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Show Page 2 The West View Old-timers Reflect on E arlier Basketball Days By Dale J. Neilson if all went as planned. for six years, three of them pickup and without a coach. When But it didn’t. Doug Larsen came on the scene, hit the winning basket, They don’t remember all the players’ names or even the scores. But they remember who won, who scored and even what fouls were committed. Doug Larsen, 79, of Saratoga Springs and his nephew, James Larsen, 68, and friend, Fred Fife 67, of Salt Lake’s West Side, remember their teenage basketball days of yore as if they were yesterday. James Larsen even has two vintage jerseys of appropriately-named former go-to guard Tommy Gunn. When reminiscing recently, the Larsens and Fife reflected on their favorite memory. It was 1954 and the Division 6 championship was at stake in Harold B. Lee Hall, 536 S. 900 West. The old Salt Lake LDS 5th Ward was behind by one late in a game against defending champion Burton Ward for the right to advance to the All-Church Tournament. “They had really good players, including a 6-2 center,” said 5th Ward’s former coach, Doug Larsen. During a timeout with about 10 seconds left, the coach drew up a play for big-man Dick Mitchell, who seemed to be able to score at will. Mitchell would Fife, another who So he from key wasn’t open. fired up a shot the top of the which clanged left off the rim. Fife grabbed the rebound, raced to the left corner and launched another brick. With time winding down, rebounded again barely arched a footer from the continued from page Fife and 25right corner before the final horn sounded. Swish! The ball hit “We said nothing but net. swarmed him,” James Larsen, also a big-man, with a twinkle in his eye. They Bs running the designated play. Fife had literally taken the 5th to the next level of church basketball. ‘All heck broke loose,” when fans stormed the floor, Fife said. It was an amazing time for 5th Ward, which was on its way to All-Church competition, held at the then-Riverside LDS Stake the meals, volun- teers provide a daily contact and checkup that is just as important | as the food. The combined servic- specific for each senior’s needs. They can be tailored to meet the needs of those who have diabetes or difficulty chewing. ies oo a es are a lifeline that allows many residents to live in their own homes rather than in a care facil- ity. If things seem out of order, Center, 947 an earlier didn’t win when “we coach”, sauna recalls James Larsen. a week, the team Division 6 lost to a Farmington another team whose name they can’t remember. The squad played together Much has been written about the dangers older drivers can pose on our roads. Each time there is a fatal accident involving a senior driver, the argument is made to revoke driving privileges at a certain age, such as 75. However, no one suggests that younger drivers surrender their licenses because they are involved in an accident. The truth is that over half the drivers killed in two-car accidents in the State of Utah were not at fault. However, the chances of dying from injuries in an accident increase with age. AARP attempts to help the senior driver remain capable of driving by sponsoring Safe Driving classes. Classes will be held at Sunday Anderson Westside Center, 865 W. 900 S. on April 12 and 13 at 12:30 p.m, These classes consist of eight hours of classroom lessons, taught over two days by volunteer instructors. Course materials are provided. The cost for the class is only $10 for both sessions. In many cases, students who complete both sessions qualify for a discount on their auto insurance for three years. Many seniors take the course for Doug,” he chuckled, but did See Basketball on page 3 THE WEST VIEW Editor Charlotte Fife-Jepperson Assistant Editor Norma Hendrickson Layout/Design Chad Jepperson Subscriptions Kate Rubalcava Distribution Salt Lake West Journal Consultant/Advisor James A. Fisher Legal Advisor Mary C. Gordon Advertising Salt Lake West Journal Staff - Dale Young, Brandon Rawlings, Boyd Petersen STAFF WRITERS Norma Hendrickson Dale J. Neilson * Melissa Sillitoe Edie Trimmer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Marisol Garza ¢ Clyde Hendrickson CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bonnie Sutphin The West nity-based View is a commu- newspaper, providing a Park residents, current volunteers include Marilyn Heaton, Paige McCoy, Russ Salas, Cindy Dimond, Susan Smith, Steve Harrison, Bill Hall, Gretchen voice and informational resource for Erickson and back-up helpers Dave Nelsen, and Fritz Beacco. Healy insists it is a mutually beneficial arrangement. “If you reserve the right to edit all submis- residents and businesses on the west side of Salt Lake City. We welcome community involvement and appreciate story and photo contributions, We sions for style and space, and will not publish anything that is defamatory or slanderous in nature. have time to visit with them, you can really learn a lot,” she says. For more information about the Meals on Wheels program, call 468-2480. Please email submissions to the editor and city include your full name, or community, number, You may submissions to and telephone also deliver your us on a compact, floppy or zip disc. Driving Safety Courses Offered for Seniors By Bonnie Sutphin hour concede the practices were as fun the Eventually they learned the resident was blind and didn’t want to inconvenience them by making them wait for her to answer the door. She also wondered what one elderly gentleman did for his other meals. Then she saw him in the grocery store with a basket full of frozen dinners. Other times the mysteries are solved in a more poignant way. Sometimes it is only when their client’s obituaries appear in the paper that the volunteers discover the details about these people and their lives. Besides the former Rose said, “No, an Church, their luck ran dry, In the double-elimination tournament, when the drivers notify Aging Services to check out the situation. Healy admits she gets terribly attached to the people on the route. “They get to be like family. We check them everyday and sometimes we know that something’s not right.” One woman suddenly stopped recognizing them and seemed surprised to be receiving the meals. A little checking by Aging Services alerted the woman’s family to a problem with her new medication. Another time a door that was swollen shut trapped a resident in her home. Healy recruited a neighbor to file the door down. Occasionally the Salt Lake Tribune donates papers to go with the meals. When asked if he wantone man for over champs took their show to All- Later, ward and with James Larsen out due to the measles, bowed out to it’s a Tribune and I worked for the Deseret News for 30 years.” Sometimes the limited contact leaves the drivers with questions. Healy wondered about the resident who never answered the door, but simply left a cooler on the porch for the meals. each learning the new system. “We were so tired when we got done,” said James Larsen. “It was easy But after his uncle Doug took over the coaching reins, they put together a winning string of scoring at least 40 points in every game. ed a paper, Susan Smith, Dan Boyd, Marilyn Healy, Mark Terry, Marilyn Heaton and Gretchen Erickson are among Utah Power employees who spend their lunch hours delivering meals and checking on residents in the Rose Park area. Photo by Clyde Hendrickson W. 200 North. During four-year stretch, 5th any basketball games didn’t really have a learned to play basketball, while their coach taught them teamwork and how to work hard. Resourceful coach Doug Larsen obtained a book on coaching offensive basketball from a Phillips 66 gas station. The team practiced a couple of times This Fifth Ward team won the stake championship and Division Six championship in 1953. Front row: Freddie Fife, Jim Feraco, Coach Doug Larsen, Jimmy Larsen, Tommy Gunn Back row: Lynn Chidester, Dick Mitchell, Ronald Watson, and Lee Welch. “We wanted to kill him!” for not Besides MEALS he changed the boys’ collective mindset. “The best thing to do is teach fundamentals at that age,” he said, like the three-man weave passing drill, The players also worked on rebounding. “A lot of guys got hit in the mouth, but learned, They really [jelled], got better and really came together.” Not only did they become better players, but they became better friends, said James Larsen. big- man, remembers looking to find Mitchell, As an insert in the Salt Lake West Journal, The West View has a circulation of around 24,500 copies delivered every three years and say they learn something new each time. They agree that it doesn’t hurt anyone to be reminded about ways to practice safe driving. Coursework includes lessons travel. Many seniors who attend these classes say how much they appreciate the chance to upgrade their skills and learn about changes in the laws. on local AARP Safe Driving courses in your area, contact your local Senior Center call AARP. tollfree at 1-888-227-7669, or visit www.aarp.org/drive. You do not have to be a member of AARP to attend the course. AARP is also looking for volunteer instructors to teach the courses. Training is provided. rules of the road, handling increased traffic, freeway driving, and dealing with aggressive drivers. The class also teaches students about road rage and dealing with various types of car crime. In addition, seniors upgrade their driving skills, recognize problem areas such as age-related physical changes, and learn to recognize when it may be time to trade in their cars for alternative means of For more information on monthly to every household and business on the West Side. It is also available on newsstands in local recreation centers, senior centers, shopping cen- ters, libraries, and on the web at www.thewestview.org. Please contact us if you live outside the distribution area and would like to be added to our mailing list. The subscription rate is $15 per year (12 issues). Our Contact Info: editor @thewestview.org The West View 1094 Garn Way SLC, UT 84104 (801)355-9572 http://www.thewestview.org |
