Letter to the Editor: My friend Chuck Jarnagin (1932-2024)

Chuck was known by many, I guess you could say he was Iowa Famous and most definitely Newton Famous. He was a great guy full of wonderful stories that would captivate you for hours.

He attended Newton High School class of 1950 and was top player of the basketball team #44 was his jersey number. He went on to play for Iowa and was team captain in the Big 10 in 1952. He was honored in the NHS 2015 class, having been a three-year starter for the Hawkeye men’s basketball team in the 1950s before a long career in the military and in the private sector.

Chuck had a sweetheart, Mary Bickell. She was employed at the Hotel Maytag in the 50s as a front desk receptionist. Chuck would come to court her everyday in the lobby of the Hotel Maytag while she was working. He later married her in the Hotel Maytag Ballroom in 1955. They have three children Amy, Greg and Brad.

He didn’t always reside in Newton as an adult, but came back to live here in the newly renovated Hotel Maytag in 2019.

I would sit with him and listen to him as long as he had stories to tell. I would say I was learning a great history of a great man. I know there are more stories to him than I can tell you. And I wish I had met him sooner in my life. I truly think this man, Charles (Chuck) Jarnagin, is in my book a Great History of Newton.

Dalene Ogden

Bun in the Oven owner

Hotel Maytag Apartment Manager