Thunder and Lightening

Tonight, Nevada High School will induct upon our Wall of Fame, two of my 1966 Big 10 Conference Championship Football teammates. Larry Householder and Jim Olson were like the thunder and lightening, that one associates with a Midwest thunderstorm. They will forever be inseparably linked as the stars of that great team and season but for me they were much more.

There will be a lot written and voiced about their athletic prowess, so I am going to relate to you some other memories. I will begin with Jim Olson, because I knew him first.

Jim and I met in grade school. I am not sure of our first encounter, but one my earliest memories of him is in a Cub Scout uniform. Even then, he was a bit intimidating with his obvious strong Nordic physique. He could have matched any movie casting call for a Swede named Olson, with his blond hair and square jaw.

Jim was naturally strong and he was one of those young men you never tried to engage in kid games like arm wrestling or handgrip testing. His hands were so large and one of his fingers compared to about two of mine. Even with all that power and imposing body, I learned early on, that he was not comfortable imposing that strength upon others. That’s strange to remember, because he would become such a dominating hitter in football.

I cannot remember Jim without thinking of his family. When you were raised in a town like ours in the 50s and 60s, everybody knew each other’s families. Jim’s parents Clint and Bette, were the parents of five strong young sons, they raised on North Tucker across from Logan Field. (Four brothers Joe, Bill, Ben, and David)

My first memory of Larry Householder involved both he and Olson. I was a member of the Double Cola, Midget League baseball team from age 10 through 13. Our archrival in the league was Sport Shop. Jim, his older brother Joe and Larry Householder were on that team.

Larry was as different in appearance from Jim as one could imagine. He had a swarthy complexion and dark hair. We didn’t know each other very well, until one summer when we hooked up at the Radio Springs swimming pool. Larry and another life long friend Doug Jackson were there one day and that began a close friendship that would last till their passing.

Both Larry and Jim played other sports but football was their specialty. Jim was our starting fullback and strong side linebacker. Larry was our star halfback and also played on defense when needed. On offense they were paired in a collaboration that simply was the essence of our entire operation.

That championship team was basic and boring to many. We ran a full house double tight formation 96 percent of the time. We ran three plays over and over again. The first of these was a simple handoff to Jim right up the middle. I assure you nobody ever had an easy tackle of Jim Olson.

The second play was a fake to Jim by our quarterback, Sam Foursha, followed by an off tackle handoff to Larry. This was a power offense, and the other halfback, Tim Wysong, unselfishly blocked the perimeter. The third basic play was the true power of the offense, our playbook called it by the name ‘52 Gut!’ On this play tight end (Doug Pettibon) and tackle (John Denman) double-teamed the defensive tackle. Both Olson and Wysong followed with a double team of the defensive end. Foursha would hand the ball to Larry, and what happened next was something to behold.

When Larry hit the hole, he had this quick first step that I have never seen equaled by any other player on Logan Field. Larry was not a fast sprinter but in football gear, he was perhaps one of the quickest individuals I have ever known.

Those simple plays were why I always think of Jim and Larry as “Thunder and Lightening.” Each one’s success was dependent upon the other in equal measure.

We lost both of these fine young men way too early. I had seen Jim just a few minutes before his tragic fatal car accident. He was at the local evening hangout, the “White Grill.” He was killed on a terribly dangerous curve on old 54 Highway just east of Deerfield.

I never pass near the Sulfur Springs Baptist Church between Nevada and El Dorado Springs, without remembering Jim, who was buried with full military honors in that peaceful country cemetery. All these many decades later it is difficult to imagine such a strong young man gone.

One story about Larry is probably not known by the general public. We had very high hopes coming into the fall of ‘66 season, with many returning players to accompany “thunder and lightening.” Larry almost didn’t get to play that season.

A few weeks before the season, a group of us were playing around in a touch football manner when Larry was accidentally hit and suffered a severe concussion. He was finally cleared for practice a few weeks later but he had to wear a neck collar all season (it could always been seen in newspaper clippings).

Those of us who remain are so proud that Jim and Larry are being recognized. It is a tribute that was long overdue. Sadly we have lost even more from that great season. Besides Jim and Larry, we have lost center Robbie Holmes, guard and linebacker Randy Fellows, end Roger Tyer, tackle Larry Kerr, nose guard Steve Jadlot, end Doug Pettibon, tackle Mike Bradham, Coach Virgil McKenzie, and just recently, ninth grade coach Bill Wynn.

Jim, Larry, and all of those fine young men were my brothers. We lived a dream season but the journey was not easy. We discovered the meaning of teamwork and dedication. Jim and Larry, “Thunder and Lightening,” their fame will last as long as NHS plays football.