This Is About a Couple of Iowa Legends --Heisman Trophy Winner Nile Kinnick and Reporter George Mills--And, Oh, Yes, Football Coach Forest Evashevski, Too
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RON MALY

Vol 3, No. 73,
Oct. 24, 2003

When I was researching material for my book, "Tales from the Iowa Sidelines," one of the more interesting afternoons I had was on the day I talked with George "Lefty" Mills, the longtime newspaper, WHO-TV, magazine and wire service reporter from Des Moines.

Mills was nearing his 97th birthday, but his mind was razor-sharp the day I visited with him late last winter.

What a treat it was to have Mills recall a few anecdotes for me from his room at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center.

I’ve been telling people at my book-signings that the chapter I enjoyed researching the most was the one about 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick and the Iowa Ironmen.

Mills contributed to it. The Left-Hander, who died Monday and will be buried Saturday, told me this story about Kinnick, which I used in the book:

Kinnick Introduced Willkie

George Mills, a longtime wire service, newspaper, magazine and television reporter, got first-hand knowledge of Nile Kinnick’s public speaking ability in 1940.

"I was in Iowa Falls when Wendell Willkie was the Republican nominee for president," Mills told me as his 97th birthday approached. "His special train stopped there for a big rally in the city park.

"Kinnick, who I believe then was a law student at Iowa, was there. He introduced Willkie and made a very nice speech. In fact, it was a beautiful speech.

"I remember saying then that the guy could well go the route of his grandfather—George W. Clarke—and become the governor of Iowa."

 

Many feel that Kinnick, who died tragically at the age of 24 on June 2, 1943 in the crash of his Navy fighter plane, wouldn’t have stopped at being governor.

"I talked to people who thought he was presidential material," Mills told me.

The Left-Hander was a very versatile reporter. He gained his greatest fame as a political writer, but earlier in his career he even wrote about sports.

Indeed, he told me he covered a number of football games prior to World War II—one of which was Northwestern against Michigan.

"That’s when Forest Evashevski was a blocking back for Michigan," Mills said. "He mowed ‘em down, boy. Don’t think he didn’t. He was a tough son-of-a-bitch."

Evashevski, of course, became an outstanding head coach at Iowa in 1952. His 1958, 1956 and 1960 teams remain the best in Hawkeye history.

Mills’ path crossed with that of Evashevski at Iowa City, too.

"He didn’t particularly like me as a reporter," Mills said of Evashevski. "He didn’t like guys who told it the way it was. I remember a situation one time between Evashevski and that big Iowa tackle—Alex Karras.

"I was sitting next to Evy in his office. Alex came in for some reason. Evy said, ‘Alex, I’ve got a notion to get up and kick the hell out of you.’ And he could have done it, too, because he was quite a physical specimen."

Mills said Evashevski "didn’t like me because I wrote so much about eligibility."

George "Lefty" Mills….there will never be another guy like him. He was a true Iowa treasure.

[Ron Maly’s e-mail address is malyr@juno.com ]