Remembering Nile Kinnick in Chariton 80 years on

Friday, June 2, was among other things the 80th anniversary of the death of Nile Kinnick, generally recognized as Iowa's most enduring football hero --- 1939 Heisman Trophy winner, namesake since 1972 of the University of Iowa football stadium.

Kinnick, approaching his 25th birthday and a Naval aviator at the time, was at the controls of a Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter on June 2, 1943, launched from the U.S.S. Lexington on a training flight off the coast of Venezuela. The plane developed a severe oil leak that left it without sufficient range to reach either the Lexington or land. 

Kinnick followed protocol for such a situation, landing his plane at sea. But by the time rescuers arrived, only an oil slick remained. His remains never were recovered.

The news reached Chariton a few days later and there was considerable sorrow at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Stuart. Their son, Bill, had been Kinnick's roommate and friend 1939-41 at the University of Iowa and Kinnick had visited Chariton several times during those years.

The following reminiscence was published in The Herald-Patriot of June 10 under the headline, "Nile Kinnick's Death Recalls Visits in Chariton Home."

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Nile Kinnick, the most famous of the Iowa Ironmen, the explosive football team of 1939, visited in Chariton several times during his university days, it was recalled here this week. The untimely passing of this mighty leader of the Iowa Hawks, in the line of duty when his plane crashed into the sea, was felt most keenly locally in the home of Attorney George Stuart.

During the years from 1939 to 1941, Bill Stuart, son of Atty. and Mrs. George C. Stuart, was a buddy and roommate of the famous all-America halfback at Iowa City. During this period Nile made several visits to the home of his friend, Bill, in Chariton, and several who met him on his trips here recall him as a young man of pleasing personality and a modesty in both appearance and action that stamped an imprint on the memory of all those who met him.

Both Kinnick and Bill Stuart were members of the same law fraternity, Phi Delta Psi, both ranked near the top of the class --- Kinnick was fourth and Stuart was fifth --- and both had many tastes in common. Hence it was only fitting that they should room together and grow to be great friends.

In the fall of 1941, both boys returned for their university work, Stuart finishing his law course and being admitted to the bar during that term. Kinnick returned as assistant coach to Dr. Eddie Anderson and following the football season he enlisted and was inducted into the air corps on December 4, 1941, just three days before the fateful December 7.

His friend and roommate followed Nile into the same service the following year and they carried on a correspondence that culminated only, on June 2, when Kinnick was lost at sea.

Stuart is now training in naval air corps work, stationed in a base in California, and his father recalls that young Stuart received a letter from Nile just a day or so before his fatal accident.

Nile visited Chariton for the last time in September of 1941, Atty. Stuart said, staying at the Stuart home and renewing friendships and acquaintances with Bill.

Kinnick will be long remembered for his quiet unassuming command of the 1939 football team. His was the sturdy figure with the "24" on his jersey attending to those passes that left their unerring mark just a fraction of a second before the foes poured in and spilled him to the ground. It is said of Nile that he rarely saw one of his passes completed as he was usually knocked to the ground by the time they were completed.

He, also, was the one who was the sparkplug of the team that rocked the gridiron world by tumbling the giants, week after week, to the delight of all Iowa fandom. He fired the passes that stopped Indiana, he threw the touchdowns that beat Wisconsin, and the zenith of his career was the running of the winning touchdown and kicking of the extra point that beat the "unbeatable" Rambling Irish, Notre Dame. Again, his were the passes that sent the powerful Golden Gophers back to Minnesota with their first experience of defeat that year.

Kinnick will belong remembered for his athletic prowess, but in a Chariton home he will be remembered, not so much for his football fame and his sports page headlines, as for his qualities as a grand young man, a good citizen and a true, sincere friend. A deep sense of personal loss is felt by Chariton friends.

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Bill Stuart returned to Chariton to practice law after the war, was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1952, appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1962, was named to the federal district bench in 1971 and retired in 1986. He died Aug. 10, 2010, at the age of 90, survived by his wife, Elgin, and four children.