Central College Football Team arrived at the Rippey Methodist Church happy winners, and with empty tummies. Within a half hour the meal was consumed, the coach thanked the Rippey group for the great tradition, and the rousing fight song was sung as before they were on their way to Pella! Thanks to Kevin and Mary Hick for once again preparing the meat, potatoes, gravy and beans, as well as heading up the crew. The salad and pie tables were full. There were too many volunteers who provided the other food and worked, to mention without forgetting someone. We started this tradition in 1985, a brainchild of Velda DeMoss, whose son, Marc was a senior player on the team. They play BV in Storm Lake every other year and the coach says the team looks forward to coming to Rippey to eat after the game.
Coming home last Monday, one of my seat mates on the airplane was from Perry, and when I said I was from Rippey, that opened a discussion about the Central Football Team! Her son played on the team with my cousin’s son, and both experienced the Rippey meal twice. They graduated last year and have good memories about the after game meal at Rippey. Somehow, during the conversation, I must have mentioned I had a friend that didn’t mind “Driving Miss Daisy” who would be picking me up. I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he was wearing a hat this time. Sure enough, when I descended the escalator, there he was, not only with a hat, but also a sign! He was surprised when the two seat mates stopped to visit with him, before I appeared! Thanks to Dale and Nancy Hanaman for taking time to pick me up and then enjoying lunch together.
– Jean Borgeson