Henkes never forgot FFHS ties

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, June 9, 2008

Over half a century has passed since Jim Henkes graduated from Fergus Falls High School. The resident of Staples, who turned 76 on Sunday, June 8, still is basking in appreciation from being honored this spring as an inductee into the District 544 Athletic Hall of Fame.

Henkes was unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons, but his daughter Nancy accepted the honor in his behalf.

“Nancy and two of my others daughters, Laurie and Mary, live here in Staples. They’re all in the health field and that’s why we’re here,” said Henkes on Monday, June 2. “I’ve received a lot of awards over the years, but this latest one by District 544 tops the list.”

The only thing he appreciates more than athletics is his family. He and his wife, Bette, also keep in close contact with daughters Ann, Maple Grove, and Karen, Chicago. They have 10 grandchildren and soon will become great-grandparents.

Long-time sports fans recall Henkes as a star Otter athlete, collegiate athlete at Bemidji State and coach at Wheaton High School.

Henkes, a 1950 graduate of FFHS, began his varsity football career as a freshman quarterback for the Otters. After his playing days at Bemidji State, he was offered a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. His football career ended due to injury the first week of pro football training camp.

During his high school days Henkes , in addition to football, also participated in basketball, baseball and track.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Henkes was all-conference in football at Bemidji State and college MVP in 1954. He also participated in basketball and track at BSU. In 1981 Henkes was inducted into the Bemidji State Athletic Hall of Fame.

His first job as teacher and coach was at Nome, N.D., near Valley City, in 1954-55.

“The best athletes I ever had were at Nome,” he said. “We didn’t have a football program, but we did have basketball, track and baseball. We were 32-2 in basketball my first year and, the following year, we lost only one basketball game. That came in the 1956 Class B finals.”

His next stop was teacher and coach in Battle Lake followed by teacher, coach and athletic director in Wheaton. In the 1950s and 1960s Wheaton, with several farms and many strong farmboys, completed in the Resort Region Conference with bigger schools such as Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes and Alexandria. Breckenridge also was a member.

“The Resort Region was one of the best conferences in Minnesota,” said Henkes.

Those were the glory years for Henkes. In 1964 Wheaton won the conference football championship and Henkes later was named Minnesota Football Coach of the Year.

In town baseball Jim played for Bemidji, Red Lake Falls, Bagley and Battle Lake. Baseball was among his favorite sports. He was Otter MVP in baseball and in 1950 Henkes received the Mel Olson Award in American Legion baseball.

Henkes retired from coaching in 1974 and as Wheaton's athletic director in 1979.

In 1983 he was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

In Wheaton he coached with former Fergus Falls Otter George Sawyer — longtime baseball mentor for the Wheaton Warriors.

“George stops here in Staples from time to time, after seeing his grandchildren play sports in this area,” Henkes said. “It’s good to keep in touch with George and others from Fergus. I have a lot of friends and some great memories.”

Tom Hintgen’s column runs on Mondays.