Columnists

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Editor's note: I've combed Bluffton University's Memory digital archive, but only found written, not photographic, records of Ralph Stearns' time at Bluffton College. 

By Bill Herr

I'm writing several columns on the most unforgettable characters I have ever met. The first is on the Stearns brothers, Telsa (Tubby) and Ralph.

When I came to Mennonite Memorial Home as chaplain, these brothers were getting older (Ralph was in his late 90s) but they were of good mind and spirit and participated in all the activities at the nursing home. This included spending time at the pool table with fellow residents. Tubby was much younger and kind of looked after Ralph.

How Tubby got his nickname, I never found out. He was big and athletic-looking, not at all overweight. He had played football and basketball at Bluffton High School. After he graduated, he played on a local semi-professional football team. He told me that, unbelievably, his team had scheduled a game to be played at Bluffton against Jim Thorpe and his semi-professional team. Jim Thorpe was a legend in American athletics. He was a Native American who was ranked by an ABC Sports poll as the greatest American athlete of the 20th century.

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First published on December 27, 2024

By Bill Herr

Thousands have seen the Ream Christmas display that originated on the Ream farm in 1938 and is now displayed each year at Christmastime on the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn. This story is about its founder, Harry Ream.

I first met Harry on October 22, 2001, when he had just become a resident at Richland Manor Nursing Home near Beaverdam. I was a volunteer there, meeting with men who were residents for a weekly meeting.

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By Bill Herr

During my time as chaplain at Mennonite Memorial Home for 24 years, I met a number of residents who were veterans, mostly from World War II. I don't remember all their names, but I remember their stories. 

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See Memories of Harmon Field, part 1 including 4th of July rodeos in the 1940s-50s.

By Bill Herr

In football the punter often doesn't get much credit. A good punter is important because he gives his team excellent field position. One of Bluffton High School's finest punters was Don Burkholder. He played in the late ‘40s, and was two years behind my brother who graduated in 1948. So I got to see Don in action. Although I was young, I remember his booming, rainbow punts that had great distance. Many years later I got to know him well when he was a resident at Willow Ridge. I would always tell him he was the greatest punter I ever saw. He told me that the Pirates were backed up inside the ten-yard line one game and he had to punt from the end zone.

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ABOVE) Harmon Field photos from 1937 and 1935 Bucaneer yearbooks 

By Bill Herr

In 2024, a 100th birthday was celebrated in Bluffton. Harmon Field turned 100, and at halftime of a football game, Spike Berry spoke of some events and some people that left memories on the field. I didn't say "old" field because unlike humans that turn 100, Harmon Field has never looked better or younger as changes in landscaping and the attention of volunteers has made it into one of the premier football fields in the area. I'm sure that anyone who ever played on it, or attended games there has lasting memories. Here are some of mine.

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CLICK on gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace / Cover of 1953 Ohio vs. Kentucky High School All-Star Basketball program and Beemer soars in for a layup

By Bill Herr
Bluffton Icon columnist

It isn't often that I get to interview a sports legend. Beaverdam High School's last graduating class was in 1964. The next year Beaverdam consolidated with Bluffton Schools. Since then Beaverdam has provided good athletes in different sports that have helped Bluffton teams win championships. 

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