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

John 'E J' Ganley

Sometime during the mid-seventies, I heard that John Ganley was severely injured in a car wreck - - I thought it was in the Memphis, TN area, but I never learned the outcome. But like with the Mongoose, Whitey, and some others of the Ko-Op days, I continued to search. Last fall I came upon an alumni site for Newton High School, and discovered a recent small photo taken of John (No address or way to contact him, but I recognized that face). Led me to further searching until I discovered him and his wife on Facebook. Here are John's remarks shared from our recent email exchanges:

"After graduation from EIU in 1967, I taught and coached at high schools for 35 years. At first, I moved around quite a lot including jobs at Chicago Mt. Carmel (IL), Memphis (TN), Baton Rouge (LA) and St. Petersburg (FL).

John Ganley on the sidelines (Photo in the 1966 Warbler Yearbook)

Yes, I was in a serious car accident in Normal, Illinois, and it was a close call back in 1975. I was in the hospital with a head injury for a week. There were no lasting effects (My wife might disagree with that one).

Early coaching days (John on the right)

In 1976, I got married and stopped the moving. First our daughter, Shawn, was born. Then the twins, a boy and girl - - Erin and Chuck. They were ten weeks old, when their mother suddenly, unexpectedly died. That was in 1986. I was a single father for thirteen years. 

John with the twins (c. 1997)

Today my oldest daughter teaches high school and is an athletic trainer in Clearwater, Florida. In college, Shawn majored in health and athletic training but she teaches Algebra, health, English or whatever they need covered. My youngest daughter, Erin just graduated from college in December. She always wanted to travel and hopes to teach in South Korea. My son, Chuck graduated from Durham, England in January with his Masters in Finance and a 3.5 overall average. He is currently job-hunting in the New York area. None of my children are married; I encouraged them to travel and see the world first!

Dining in Hot Springs, AR  (Nov.  2011)

I had a heart attack in January of 1998 and after thirty-plus years had to retire from coaching. I almost kissed the world good-bye. Doctors implanted a defibrillator in my chest, and I am good as new. More recently, I have had a knee replacement (2004) for an old football injury. I take good care of myself. I bike ride daily and have gotten my wife to join me.

In June 1999 I married Dianna. She is the reason I moved from Florida to West Monroe, Louisiana. We have a good life. She is an artist and teaches art at West Monroe High School, her alma mater.

I enjoy watching the local teams play. West Monroe High has the 5AAA state championship football team, and I don't miss a game. I substitute teach there almost daily. Dianna says that she will retire in five years. I want to move back to Florida if that can be worked out. Dianna has lived in Louisiana all her life and her family is here, so this may take some convincing.

We travel back to Illinois every year. My mom (92 years old) and two of my brothers live in Decatur. Dianna and I go to Charleston and look around the old neighborhoods. The Ko-op is still there, but it appears to be unused. We also visit friends in Newton. Dianna's former pastor is retired in Springfield, and we have visited him.

EIU Football Reunion in 2008 (John seated at the table)

Back in 1974, Walt Stine was living in Normal, IL and was fixing to move to West Virginia - - last I heard of him.

I guess at the time I didn't know it, but my experiences at the Ko-op were some of the best years I ever knew. It's hard to believe I complained as much as I did then and have such good memories now. The best people I ever knew came from there, customers and co-workers alike. I think a reunion would be great."

Back in Florida (Summer 2011); enjoying retirement

John, you've had quite a life journey so far, and I'm glad that I and other Ko-Op workers have reconnected. Hope to see you sometime later this year. lj