UJ Roots Grow a Friendship of 50 Years

by Abigail (Greshik) Perrine ’03

When a group of student athletes met in the late 60s, they had no idea they were starting a life-long friendship. Six members of a much wider group joined us via Zoom to tell us how their time at UJ brought them together—and built a connective tissue unbreakable by distance or time. Despite the 50+ years that have passed since they first met, the bond amongst this group of alumni was clear as they ribbed each other about watching Days of Our Lives in the lounge, who got sick on his first plane ride to a football game in northern Montana (bagged PB&J may have been a factor), and who was at whose weddings.

“We were all small-town Class B students from North and South Dakota,” said Allen Guthmiller ’73. Each played football, basketball, track, or baseball. Rollie Greeno (who passed away in 2010) recruited most of them, and they speak fondly of the legendary coach of 37 years. According to Bill Holzworth ’72, “Rollie made us run up and down hills together for four years! He really brought us all together.” Mike Leier ’72 agreed that sports initially brought the group together. “When you go into a competition, dealing with adversity, with your brothers, you forge a bond.”

Still, with everyone located in different towns, cities, and states, it was difficult to get together after their UJ years. Enter Tom Mahan ’73, who’d always pushed the group to attend UJ’s annual homecoming game. In 2010, Mahan suggested a fishing trip that would become the first of many.

As Charlie Sizer ’73, self-proclaimed ringleader (a mantle he wears proudly) tells it, the death of a friend in 2017 pushed him to seek even more ways to stay connected. He planned another group trip—this one to Deadwood, SD. The next year, they did the trip again, with upwards of 20 alumni attending. Word was getting out: Everyone was welcome.

A Lifetime of Celebration and Support

The friends speak openly about the value of the education they received at UJ and are quick to tout each other’s successes—Kelly Gleave ’73 pointed out Jim Riggleman’s x’74 success as a pro baseball coach and manager. Leier boasted about Sizer’s successful coaching career and 2018 induction into the SDIAAA Hall of Fame. They reminisced about careers as coaches, physicians, insurers, and mental health care providers, their pride in each other’s achievements apparent. But, as Curt Nyhus ’73 said, “It is not about our accomplishments back then, or about them today, but about our relationships and keeping up with each other’s family, health, and needs which gives us this great bond of friendship.”

“The one thing that really sticks in my mind is ‘Jimmie Pride,’” said Holzworth. “We’re all proud of that institution, we’re all proud of each other—and that’s why I continue to push all of my grandkids and all of my relatives to experience that Jimmie pride.”

The longevity of their friendship has also inspired generosity. When a friend’s wife was ill, members of the group chipped in to help with medical bills. Last year, the friends officially created Jimmie Flowers—a group fund that supports those who are going through a difficult time. In addition, they were humbled to realize current Jimmie athletes looked up to them as an example of the bonds that can be built in collegiate sports.

Committed to Maintaining Connections

The close-knit group is looking forward to staying in touch, particularly at their respective 50th homecoming games. Holzworth said, “I don’t see this getting any smaller. Every year there’s more that are hearing about [our reunion] and want to attend. We’re going to have to find places that can take care of more than 30 people.”

“The nursing home,” quipped Gleave, to laughs from the rest of the group. “Well, we’re all going to need pallbearers,” added Todd Gross ’72.

Whatever comes next, it’s clear that this group of friends will be in it together.