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Show Robert E. Irion eptember 20'h, 2002 running back for the team, and the quarterback, and called the signals and I was r ally looking forward to that year. And so I ended up playing basketball with about six yards of tape on the knee every time I suited up, and it didn't affect me when I ran, straight ahead, and turning and cutting and doing things, you know. So I did run and competed in track that year all right, but the rest of football and basketball was not a happy experience in my senior year. I tried to come back to play football after about six weeks, but I couldn't do it. So, anyhow, that kind of had some influence, I'll have to admit, on my decision then in the fall of 1941, whether to go on to school or not. About the middle of August of 1941, I got a letter from Kansas University and I'd been granted a residence hall scholarship, and it was available if I wanted to go. But by that time, I'd decided- BEN: Was the scholarship based on academic merit or- ROB: Yeah it was academic, uh huh. You got room and board, but you had to do some work in the house for your - for what you had there. You did have to work as part of it. But anyhow, I was going to get my room and board. I was kind of in between decisions there of whether to go or not go, because I was enjoying what I was doing on the railroad, this telegraph operator, it was very interesting work. And I had gotten more proficient and I really was enjoying what I was doing. And then I looked at what the military situation was, and I said, "Boy, I'll get one semester in and I'll be drafted. As sure as shooting, I'll get about one semester, maybe one year, and that will be it." So I decided- I told my folks I was going to continue working on the railroad, and I have to admit, part of that decision was made because I wasn't going to be able to participate in athletics. 11 |
