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Lowell Kadel, who celebrated his 95th birthday on Saturday, is proud of his undefeated high school football team in 1932. The school was in a rural town in Kansas, but Kadell now lives at Arbor Mobile Home Park in Acampo. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)

Acampo man, 95, recalls undefeated football team

By Ross Farrow
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Monday, October 27, 2008 6:19 AM PDT

Lowell Kadel has a sparkling memory of his 95 years. One of his happiest memories for the Acampo resident is his high school football team's undefeated season in 1932, right during the depths of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl in rural Kansas.

Kadel has two outstanding souvenirs of his 1932 season for Hunter High School in north-central Kansas. One is a team picture that includes him and his brother, Omer. The other is the very football he used, marked with every player on the team and the opponent and score of all eight games.

"Me and my brother, we could out-run them all," Kadel said. "We were country boys. We were tough. We played in rain and snow and ice."

Kadel played left guard on offense; on defense, it was fullback and safety. Fullback is considered an offensive position today, but in the '30s it was similar to what a linebacker today.

Kadel described Hunter as "a little town of 150, if there was that many there." The 2000 Census says that Hunter had even fewer people — 77.

He recalled the excitement of beating Beloit, the Mitchell County seat, which had a lot bigger school.

"We sent them home, 38-0," Kadel boasted.

The beloved football he showed Sunday on the kitchen counter at his residence at Arbor Mobile Home Park off Woodbridge Road is "old genuine pigskin," Kadel said. "I wouldn't take $1,000 for the ball. I have too many bruises."

Kadel's family farmed wheat in Kansas, but they left for Idaho when the Dust Bowl began. Nevertheless, he enjoyed life in Kansas, frequently drinking corn whiskey during the midst of Prohibition.

Kadel got tired of farming and transferred to a career in the aircraft industry, living in places like San Diego, Tucson, Ariz., and New Orleans. They moved to Lodi in 1961 to live near a daughter.

He and his wife, Helen, met on a blind date in 1937 and married six months later. They've been happily married for 72 years.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

napa valley chef wrote on Oct 27, 2008 11:15 AM:

" I would say that 72 years of marriage is a far greater achievement than an undefeated football season! "

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