THE BANQUET

In my story…“THE GIANTS AT MONROE” AND THE 1909 CHASES FOR THE STATE TITLE…PART 2…I mentioned that with the Brewers in the playoffs vs. the Chicago Cubs it was doubtful that I could make it to Ladysmith on Friday, October 10 for the school’s first Hall of Fame induction.  Thanks to a start time change on Saturday I would have time to make it back fine to make my shift after staying overnight in Ladysmith.

From the start of my entering the front door of the high school I was greeted warmly by Dawn Ohlfs.  She somehow recognized me, even before I walked up to the registration table.  I guess she knew everyone who was coming in and I was a stranger.  Dawn told me I needed to hurry to the cafeteria where dinner was to be served.  She directed a student escort to show me the way and quipped that the guide should point out Bob Davis (A HOF inductee) to me.  The young man admitted that he didn’t know who Bob Davis was and I was left in the room of about 150 people to find my way on my own.  I had emailed both Bob Davis and the event coordinator, Kent Ohlfs (Dawn’s husband), that I could make the event after all but they must have failed to check their messages.  Maybe Dawn had read my email but hadn’t told Kent or Bob.  We were given name badges and so I went from table to table in the room checking others badges until I came upon Bob Davis.  He was surprised to meet me.  We had exchanged a number of emails but being there in person made my evening.  We talked a bit.  He introduced me to Terry Berger, a former LHS teammate and long-term friend.  Terry would introduce Bob during the formal induction.  Bob then directed me to Kent Ohlfs.

It was great meeting.  Kent was very busy dealing with many people concerning the nights events.  We talked for a few minutes and then I looked for a table to sit down for the dinner.  I picked the last empty 8-seater.  Within a few minutes two couples found their way to the table…Ken Buh, Merry Reynolds, LeRoy and Judith Opsal.  They were there to celebrate their friends who were being inducted. We exchanged greetings and I had a great time talking with them.  Somehow, I became a person to meet.  My out of town, first time visit to Ladysmith was drawing some attention.  Bill Mestelle, one of the HOF inductees, came over and we talked a bit.  A moment later Luke Klink, editor of the Ladysmith News approached me.  We talked briefly and then Luke took my picture with me holding a copy of my book.

October 16, 2025, Ladysmith News

There were others who came over to talk.  I was amazed of the attention I was getting.  If you read the above caption below the picture, you will see some mistakes.  Word had gotten around that I had driven from Milwaukee and that I worked for the Brewers which is true.  First, I’m not the statistician for the Brewers.  Mr. Klink was told, incorrectly, by someone, who referred to my record books which are located on the WFCA web page.  I told him that I worked for the Brewers.  It was a funny mix-up, to me, when I saw the story in the paper the next Thursday.  I had taken copies of my two blogs on the 1940’s-60’s teams and spread them around the gathering.  The caption said my stories on Ladysmith were in the book, but they are not.  I had the book to give to Bob and Kent plus I brought a few extra’s along.

October 16, 2025, Ladysmith News

Dinner was served and then those being honored were gathered for a group photo before we all went to the school auditorium for the main event presentations.

October 16, 2025, Ladysmith News

The gathering of the inductees in the auditorium went well, even if some introductions or acceptance speeches went longer than expected but it was fun.  The audience enjoyed the ceremony.  The school decided to honor people from the pre-1970’s for their first HOF class.  The Master of Ceremonies was the voice of the Lumberjacks and Lumberjills was Bob Krejcarek.  He introduced Dr. Jason LeMay, the school Superintendent and Kirk Yudes who is LHS’ Athletic Director and acting Principal.  Then Bob began calling up the individuals, one at a time, who would introduce the first members of the HOF.  One by one the inductees were called up, and they gave their acceptance speeches. Dr. LeMay and Mr. Yudes presented the plaques.  The honorees were:

E. L. Jay was a teacher and coach of football and basketball.  He was at LHS from 1924-55.

J.R. “Buck” Morgan played for Coach Jay in the 1920’s as a center on the football team and stared on the basketball team.  He was the first name on Jay’s list when he was asked to list his all-time best players.

Marshall Brown played four sports…football, basketball, track and field and baseball in the late 1940’s-50.  He later coached football in Bay City Texas and was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame as well as Bay City H.S. HOF.

Roger Harring coached 1958-63 and developed many great players during his stay.  He moved on to Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln H.S. and then on to UW-La Crosse where he posted a 261-75-7 record.  He was one of college’s all-time greats.

Bob Davis, class of 1960, was a great back, earning 3^rd team all-state.  Stared while playing basketball and set the school record in track while tossing the shot.

Tom Mestelle, class of 1963, was a fabulous end who set a Heart of the North conference scoring record in 1962 with 126 points.  He also played basketball, track and baseball.  After staring at UW-La Crosse he went on to coach Ashland High School to the 1984 D-2 title and then coached Superior High School to the 1990 D-1 title.  He also coached girls’ basketball and baseball. Tom is a member of the WFCA HOF.

Frank Poquette, 1965, earned 12 letters (4 in football, 4 in basketball, 3 in track and 1 in baseball).  His senior year in football, Frank was the quarterback but also returned kicks, played defensive back and was a receiver, at times.

Bill Mestelle was Tom’s younger brother who stared in football, lettering four years.  Bill led the state in scoring as a junior in 1964 with 174 points in only 8-games and smashed the conference scoring record.  Named to both the A.P. and the U.P.I. first team squads as well as honorable mention Scholastic Coach Magazine All-American.  Injured for part of his senior year, Bill still scored 85 points and again earned all-state and honorable mention all-America honors.  Bill would earn his college degree and retire as the principal of Hayward High School.

Bruce Stewart was a 1966 LHS graduate who earned 12 letters, four each in football, basketball and baseball.  After stops at Spencer H.S. and Mount Senario College he came back to Ladysmith and coached football and track from 1984-2006.  Bruce is a member of the WFCA HOF.

Dick Nerbun, 1967, won letters in basketball and football but is best remembered for his feats in track and field.  Dick set records in the 120-yard-high hurdles (1967 state champion), earned 4^th place at state in the low hurdles and 4^th place in the long jump.  He also set the school record in the high jump.

Following the ceremonial induction I met with many people.  Two nice individuals were Jim Woelfer, Curator of the Rusk County Historical Society.  He was wearing a Chicago Cubs hat but I smilingly told him “I still liked him” as he was a fan of “the enemy”.    As Jim and I briefly talked up came Linda Krejcarek, wife of Bob who was the Master of Ceremonies asked me for a copy of my book.  Saturday was Bob’s birthday and she wanted one for a gift to give him.  Several others approached me, thanked me for coming and wishing me a safe trip back to Milwaukee.  They hoped the Brewers would win on Saturday.

It was a great time in Ladysmith.  I’m not sure when the school will hold their next induction, but they have a few names picked out.  When they hold their next one, I hope to attend. 

In writing my stories on 1909 Monroe, Athletic Director Eric Jubeck told me that Monroe was moving, in 2026, to a new school and they would create their own HOF soon after.

Finally, I wish to thank Ken Ohlfs and everyone at Ladysmith for their hospitality.