Sport Light of the Week: Larry Mizener 1950

Another Daily Eastern News article that focused on Larry Mizener:

Mayan, Jack (Oct. 4, 1950). "Sport Light of the Week." Daily Eastern News. Eastern Illinois University. p.6.

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=den_1950_oct

Although the Air Force and the Navy receive a great deal of credit for winning wars, it is generally conceded that it is the ground forces which actually turn the tide of battles by going in and conquering enemy lands.

Sophomore Class Officers (1949 Warbler)

This axiom can be compared to the wars of the gridiron where passing is certainly a highly important weapon, but even so the real power of a team is measured by the yardage gained from the line of scrimmage.

1949 Warbler

Eastern’s rushing power was exemplified in the Ball State game by hard-charging Larry Mizener of Lisle, Illinois. All Larry did in the game was to pick up 95 yards in only 13 ball carrying attempts. Almost any fourth grader can tell you that “Mize” averaged better than seven yards per carry which is something to be proud of. Larry must have been proud of his performance as he rated it his biggest sport thrill, along with getting revenge from the Ball Staters for their 47 to 13 rout of Eastern in “49.”

Junior Class Officers (Warbler 1950)

Larry is trying for his third varsity football letter this season, besides his activities in the Varsity club and in Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. Now in his senior year, Larry hasn’t let any grass grow under his feet while at Eastern. He was elected class president in both is sophomore and junior years.

Physical Education majors are not uncommon on Eastern’s athletic squads, but PE majors with speech correction minors are not to frequent. Larry picked this curriculum with an eye towards coaching with a speech correction sideline.

Phi Sigma Epsilon (Warbler 1950)

Larry attended Downers Grove high school where he lettered three times in both football and track. In the latter, “Mize” was a high hurdler.

Most of Larry’s spare time is taken up by his job at the Ko-op, but he likes to play golf occasionally. Although “Mize” has been called in for his Army physical, he is ranked in the upper half of his class so he is hoping for a deferment.

Ad in Eastern State News (Oct. 08, 1947)

Larry Mizener: EIU '47-1951

Another article and photos from the EIU archives - The Keep:

Howard, Juanita (Mar. 30, 1955) “Larry Prefers Selling Food to Teaching.” Eastern State News, p. 3

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=den_1955_mar

Warbler 1951: Larry Mizener "Who's Who"

Larry Mizener, manager of the “Ko-Op” and former graduate of Eastern, took time out between coke orders to give us a tunnel view of his past history.

"Mize" 1951

Larry is originally from Lisle, a township located 22 miles southwest of Chicago. A pep talk from his high school football coach was in part responsible for his enrollment at Eastern in 1947.

 Senior Class President

He majored in P.E. and played halfback on the football team. After working at the “Ko-Op” during his four years in school, Larry side tracked his ambition to become a high school coach and continued his work here.

1951 Class Officers

Perhaps his sincere interest in people, which is shown by his work in the Moose club, is responsible for his decision to stay in Charleston. Larry employs college students who are from ‘Mooseheart’, a city where the children of deceased Moose club members are provided for by other members of the club.

Phi Sigma Epsilon (Mize, top right)

He is an alumnus of Phi Sigma Epsilon social fraternity, and is married to the former Mildred Jean Carr, also an Eastern graduate. They have one daughter who is 20 months old.

During the summer months, Larry runs “Walt’s” which is kept open for the benefit of the summer school students.

1951 Warbler photo

706 Lincoln Evolves

   In Feb. 2011 the former Ko-op Restaurant, located on the SE corner of Lincoln Ave. and Seventh St. in Charleston, IL, was for a short time “Georgie Boy’s.” Georgie Boy's was owned by a Mattoon family and served breakfast, lunch and dinner fare.
   From the late 40s through the 70s, the two-story red-brick building directly east of Old Main had housed a restaurant and been a place of employment for many EIU students. The second story that originally was housing for a number of students and student workers was later converted to apartments.
   The building was originally owned by Walt Warmoth, who also owned the famous eatery Walt’s (across the street from McAfee Gym, now called Marty’s) and later sold to Larry Mizener, a Phi Sig who had worked for Walt. Except for Old Main and the northeast corner of campus, for a few decades Larry Mizener controlled that area around Lincoln and Seventh. 

[Above excerpted from an article in the Spring 2011 Phi Sigma Epsilon Newsletter]

   By July of 2011 Georgie Boy's was closed and a 'For Lease' sign was placed out front. The Aug. 22, 2011 issue of the Eastern News printed the following: "While the abrupt closing of local diner Georgie Boy's surprised many Charleston residents, they can take comfort knowing the restaurant will soon reopen under new ownership as a sports bar." 

   An article in an early Oct. issue of the Eastern News announced plans for the new restaurant, Dirty's Bar & Grill:

http://www.dennews.com/the_verge/dirty-s-bar-grill-to-open-in-near-future/article_91428c14-fb80-11e0-a40f-0019bb30f31a.html

   Eastern News followed up with the announcement that Dirty's Bar and Grill opened for business (Oct 30, 2011)

http://www.dennews.com/news/local/dirty-s-bar-and-grill-opens-for-business/article_13257d3a-037a-11e1-91f8-0019bb30f31a.html