Bob
Haack lettered playing Linfield football in the 1965,
1966, 1967 and 1968 seasons. He also played JV baseball and basketball for the
Wildcats and even wrestled in one match for Linfield.
But, you know that. Are you aware that out of high school, Bob
almost became a Willamette University Bearcat? (See WU “Barney Bearcat” logo.)
Born in Remsen (Plymouth County), Iowa, Bob
was raised on a hog farm in that Midwestern state. He moved with his family from Iowa to Oregon and
lived in Eugene two years before his family moved to Dallas, Ore., near Salem.
The
move was at what would have been the start of his junior year at North Eugene
High School.
“My North
Eugene coaches -- Mel Krause, Ron Walp, Nick Robinson and Tom Stone -- wanted
me to stay there and had arranged for me to live with another family in Eugene.
When my dad learned about this plan, he said, “Bull****. You are moving with
the family to Dallas,” Bob said.
“So,
move I did. I played sports at Dallas High School, home of the Dragons .” (See
photo of Bob’s Dallas “D” athletic
letter.)
He
played football at Dallas for Wes Ediger (1963) and Bill Dressel (1964); basketball under Ray Olson (1963-1964) and Bob Cantonwine (1964-1965); and baseball
under Ray Olson (1964) and Del Kerber (1965).
Coaches
Dressel and Olson are Linfield graduates and they had several Linfield
graduates assisting: Paul Ward, Jim
Fairchild, Ron August and several
others at Dallas Junior High School.
But,
none of them spoke to Bob about Linfield. He’d never heard of Linfield until it
was time for him to tell Willamette University he was going to there and play
sports. “Coaches for the Willamette Bearcats
had been talking to me all through football and basketball, taking me to lunch
about every other week during basketball and baseball during my senior year
(1964-1965),” said Bob. During this time he was baseball 1st team TYV (Tualatin Yamhill
Valley) League, 2nd Team All State, Oregon
Statesman newspaper of Salem. As a junior, he was 1st team TYV League pitcher
and 2nd team All State, Statesman. He had
an elbow injury and did not pitch during his Dallas High senior year.
“When
Bill Dressel heard that I was going to Willamette, he told me about a great small
college, Linfield in McMinnville,” said Bob.
“I
had no warm feelings when I heard “McMinnville,” due to the bitter Dallas vs.
McMinnville TYV League high school sports battles. However, I agreed to go with
Bill Dressel to meet Linfield coaches who were playing that weekend at the
Bayou Golf Course in McMinnville.
“When
we arrived at the Bayou, Bill arranged for me to be the caddie for the coaches.
So, during the nine holes, I rotated from Paul
Durham (football), to Roy Helser
(baseball) and closing with Ted Wilson
(men’s basketball).
“It
was fun and I heard many stories about the Northwest Conference and Linfield battles
with conference opponents. I also, learned a great deal about each of the
coaches and how committed they were to Linfield. But, more importantly to me
was their commitment to the lives of their Linfield student-athletes!
“We
all met in the Bayou club house afterwards. I was prepared for food and
beverage, but discovered quickly I was on my own dollar. So, I purchased a Coke
and a bag of peanuts. Coach Dressel told me it was time to go. As we walked
towards the car, Coach Durham met us and had a question for me.
“Before
the question, Coach Durham praised the academic excellence and the athletic
programs of Willamette and the long traditional rivalry between Linfield and
Willamette.
Then,
coach asked me, ‘How important is winning to you, Bob?’
“I
realized right there and then, Linfield was the school for me.”
...........................................
Bob Haack (#43) as an All-TYV (Tualatin Yamhill Valley) League basketball player for Dallas High School as a senior, 1964-1965 season, in a game at Forest Grove. Thanks to Tom Rohlffs (Class of 1969) for photo.
