Pirates on the Prairie has been a three-year adventure for me. The people I have met and the stories I have heard have all contributed to an incredible journey. During this process I have been asked a number of times, "Why are you doing this?" My answer has always been, "It is something I have wanted to do for a long, long time."Even after moving to Iowa 45 years ago, my ties to the Halstad area remain strong and enduring. I was born in a hospital located in the center of Halstad (population 575). I grew up nearby on a 400-acre farm, now designated a "Century Farm" that is still in our family today. I developed so many wonderful friendships in Halstad, friendships that are still part of my life today.
The impetus for this book was the significant impact the events and players back in 1952 had on me and the Halstad community. I was a mere fifth grader when this group of guys took the entire Halstad area on a memorable ride that was as much a dream as an actual experience. In 1952 expectations for success had been building for a couple of years. We followed every basketball game either in person or on the radio (Remember, we did not have television back then.). My grade school friends and I viewed "The '52 Team" with awe and adulation. Seeing one of them in the hallway was cause to stand back and stare. Seeing Ted Williams or Mickey Mantle would have been no more exciting than seeing a member of "The '52 Team" casually meandering down the street.
The larger-than-life image created by these five guys was not only about their success in sports. They all had a confident dignity, making them even bigger heroes to a young grade-schooler. Fifty-five years later, when I became reaquainted with The Starting Five, they still possessed that same quality of control and self-confidence. It is no wonder they had such an impact upon me back in the early '50's.
For years I thought the exploits of Akason, Hesby, Holm (pictured to the right), Serum, and Thompson should be chronicled. However, I never carried it any further. Then, I began noticing Eric Bergeson's newspaper columns and a light went on: Here was a guy who wrote beautifully and better yet, he was from small-town, northern Minnesota. He would be perfect to write the book!Eric and I agreed from the start that Pirates on the Prairie should be more than a sports book that recreates the successes of a basketball team and a baseball team from a small town in Minnesota. It should be a book about the background of a small town in northwestern Minnesota. It should be a book that also looks at the history and uniqueness of the little town of Halstad. It should be a book that looks into the lives of the players and the coaches. Where did these young men come from, what influenced them, and how did they develop into such outstanding athletes and coaches? Eric did a masterful job researching, reading, and interviewing. Eric Bergeson has retold this story in a typical, Eric Bergeson manner.
Pirates on the Prairie would never have happened without the support of my wife, Barbara. When obstacles presented themselves, she encouraged me to go ahead with a life-long dream, and she provided me with many helpful ideas along the way. Lori DeLong, who lives in Halstad, helped me every time a photo was needed or a page had to be turned. Kathy Myers, the publisher, generously guided me with her expertise and creativity. I also appreciate the assistance of Ron Laqua, Amy Hoey, and Erika Stennes. These people and countless others turned this childhood experience into an adult adventure.
