I read with great interest your terrific stories in the fall 2023 issue on Jack Trice and his 100-year legacy that included family, students, and of course, the stadium on campus. Looking at the photo of the freshman team, I was reminded of a photo from the 1958 Bomb that my father often pointed out to my brothers and me when family conversations revolved around civil rights.
My father, Dr. Frank Jolly, (BS ’58, MS ’64, PhD ’70) was a member of the ISC/ISU track team all four years of his undergraduate study under the tutelage of the fine ISC/ISU staff member Burl V. Berry. My father, who passed away in 2018, spoke so highly of Coach Berry as a coach, mentor, and “teacher” of civil rights.
He often related a story about when Coach Berry had the team leave a Kansas restaurant where they went to have supper after a meet in Manhattan because the African American team members could not be seated in the restaurant.
Ron Sansone, another runner shared a similar recollection with me, “I remember an event in the spring of 1958. We went for the first time to the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas. I remember we had all gone to a movie and were seated on the main floor. Just before the movie started a white usher came out and made the following announcement, ‘The ISU Track Coach wants all of the ISU team members to come to the lobby and bring all your items with you, as you are going to leave.’ When we got to the lobby Coach Berry said we are all leaving as Hank Philmon, who was an African American sprinter and long jumper on the team, could not sit with us on the main floor as African Americans had to sit in the balcony. ‘We are a team,’ the coach said, ‘so go to the box office and they will give you your money back.’ We did not go back to Texas Relays the next year, since we had a mixed racial squad.”
I have attached a photo from the 1958 Bomb when my father and Mr. Philmon, who was my father’s roommate, and Mr. Sanson, were all members of the Varsity I Club as athletic letter winners.
Coach Berry left an indelible impression on my father, and other runners. He was a fine example and Iowa State should be proud of his legacy. His lesson, my father said, was this: “We are all equal. Act that way and don't put up with circumstances that result in any other outcome.”
Incredibly powerful lesson.
Kathy Jolly Vance
Morning Sun, Iowa