BY LEE BONORDEN

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.

Richard “Dick: Kelly’s latest short-film is a sure classic.

He has captured on film some of the excitement surrounding the twin 1958 Minnesota state boys basketball championships won by the Pacelli Shamrocks and the Austin Packers.

Imagine that: State champion crowns worn by the “Catholic” high school and the public high school in the same year.

Who would have thunk it could happen?

Coach Mart Crowe and the short, but quick Shamrocks.

Coach Oven Berven and his tall Packers squad.

Separated by a street, joined by a rich tradition of excellence on the hardcourt.

This marks the golden anniversary of that magical 1958 season. It’s also Minnesota’s sesquicentennial.

Kelly, a retired U.S. Postal Service mail carrier has captured on film the year 2 basketball teams from the same town decided to make history.

“Since 1946, I have been filming people, places and things,” Kelly explained. “Two of my best films — Reflections on the Cedar, which is the story of the Milwaukee Railroad and the Hormel Foods Corporation and now the 50th anniversary of the 1958 basketball champions, the Pacelli Shamrocks and the Austin packers — have both been put on DVDs for others to see.”

“I want to share those historical moments with all of Austin and Mower County; especially the schools, churches and all who would enjoy a historical memory,” Kelly said.

The amateur filmmaker sent a copy of his latest short-film to the Minnesota State Historical Society, where it enjoys a place in the organization’s archives with his Reflections classic from 2006, the year Austin celebrated its own sesquicentennial.

In the last 20 years, Kelly has visited every nursing home in Mower County to show his films and made “little speeches” on Austin history.

He does it not for profit or glory; but to keep memories alive.

“It’s been so rewarding to me when people come up to me after showing a film and people say ‘Gee, I remember that …..Oh, my, that’s gone now. What a wonderful memory you’ve brought us’.”

Dick and Charlene Kelly live in a conformable apartment at the Chauncey Apartments.

He is one of 5 sons (3 are still living), all World War II veterans, who were sons of legendary Milwaukee Road railroad man, Roy Kelly.

Film-making started as a family venture. He has films of the couple’s 4 sons’ first steps through their 35th birthdays.

He even inserted footage of 3 of them — Jeff, Brian and Tom (Mike was not yet born at the time) — enjoying ice cream cones at Klagge’s Ice Cream Shop with their grandfather, Roy, after a 1958 parade through Austin by the 2 winning high school basketball teams.

John Deyo of ViDeyo Arts assisted in editing the film and providing music for the film’s score.

Kelly assembled the footage, using still photographs and video the compile his homage to the magical 1958 basketball season.

How special was it?

When Grant M. “Jerry” Goodwin died recently, his survivors noted the accomplishments of the man’s life. “H attended Austin High School and he was a member of the state champion basketball team in 1958.” his obituary observed.

Starter, substitute, finisher, bench-warmer …… just being there in 1958 was enough to link anyone with glory.

Orrie Girlie played for the Pacelli Shamrocks across 4th Street Northwest from the “house that Ove Berven built” was located.

Jirele went on to play for St. Bonaventure in the Big East Conference and returned home for a distinguished career teaching and coaching.

“We all loved basketball at the time,” he said. “I remember our state tournament was in February and when the Packers went to the state tournament I was there in WIlliams Arena, setting in the rafters, watching them win one, too,” he said.”

“Everybody had their role on our team and that’s why we were successful. We knew what we had to do to win and we did it,” Jirele said.

There were basketball miracles wrapped around the twin state championship miracles.

Pacelli defeated West Des Moines (Iowa) Dowling Catholic High School in a non-conference game to start the season.

Dowling was the 1957 Iowa Catholic schools state champion.

Because of fan interest, the Shamrocks game was moved to AHS’s gymnasium where over 3,000 fans crowded into the gym to see the Shamrocks win.

Meanwhile, Coach Berven prepared his Packers with a trip to Watertown, S.D. and a test against the powerful South Dakota team.

How did Kelly learn of the magical 1958 season?

“We were living in South Dakota at the time and one Saturday night I was listening to the radio,” Kelly recalled. “We were in Huron, South Dakota when low and behold I came across a basketball game and it was the Austin Packers from Austin, Minnesota playing the Watertown High School boys team.”

“It was really a delight and an exciting game. Ove Berven was the coach and, many people don’t know, this but the Packers lost that game.”

According to Kelly, Coach Berven said after the game, “Now, we’re going to go home and find out just how good we are. We’re going to find out if we can be a winning team.”

They did just that. The final tournaments games were close contest decided with buzzer-beaters, comebacks and other heroics.

Pacelli’s Shamrocks defeated Winona Cotter, the Packers.

There is pep band music in the background as the screen flashes to life.

Kelly’s voice is heard narrating the film, which has been seen by 2 members of the 1958 team: Larry Scheid and Steve Lickteig.

The film is full of trivia long forgotten after a half century.

The Shamrocks championship contest took place on a Sunday afternoon in the old St. Paul Auditorium.

A truly classic sportsmanship picture shows the Shamrocks and the Packers posing together and forming a V for victory.

Jirele was the MVP of the Shamrocks’ state championship team 50 years ago.

The Packers’ title game attracted 18,500 fans on a Saturday night 3 weeks after the Pacelli title game.

Both teams were honored at a city-wide parade and banquet.

The 1958 state championship was Coach Berven’s second.

The film’s 11 minutes go by too fast to appreciate the significance of the twin state championships, but slow enough to whet basketball fans’ and nostalgia buffs appetites for more memories.

“I don’t do this for me. I do this for others. For history. I just want to share it with as many people as possible,” Kelly said. “It’s a labor of tremendous love.”

For more information about the latest film, call Kelly at 507 434-4780.