To the editor:
For the last couple of generations who were not privileged to read his stories and "Crowd Noise," Bob Brown was the best thing that ever happened to Fort Dodge athletics. Unfortunately, his impact on sports and athletics during his 37 years can never be measured but even today I'm sure there are programs that would have never been nearly as successful were it not for his support.
Having watched numerous games with Bob from the press boxes at Iowa and Iowa State, state and Big 12 basketball tournaments and going to World Series to hacking golf balls and casting lines from his boat on a Minnesota lake, I can attest to the dedication and determination he had in providing the best coverage possible to Messenger readers.
That he was honored by the University of Iowa, the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Fort Dodge Athletic Hall of Fame and earned three Iowa Sportswriter of the Year awards is fitting tribute but it was the athletes he covered who were the biggest winners. How many hundreds of scrapbooks there must be filled with stories and columns written about sons and daughters.
I just feel so lucky I was able to know him and share so many, many great times.
Alan Hoskins
Former Ottumwa
Courier sports editor
Kansas City