Garrison Keillor's Blog, page 85

Pioneer Press: R.B. Liggett, Former News Executive, Dies

Originally published in The Saint Paul Pioneer Press

Robert B. Liggett, 81, of 1125 Summit ave., Mahtomedi, sportsman and advertising man, died Thursday in St. Joseph’s hospital after a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the Listoe and Wold mortuary, 531 S. Snelling ave. Burial will be in Fort Snelling cemetery.

Mr. Liggett was born in Ohio and attended Central high school in St. Paul. At the University of Minnesota, he lettered in football as a fullback in 1901 and 1902, and was declared “unofficial” heavyweight boxing champion. Boxing was then forbidden on campus.

The sports editor of the Duluth Herald until 1911, he was athletic director for two marine corps training camps in France during World war I, where he became a friend of Gene Tunney.

Mr. Liggett was national advertising manager for the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press from 1922 to 1948. He was afterward manager of the papers’ Minneapolis office until his retirement in 1954.

After retirement, he continued a long-time habit of walking 14 miles around White Bear Lake on weekends. He swam across the lake until he was 65. He is survived by sons, Robert B. Jr., of Mahtaomedi, and William B. Liggett, Taylors Falls, Minn., and five grandchildren. Two sons, John and Jerome, died in an auto accident Dec. 26, 1948. His wife died in 1953.

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The Anoka Herald: Anoka 47, Ramsey 43

Originally published in The Anoka Herald

The Tornado cagers got past a stubborn Ramsey squad 47-43 Tuesday night to balance up their Suburban conference record. Anoka now stands 4-4 in conference play, having won all home games while losing on the hostile floors.

High man and Tornado firebrand was Bill Brock with 16 points. Guard Mike Baily paced the Rams with 12, followed by forward Tom Hovik with 11.

The Tornadoes, shooting a cool 29 per cent from outside, never had much of a lead to rest on. They led 14-9 after a 43 per cent first quarter, kept the same five-point margin during a 28 per cent second period. Three minutes into the third canto, they found themselves in a 23-23 deadlock, later 25-23 Ramsey lead. Behind by two, the Tornadoes forged ahead 32-26 by virtue of three from the outside by Brock. One fielder apiece by Duane Blaska and Dick Watson make the score 36-28 at the close of a 28 per cent third period. In the final eight minutes, the Tornadoes went as high as a 10 point lead, and finally ended with a four point cushion.

For Greg Edwards and coach Jack Campbell, the game was a mutual get-together. While the local cage coach met for the first time some of the 6’3″ junior’s ability under the basket, Edwards in turn received a good deal of Campbell’s faith as he played through most of the game.

With cold Anoka shooting and Ramsey’s backboard control, only the poorest display of bucketry on the part of the Rams and some heads-up Tornado ball-playing in tight spots gave Anoka the game.

Tomorrow the Tornadoes meet White Bear on the Bear’s floor.

While White Bear hasn’t an impressive record by any means (1-7), any team can be tough, especially at home. The Bears lost to Hastings 59-17, scoring the fewest points of the season.

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