March 29, 2024

Longtime Cardinal thrilled to be grand marshal

Homecoming parade set for Thursday

Avery Wilson is arguably the biggest Cardinal football fan in Newton, and he has the collection and credentials to back it up. That’s why it’s so fitting that he is the 2014 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal.

Wilson, 85, is a 1947 graduate of Newton Senior High School, was an all-state tackle for the Cardinals’ 1946 team — which he added was the first Newton team to beat Ames in 25 years — and is an avid collector of NHS memorabilia.

“I have a collection of Newton annuals (yearbooks) from the first one in 1911 to the present time. I even have a few things, not too much, prior to 1911,” Wilson said.

As a proud alumni association member and the official representative of the class of ‘47, Wilson even has a picture of the first NHS graduating class from 1875. But his love of Cardinal football trumps all.

“I have a collection of Newton football helmets from 1917 to the present. Some years ago, and I can’t tell you the date, but I started collecting the history of Newton football. I have a picture and articles, on the first team in 1903,” Wilson said.

While he officially began collecting NHS memorabilia in 1985, an argument could be made that his collection actually began when he married his high school sweetheart — a fellow NHS alum, Delores Terpstra — in June of 1950.

Even before he stepped foot on the old NHS campus in 1943, where Newton Public Library is currently located, Wilson was enamored with the thought of being a Cardinal football player someday.

“I’ve been in love with Newton High School and in particular, Newton football since 1937 (or) 1938, right in there someplace,” Wilson said.

Wilson remembers going to varsity football games at the old Emerson Hough field and knows that the first games were played at the old county fairgrounds, which is now Maytag Park.

His favorite player growing up was Bill Green, who went on to be star fullback for the 1939 University of Iowa Hawkeyes’ “Ironmen” football team.

“Bill Green lived in my neighborhood. When he was a member of the Ironmen, three or four of my buddies would meet at one of the houses, pop popcorn and listen to the Hawkeyes (on the radio). And then, of course, Bill Green worked at Maytag at the same time I did, and there was a (bit of) hero worship,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s Newton football roots run so deep, he watched the construction of H.A. Lynn Stadium from his yard as a kid.

“I lived across the street from the stadium. I saw the stadium being built. I was there when it rained so hard at the dedication in the fall of 1942 (that) the lights were popping out from the cold weather and wind and so forth,” Wilson said.

As Newton’s biggest fan, Wilson is thrilled with the team’s 3-0 start and even more so with the fact that after years of being the Cardinals’ unofficial historian, he can take part in the homecoming festivities once again.

“It’s very pleasing. I think it’s really pleasing because my son, who lives in France, happens to be here … I was thrilled to accept the honor,” Wilson said.

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6532 or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.