school’ part of my first October 12 blog. Like I said there, this may not be that interesting to you if didn’t go to school in Minden… (and maybe not even if you did!!?!). So feel free to skip this one…
There were a lot of cars, both local and from other counties, around the school today. From what I could make out, there may have been both a wrestling and a volleyball tournament going on.
I walked once around the track for old times sake. It occurred to me that, although I’ve driven past it many times, it has been 41 years since I last was on the track. Rather a sobering thought.
There was a little ’71’ sign sticking up by where I went down to the track. Maybe that’s referring to the football team of my senior year, which won the Southwest Conference that year. Quite a feat, considering we were one of the smallest schools in the conference. For those of you too young to remember, the Southwest Conference was Minden, Holdrege, Lexington, Cozad, Gothenburg, Broken Bow, and Ogallala.
The field is now called Kuper Field. Loren Kuper was the principal of the elementary school while I was there. He was famous for the ‘Kuper Krunch’, where he would squeeze a student by the back of the neck. I never experienced one myself. The closest I came was at lunch once. It was apparently getting a little too noisy, and the lunchroom teacher (monitor) announced that the next person that talked would get sent to the principal’s office.
Well, I leaned over to a friend next to me and whispered “I bet somebody talks”. Before I knew it, I was on my way to Mr. Kuper’s office with my lunch tray. Maybe it was a busy day for him, but he barely acknowledged me, and I finished my lunch in peace. And never did get to find out what the Kuper Krunch felt like.
Also out on the track was a bell which appeared to be donated by the class of 1973, which I presume is rung whenever the Whippets score a touchdown. This would be the class a year after mine, the class of 1972. A nice idea for a class gift, that hopefully has gotten lots of use.
honoring the 1971 (class of 1972) SWC champion football team?
touchdown bell from class of 1973?
brings back memories
Minden Whippets
In 1980, the band Devo (whom I really like) came out with a song called ‘Whip It’, which I believe became an unofficial Minden school song. At least that’s what my youngest brother led me to believe. When MTV came along soon thereafter, the (slightly risque) video for this song was also seen quite often.
Whip It by Devo youtube video
Whip It by Devo wiki
MINDEN ROTARY CLUB PARK NEAR SCHOOLS (perhaps even part of the school?)
I don’t know when this was put in, but it’s a nice addition to the school area. Did the Rotary Club do it, or the school, or both together? All I remember from when I was going to school is that this area was maybe old houses or undergrowth.
Rotary Club
arch
frisbee golf
class of 1979 bench
Barb Roberts (from East Elementary, but plaque at CL Jones)
bench sentiment
white railing
Cottonwood
I guess ‘Jane’ is a type of magnolia
flowers
outdoor classroom to the north
we didn’t have outdoor classrooms when I attended
cloud reflections
seating for the outdoor classroom
AND NOW THE REST OF THE MINDEN SCHOOLS PICTURES…
CL Jones west side (northern)
CL Jones west side (southern)
in my day, our team bus was like the one on the right…
nice new scoreboard
purple and white
I don’t know if this is Doug Kristensen’s vehicle… but it should be!
wrestling tournament today?
CL Jones
Tomsen family plaque — I agree with the sentiments!
I believe this is where the 1972 class picture was taken 41 years ago.
eastern end of south side of high school
front (east side) of high school
front door
above front door
this has been modified since I attended
Lady Golfers go to State!
Cross Country banner
junior high (as seen from high school)
new since I attended
new since I attended
looks like a Henry Moore sculpture…
Henry Moore wiki
Henry Moore images
THAT’S ALL…. hope you Minden alumni that no longer live in the area enjoyed seeing the school as it is now.
I hope lots of your old friends get to see this. When I met you I was impressed with what wonderful friends you had from high school. You were a senior in college when we met, but so many of your friends were from Minden and the surrounding area. They told me what a great guy you were. And even now, you’re still friends with them. You may not get to see other very often, but when you do, you pick up right where you left off.
I know that many of the guys ran cross country with you. And I think that’s a bonding experience. But the small town values and the closeness of growing up in Minden has stayed with you all these years. You got a surprisingly great education there. Maybe we should have moved to Minden to raise OUR kids! It sure wouldn’t have taken you a YEAR to walk it!
Oh and I’m surprised that you didn’t explain what a WHIPPET is! When I met you I didn’t know for sure. Maybe I’m the only one that didn’t know it’s similar to a greyhound dog. I can’t make fun of YOUR mascot, since my high school’s mascot was the Bend LAVA Bears… something that doesn’t even exist!
Fun to see pictures of the school Mark, go Whippets! I just want to add on Jennifer’s comments here, we were lucky to go to school in Minden, and it is a great community. Some of my HS friends are still my good (OK, best) friends too. There is a special bond that’s created, no doubt about that. Thanks and keep on walking! Rhonda, MHS class of ’77