To All the Girls I've Loved Before

. . . . . Who travelled in and out my door, I'm glad they came along. (song by Willie Nelson) . . . . .

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

A Tribute for My Grandmother H

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Larger memorial image loading...

    My Grandma H

It's a Monday wash day, 
it's off to Grandma's house we go, 
Mom and I
I'm riding on the package shelf 
of our 1929 Model A Ford 
We are off to do our washing, Mom and I
we used Grandma's washer
because we didn't have one yet 

Grandma was my best friend, 
and closest, 
we lived on a farm down and across the road 
I'd tell her my doings, 
she listed with an eager ear to my yarn 
Grandma had been a school teacher, 
she learned to listen good 
She, 
I knew I was her favorite 
wanted to know the things I'd done 

The day I told her, 
she knew already and had asked, 
about the car 
My Dad was buying a 1934 Chevrolet, 
one with a back seat for kids 
It was a secret, Grandma's surprise to hear.  
But she already knew 
and asked me, 
"Your going to get a knew car, aren't you?" 
I didn't know it was a secret 
and so told her what I knew 

My father hit the ceiling, 
he had asked in the afternoon, 
"Did you tell Grandma?"
He didn't ask me, nor let me tell him, 
that Grandma already knew
and had asked me about it 

That was the next worst spanking he ever gave me 
I remember it well, never could forget.  
Nor forgive, we never talked about it, 
I've always held a grudge 

Every year, 
we'd go to Grandma's house 
on Thanksgiving Day and for Christmas 
her favorite cooking for me 
was her scalloped oysters, 
with browned and soaked soda crackers 
on the wall of the crock 
She was a good cook, 
I thought the best  

Like my mom, 
Grandma had been a town girl 
but married a fellow from the farm 
Country mothers took care 
of the chickens and eggs 
and cooked and cleaned 
and took care of the kids, she had five 
Things they from their mothers 
hadn't learned real well till things came up 

On their 50th wedding anniversary 
they had "Open house" 
My folks talked about it some, 
my favorite talk to tell was about the bar 
Grandpa wanted a bar for his friend, 
Grandma said, no liquor in my house 
I feel Grandma didn't know until it was done, 
Grandpa had made a bar in the barn 

Grandma died while I was gone, 
New Hampshire, 
she lived in Nebraska 
I lived in New Hampshire then, 
I chose not to go to the funeral 

She died at age 96 in 1968  
I visited her grave later, every time 
when I would come home 
to visit relatives 

 

I have written of grandparents before, 
here is a link to those postings, URL
     _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 
 - Photo 
 - I am linked with dVerse Poetics hosted for prompting by Sarah at 
    she wants us to write of our grandmothers, I had two, Grandma H was my closest both relationship and distance. 
 - This was another write I almost made sitting on the edge of my bed in the middle of the night.  Instead, I stayed up and didn't go back to bed, 5:58 AM on my day to sleep in.
 - You can read other's dVerse responses to the prompt here, at      
 - You might be inspired to write with us
  .. 

 Book hints, a reading help

Top of my blogs, current first, there is NO SECOND PAGE, GO TO THE Achieves Below - - - - 

 http://jimmielife1.blogspot.com/  for start


Theme of this blog memoir (meme) --
 Click here

Planned chronological table of contents -- Click here

Sunday, January 15, 2023

His -- a Compilation Poem for dVerse - a lesson for Fathers and/or Daughters


    Her Father's Girl 

I used to think 
When the tree has gone 
Cherish the bright butterflies 

For sure the wind, pushes our boat 
Ride of my life I'm looking for 
Moon Dust Lady, please 
Play the radio 

She's got a tiger by the tail 
She was her father's girl 
Fly away or stay 
 _ _ _ 

 - I call this poem a lesson for Fathers and/or Daughters.  I wrote the first line of ten (10) different poems that I wrote in in 2022. See Laura's instructions below
 - Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 
 - I am linked with Laura Bloomsbury for dVerse at  
 - Laura has asked us to make a compilation Poem using the first line of each first-of-the-month poem from year 2022.  Mine are all from my "Jim's Little Photo and Poem Place" blog, 
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Saturday, January 14, 2023

Some Ladies in My Life - a Poem of some come to mind

To the ladies I have known
Some for a day 
others seemed and hoped forever. 
I've changes your names, 
to "protect the innocent " 

(There are others, these fit for me the 
prompt photos given for my poem today)

Painting by Richard Burlet “Woman in Blue” 

My first steady girl friend 
Earline, a very fancy girl 
came from a farm but then 
lived in the YWCA 
Curfew at Eleven PM 
cut out of foolishness 
After eleven the cruise gang 
was just beginning to 
take the streets 
We dated for about a year 


Mrs. Farmer lived downstairs 
She'd covered her back patio 
made extra room 
for her niece who lived with 
Mrs. F was my landlady  
didn't mind my oddities 
The niece left for Israel to live 
I moved closer to my work 
I never saw Mrs. Farmer 
or her niece again 

National Geographic 1959 Inuit boy, Alaska 

Made coffee the boss and more 
Bets liked me a lot, a fun girl 
came to visit me a lot too 
We'd go for motorcycle rides 
Never serious body closeness 
One day after lunch, 
a going way party for a fellow,
we didn't come back to work that day 
Her husband was off to war 
she left our work when he came back  


Bees near her bonnet--didn't let them in 
I called her my Hippie Friend 
barefoot, straggly blond hair 
cutoff jeans, bicycle at the stairs 
yellow dog waiting there for her 
Smart as a whip, "A" in calculous 
studied it in English class, back class row 
For "Contemporary Economics" class 
built a sidewalk for underprivileged school kids 
we took my VW Bug way up north 


Three of my lady friends 
each married a buddy of mine  
Angel was fancy, like fancy parties 
she invited me to escort her one night 
Houston Rodeo Kick Off Party, 
at the Coliseum guest ball room 
Helena married my race car driver bud,  
her sister Irene and I sat in the back seat 
the night before her wedding, 
her fiancé was driving



Mrs. Jim I married years and years ago 
Though there were a few others, 
my foolishness was over, parked my motorcycle 
when she was of child 
I love her dearly, she the 
dearest real love ever one could find 

She found me at a singles supper 
that our apartment landlady was giving 
We didn't know each other before 
and I was not supposed to be there 
It was the first night of my night class 
but the prof took role and apologized 
He let us go home--my Buddy Mike and his lady friend 
had saved me a plate, saying "Jim might come"

I came and the 
rest was history 

[click on photo for larger view, click once or twice]
[We were ready to depart from Aukland, NZ]

 - Bottom Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2013 and 2023 respectfully, All Rights Reserved 
 - The rest of photos are the ones that Carrie , hosting, has chosen for inspiration for us to write, at the Sunday Muse #242, I decided to choose every one of them,  
 - I am also posting it one of my other blogs, "To All the Girls . . . " at  
..


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Monday, March 28, 2016

My Hippy Girl Friend

Art: Bree & Dreamweaver Coat by Lisa Graham

My Hippy Girl Friend;
a compendium of girls in one of my lives

She was the girl of my dreams.  Barefoot, wearing a flower in her hair, she sat by me in Differential Equations class.  We sat on the back row, she was writing an essay for English 317 while I was busy taking notes and trying to understand.  I got my "C", she made a big "A".

Leaving her yellow dog at the building steps, my friend with straggly blonde hair complained to me of the campus police feeding the dogs.  Our walks were full of them, sleeping and waiting for their straggly haired lady friends to get out of class.

She rode an old bike, pedaled herself all over the town.  I drove my seven-year-old '62 Volkswagen, one with a cloth top that rolled back for letting the sunlight in.  On rainy days I might give my girl friend a ride.  I remember the day I locked my keys in the VW while it was still running.  That embarrassed me.

We built a sidewalk where before the children had none.  They walked to school in the mud.  Saturday mornings this was the thing we did.  It was a ride of sixty-miles to the north edge of town.  We talked of the things we liked, the things we did before, and what we wanted to do. We'd stop on the way home to get food for her cats and a bone for the dog.  Had a sundae for the road.

Then one afternoon after lunch, the day came we didn't go back to work.  We must have talked the afternoon away.  I felt she wanted to do other but my honesty said no.  Her husband was in the Army and wasn't due home for another six months.  But I'd been there, done that unawares, it isn't fair.

One day she, I won't say who, came to my apartment and we went for a motorcycle ride.  Enough said about that, her hubby was in the service too.  I played it honest, straight, and narrow.  I dare say these last two were inviting for more and I still have some regrets.  

On sunny Sunday afternoons I'd ride my motorcycle around in the parks.  Seemed there was a band playing under every tree.  I tell myself that the ZZ Top (link) played there also with the oodles of others.  The Beatles were slowing, the hippy girls were outgrowing.  I couldn't pick out my friend there, there were so many.  In the parks, on the streets, and on Saturday nights swarming over the loading docks on Prairie Street.

A nice coworker girl she, we had a date.  She was of the hippy variety, we both dressed better for work.  At a Rice versus Houston football game, WE lost my car at Rice Stadium.  So we waited until the crowd left and then the car was still there, NOW waiting for us.  This is a true account, with a twinge of historical fiction.  

Meaning that while working and going to school, my dates were few, my acquaintances were many.  Even still more in my dreams. Each stanza tells of a different girl, either real or typical. Three years of my other life.   The one I (finally) married?  A hippy girl at heart. - - - - 

- - Poem Copyright © 2014 Jimmiehov. All Rights Reserved Today I'm linked with the Real Toads, Sunday Feature featuring Lisa Graham. 

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Saturday, January 17, 2009


Theme of this blog memoir (meme) --
Click here

Planned chronological table of contents -- Click here

Two special girls



Fading Memories of Two Special Girls

some memories fade
barely recall Sat night baths
with my little sis

(and)

some thoughts can recall
show me yours I'll show you mine
saith first grade girl friend



Copyright © 2009 Jimmiehov. All Rights Reserved

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race

Posted by Picasa
That is from 2 Timothy 4:7 (link), Mema died January 16, 2007. She would have been 90 years old on February 19, 2007.
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She was buried Saturday, January 20, 2007, in the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery (link) in Hineston, Louisiana. Her final resting place will be there with her family.

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Her migration story, coming to Louisiana from Mississippi is on the February 19, 2006, blog (link). She had some more stories, Mrs. Jim and I will compile and post them soon.
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Viola Tassin, Obituary

Viola Tassin
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Born: February 19, 1917
Died: January 16, 2007
Services:1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2007 in Bolton Chapel at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Visitation:4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2007 at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
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Services for Viola B. Tassin will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2007 in the Bolton Chapel of Emmanuel Baptist Church with Dr. Lee Weems officiating.
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Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery, under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
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Pallbearers will be J. B. Shelley, Brian Dyer, Phillip Dyer, Justin Shelley, John Premeaux, and Nippy Blair.Mrs. Tassin, 89, of Alexandria died Tuesday, January 16, 2007 in Park Manor Skill Nursing, Conroe, Texas.
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She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church where she worked in the nursery for 62 years. During her working career she was a private sitter. Mrs. Tassin was a kind, giving person and a woman of unwavering faith.
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Preceded in death by her husbands, Eugene N. Pitre, Sr. and Louis J. Tassin; parents, Sam and Lillie Bounds Burnett; brothers, George Burnett, Marvin Burnett, Leroy Burnett; sisters, Vera B. Tucker, Lillie Mae Foret, Marvilee Terrell.
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Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Danny L. Tassin and wife, Winetta of Milan, Tennessee; daughters, Velma P. Dyer and her husband, Royce of Farmerville, LA; Arlene P. Hovendick and her husband, James of Montgomery, Texas; brother, Lonnie Burnett of Glenmora, LA; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
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Friends may call Friday at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church from 12:00 p.m. until service time.
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Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church Preschool Nursery Fund, 430 Jackson Street, Alexandria, LA 71301.
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From on-line obituary, click here for Hixson Bothers.

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"Be ye kind one to another"

Written for Sunday, January 21, 2007
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That's what Mema taught every nursery child in her care who was old enough to memorize. [She passed away January 16, 2007, read her obituary here.]
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Posted by Picasa .
Mema always said all her great-grandchildren were great. I'm sure these two had learned this verse. Mema generally would tell you this tale.

One time a little boy and girl in her nursery were fighting. Mema told them to remember Ephesians 4:32.

One replied, "We didn't forget it, we just aren't doing it."


Mema then said, "and further more, God doesn't live in places where people fight."

One child then came back, "Why doesn't God come live with us, it's a lot better than this [meaning the nursery]?"

Did Mema meet her match that time? Of course not, those kids knew and were reminded of their improper behavior.

There are two parts of following God's wishes: first one must know what God wants, the Bible tells us; then we must obey, 'just do it' as the Nike slogan says.

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 (King James Version)(link)

Ephesians 4:32 and Mema's 62 years of working were a focal point during the minister's message at her funeral yesterday.

A few links to Mema blogs [Technorati Search found 40 blogs, try these]
Family Reunion II - A Meeting of Five Cousins . . . [at New Hope Cemetery where she is buried]
Adi can [Mema thought Adi had worms]
(all) Good things have to come to an end [89th birthday]
One more Mema story [she almost had a sip of beer]
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

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Family Reunion II -- A Meeting of Five Cousins -- New Hope Baptist Church Homecoming

The five cousins
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Mema's first cousins are all in their 80s. One drives her Ford pickup (rather fast on those back Louisiana roads, I must say) everywhere.
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From left to right is Viola (Mema, Mrs. Jim's mother), Gracie (a cousin by marriage), Louvenia, Oma, and Ethel. All of them were born and grew up in Central Louisiana. They all still live there, except for Mema, who lives in Texas near us. All are widowed.
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We met at the New Hope Baptist Church in Elmer, Louisiana, for Homecoming 2006. Only Mema had been able to come to the family reunion the week before in North Louisiana, so this was a second reunion for them.
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Adi wonders if she will get to eat with us

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Mema, Mrs. Jim, Adi, and I drove over to Alexandria, Louisiana, Saturday morning. That is about a five hour drive. On the way we ate at the Boiling Pot in Sulfur [not Sulfer ], La. Things just weren't as good there as when we were there before. In fact, our food wasn't very warm at all.

We visited Mema's brother, Lonnie, on the way up. Mema and Lonnie are the only survivors of the eight children. We had a nice get-to-gether with him. Lonnie's health did not permit him to attend the reunion the week before. Mema gave him her doggie bag chicken and sausage gumbo left over from the boiling pot. It was a lot better hot, Mrs. Jim tasted it.

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After our nice visit with Lonnie we proceeded to Mema's home in Alexandria. On the way we stopped at the Woodman of the World camp to check it out a little for next year's reunion. Mrs. Jim didn't sign any contracts for it.

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Mema's home was doing fine, one neighbor was parking his van in the driveway and another was mowing her yard. The lady across the street came over and we had a nice visit with her. She has fine neighbors.

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We spent the night at the new Comfort Inn on West Bolton. It was really nice. We ate the included continental breakfast and went to Emanuel Baptist church. I got my coffee and headed to a men's Sunday school class.

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Then I heard Mema fussing in the hall. She said we would be late for the Homecoming at new hope if we stayed. We couldn't convince her it was only a half hour drive. So we left. Of course we got there a good hour before the church service (Homecoming service this time).


Adi was certain she was going to have to stay in the car while we all were enjoying things in the church

[This photographer is overpaid]

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Then I heard Mema fussing in the hall. She said we would be late for the Homecoming at new hope if we stayed. We couldn't convince her it was only a half hour drive. So we left. Of course we got there a good hour before the church service (Homecoming service this time).

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The service was good, the guest minister, Dr. Joe Kite, gave a fiery sermon. He is about a year older than me, both of us slightly younger than Methuselah. He had a keen sense of humor. Since he didn't know us, he looked our way a lot; sure he didn't want to miss an opportunity for a convert. The piano player played like church music should be played in a Louisiana country church. Her grandmother was a cousin of some sorts to the five cousins.

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They took up three offerings, the first was for cemetery maintence. That's part of what Homecoming is for, to raise money for the cemetery maintenance fund. Both Mema and Mrs. Jim contributed. The next offering was taken by the children. Most everyone's pocket change ended up in a bucket, earmarked for a mission project. I don't think there was much money left then for the regular offering, but they had it too.

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Following the service there was a pot luck dinner. Everything from beans to potato salad, mashed (cooked first) carrots to deviled eggs, and King Ranch chicken to barbecued brisket. None of the chocolate pie Mrs. Jim brought was left.

Mrs. Jim's grandparents are buried here

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When we finished eating a lot of us went over to the cemetery. All of the cousins went along with some of their kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We drove over to where Mema's parents were buried. Mema was getting worn out, so she didn't get out of the car.

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Mrs. Jim's father is buried here

Her mother will be buried here beside him someday

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After visiting the graves we went to Gracies home. Gracie, Ethel and all of us visited for a couple of hours.

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Our trip home was uneventful. We didn't need the St. Christopher statue we haven't bought yet. No blowouts or anything. Mrs. Jim and I trade off driving, she drives mostly when I get sleepy.

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Our car enjoyed that $2.7x gasoline (premium). We missed the final fillup so had to do that for $3.01 in Conroe, Texas.

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And the ladies really enjoyed their day, even though it wasn't a planned reunion.


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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Mom liked those Nebraska Corn Huskers!

originally posted Saturday, September 16, 2006, in me, old blogs never read, and . . .

Harry Husker
vs.
Herbie Husker,
then
Lil' Red
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Mom was a BIG Husker fan. A really big one. As far as I know she had only been to one game, at the one that LSU tied Nebraska at LSU with us . Mrs. Jim has two degrees from LSU so we all had a good time.

In the 90s some time, Mrs. Jim and I got my mom a hand-painted plywood Harry Husker like you see all over Tekamah during football season. The craft place just south of the hardware store was selling them.

Mom watched every Nebraska football game that was on TV. If it wasn't televised then her radio was ready for the game. She would worry every minute of play (don't we all) about her Huskers and wished them along for the entire 60 minutes of playing time.

She would put her Harry out in the yard every game day. The rest of the time Harry lived on her front porch. When Mom died Harry became mine. He lives in our office room and sometimes gets to come out for football games.


Harry did get us a ticket. Well, not a real ticket, but a letter from the Properties Owner's Association telling us we were in violation for having an unauthorzed sign in our garage window. We have more Oklahoma State people in our subdivision than Husker fans. I think one of these other team fans turned us in.

That time he had been in the window for a couple of weeks. He is in our dining room window as of this morning and will stay at least until January something.

I missed out somehow on Herbie. Maybe I was behind the door when he was announced. For sure I was in Texas. I have heard people calling our Harry by the wrong name and until today I just figured he was going by another name. But I googled 'Harry Husker' and found out these guys were different in time.

Besides Bob's below, another site with pretty good info is on the Husker News at the Husker Press Site. Read it for a better rundown about Harry's demise. They did a cute interview today with Harry. Harry was quoted as willing to return to Lincoln to help the team.
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The guys here are from the Web site of Bob's Gridiron Grille and the Pigskin Pub, [1-17-2009 update: that link is broken, try this] located at 4200 South 27th Street, Bishop Heights Shopping Center, Lincoln, Nebraska. At 27th and Hwy 2. The information about the mascots is also courtesey of them. SEE NOTE BELOW!!


Harry Husker--"The 1960's Harry HuskerWhen Bob Devaney arrived in Nebraska in 1962, he felt Nebraska needed a new image and a new mascot. He finally found that mascot in 1964 when he was reading an article in the NEBRASKA FARMER MAGAZINE. Inside was a mascot drawn by Bill Goggins, the magazine's art director. Nebraska asked for permission to use the mascot and in 1965, Harry Husker was adopted as the official Nebraska mascot."
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Herbie Husker--"The 1970's Herbie Husker When Tom Osborne took over the head coaching duties in 1973, it was felt that a new mascot was needed for the new era of Nebraska football. At the end of Coach Osborne's 1st year, the team traveled to the Cotton Bowl to play the University of Texas. While at the Cotton Bowl, the Lubbock, Texas artist Dirk West had created a caricature to hang in the Cotton Bowl headquarters. Nebraska officials saw the caricature and commissioned Dirk West to perfect the mascot. In 1974, the revised mascot was officially adopted as Nebraska's new mascot." [Herbie courtesy of Capital One All Mascot Team ].

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Lil' Red--"As the Osborne Era was starting to wind down, after 25 glorious years, it was felt that Nebraska needed a new image. Although Herbie Husker remained as an official mascot, a new mascot was adopted in the early 1990's. At present, Nebraska has two mascots, a new looking Herbie Husker, and Lil' Red."


Closed before I even knew it was there!
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The latest info on Bob's Web site reads:
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Thank you for your past patronage! Bob's Gridiron Grille and the Pigskin Pub
is closed!
We will miss our valued employees and faithful customers!
Thanks for all the good times! Our trouble started with the City of Lincoln's smoking ban, and ended with a serious disagreement with the landlord.
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We like our Harry and will just keep him for all our time.
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p.s. You can see him also on my September 15 post (link) as well as links to the Husker fight songs, etc.

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