Independence Holiday Observations

It’s not often a major holiday creates a four day much needed stimulus package for Grand Lake and all of Oklahoma, but officially that what just transpired over the last few days. Unofficially, it really was more like a week-long holiday as thousands had all ready started flocking to what I call the big pond as early as Wednesday, if a visit to Reasors for the right stuff at the right price was any indication.

For me it was certainly Wednesday as that’s when my builder extraordinaire buddy, Jerry Hopper, now turned retail magnate at Jones Hardware in Ketchum, called to explain how busy he was. You see, he was so busy he couldn’t take time out from his nuts and bolts adventure to play golf with legendary Kansas Jayhawk and Chicago Bear’s running back Gayle Sayers. I fought it, claiming I was on the injured disabled list with a bad shoulder, but Hopper can be persistent if not down right irritating about getting his way. I finally agreed to take part in another one of those Grand Lake memory makers, but hey, why not share the wealth.

I called Jeff Monical, a wayward Hawk who ended up in the appraisal business here on Grand Lake by way of Colorado. When I extended the invitation to this “Blueblood,” to say he was excited doesn’t do the event justice. Never mind that he had a house full of company from Iowa and Kansas in for the weekend, it’s not everyday a lifelong Hawkster gets the chance to spend a few hours with Gayle Sayers. Not a bad way to start a holiday weekend.

A lot of small talk took place during our round, but for me the most revealing was when this NFL hall of fame running back ask our sidekick for the day and Kansas season ticket holder when he had graduated from KU. Monical never hesitated with his answer to this inquiring minds want to know question when he replied, “Well, that all depends on how you look at it. I spent eight years in Lawrence.” I’m not sure that sucker ever did answer that question exactly, but it sounds like he had a great time whileh e was there.

Following our round of golf, we delivered Sayers to the home of Cobalt Boat founder Pack St.Clair’s home on Duck Creek. Pack, along with his pal John Novotny had orchestrated Sayer’s trip to Grand Lake and later that day had a viewing of some highlight videos, featuring some of the most revered moments in Hawk football history, scheduled. St.Clair was a senior wide receiver at KU when Sayers was a sophomore. Novotny and Sayers had a history as well since they had worked together raising funds for the KU Alumni Association in the past. It was a great start to the weekend and did I mention no Tiger fans were invited to that viewing party.

And On a Sad Note

We had our usual gang of kids, parents and their friends celebrating the holiday swimming from our dock and making preparation for the big foray into Duck Creek for the fireworks show later that evening when Bob Allred called. He had bad news in that he informed me that Elmer Harwood had passed away.

Many knew Elmer as Joe Harwood’s dad and Haley Jo’s granddad, but the elder Harwood was a Grand Laker through and through. He hailed from Humboldt, Kansas, where he was in the concrete business until his retirement and then moved full time to Grand Lake. No one has to tell me, but I just know that Elmer was a member in good standing of Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation.” He was 91 years young.

Elmer's obituary confirmedwhat I suspected above as follow:

Elmer proudly served in World War II in General Patton's Third Army and earned all 5 battle stars of the European campaign.

After the war he returned to Humboldt and continued to operate his own grocery store until he went to work for the Monarch Cement Company in 1959. He retired from the Monarch Cement Company in Aug. of 1979 after 20 years of service, and moved to Grand Lake. He and Marge became fixtures in the Grand Lake Community over the next 30 years. Elmer worked various jobs at Arrowhead Yacht Club and The Ketchum United Methodist Church almost up till the time of his passing.


Guys like Elmer Harwood and Roe St.Clair, Pack’s dad, were enjoying Duck Creek and the Grand Lifestyle long before their boys, who were brought here as children, even had a clue. They in all likelihood helped Bill Bailey get the Duck Creek fireworks tradition off the ground…or would that be off the water. It just seems fitting that Elmer would be called home on the fourth of July.

In reality, Elmer really never retired as he could be found doing whatever needed to be done around the Harwood holdings on Grand Lake. As I told Joe in an e-mail, there must be a bigger fireworks show needing attention in a higher place. His services are scheduled for this Wednesday, July 8th, at 1:00pm in Ketchum's First United Methodist Church.



Here’s hoping you and yours had a safe and happy weekend doing what Grand Lake has become famous for……..making memories that will last a lifetime.

See Ya’ Around the Pond