Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 03, 2013

The new year marks the 75th anniversary of Diagonal high school's boys state basketball tournament in 1938.

The March 24, 1938 Mount Ayr Record-News ran a front page story on the town celebration:

"A celebration unparalleled in the history of Diagonal was held yesterday in the town's main street in honor of the Diagonal Maroons, state basketball champions, of Iowa, and their coach, O.C. (Pop) VARNER.

"Weather conditions were ideal. At one o'clock crowds started gathering for the big event, and by the time the program started the streets were jammed. All town schools were dismissed, the court house was closed and business was quiet while the 'holiday' was observed.

"The program, part of which was broadcast over stations KMA, KRNT and WMT, started at 1:30. Andy WOOLFRIES, popular sports announcer, served as mastor of ceremonies.

"Governor Nelson G. Kraschel headlined the speaking program. Other speakers were Dr. E. J. WATSON of Diagonal; Geo. A. Brown, secretary of the Iowa High School Athletic association; Vera F. DICKINS, county superintendent of schools, and Harry G. KNAPP, principal and football coach of the Mount Ayr high school.

"Band music was furnished by the Chariton, Creston, Lorimor and Mount Ayr high school bands, and the combined Mount Ayr high school and American Legion band.

"Other entertainment included numbers by the Diagonal high school boys' quartet and the JOHNSTON sisters of Tingley.

"Free sandwiches and coffee were served to the hungry thron in the evening. Over 1,350 pounds of beef were cooked for the occasion.

"All committees worked hard in promoting the celebration. Approximately $600 were raised by the finance committee to defray expenses."

A separate article announced the public showing of tournament action at the Princess Theater in Mount Ayr.

"Motion pictures of the final game of the state high school basketball tournament, in which Diagonal won the title from Rolfe, 31-29, will be shown at the Princess Theatre on Wednesday, March 30-31.

"The pictures show many action shots of the most exciting final game in tournament history, including the break for Diagonal with PINE tossing in a pair of free throws, which puts Digaonal into the lead that eventually means victory and the state championship."

Although never mentioned in either article, the members of that team were Max IVES, Claire BROWN, Marshall DAVENPORT, Miles NICHOLS, Eugene PINE, Raymond SLAVIK, Bud BEYMER, Cletus TINDLE, James DICKENS and Lewis RICE.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 12, 2013

I waited a long time to get a photo like this. Initially, I thought this picture was of Kellerton because the Kellerton State Savings Bank building looks similar to the two-story brick building in this week's picture. But after I scanned the photo and zoomed in, I saw Johnston Ford and I knew it was Diagonal.

The second thing I recognized was Omer Clay "Pop" Varner standing on the stage in front of the microphone. Then I knew this was the Diagonal Maroons being honord for winning the high school boys basketball state championship in 1938.

While doing research, I found this same picture on page 197 of the Diagonal centennial book, although the photo is not the quality that we get today in printing. Thanks to Ann (Spurrier) McCarter and her sister Ellen for this week's picture and four others.

Coach Varner began his coaching career at Delphos in the early 20s. He won three Ringgold County Championships there before relocating to Diagonal in 1930. He would have great success at Diagonal prior to moving to Mount Ayr in 1946. But Diagonal would not win the Ringgold County title in 1938 as the fast and powerful Maloy Irish were the team to beat that year. In fact, two weeks before the 1938 Ringgold County boys basketball tournament, Maloy had a 50-game winning streak broken by the squad from Hopkins, MO (Vance Geiger was their coach) on a neutral court in Bedford.

SO good were the Maloy boys they easily won the county title in 1938. Diagonal, however, would fail to place in this tournament. In the first round, Diagonal beat Kellerton. The Maroons drew a bye in the second round and lost to Mount Ayr, 34-31, in the semi-finals. Third place went to Redding because all the losers in the first round played a separate tournament for third place, Mount Ayr finished second.

We have a much different story once the Sectional Tournament began. Diagonal mowed down Ellston, Beaconsfield and Redding to advance to the Class B District Tournament. Here, the Maroons knocked off Prescott 36-26, Cromwell 36-26, and Braddyville 37-26. Maloy lost in overtime to Hancock in this tournament and their season ended.

The state tournament saw the scores get closer as the quality of the competition increased. Diagonal beat Class B Dike in the first round, but it took overtime to secure the win. The next opponent was Class A Cedar Rapids (Franlin) and the Maroons handed them a 36-24 defeat. Ames High School then fell to the mighty Maroons 26-21.

The final game of the season would be against Rolfe, a small school from the northern part of the state. The score ws tied at 29 with about a minute and a half to go in the game when Eugene Pine sank two pressure-packed free throws. Rolfe had another shot at the basket, but the ball failed to fall through the hoop and the Diagonal Maroons were state champs of 1938.

This week's photo was taken March 23 with radio stations KMA, KRNT and WMT carrying at least part of the program. The courthouse and all Ringgold county schools were closed so all could attend the celebration.

During the program, "Pop" Varner gave all the credit to his "boys."

Starting players were Eugene Pine, Max Ives, Marshall Davenport, Claire Brown, and Miles Nichols. The bench consisted of Bud Beymer, Raymond Slavik, Cletus Tindle, Lewis Rice and James Dickens.

Mr. Varner suffered a stroke in 1952 and retired from coaching. I have heard it said that if his coaching record at Delphos were known, he would rank as one of the winningest high school basketball coaches in Iowa history.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2013