A special good-bye to Bill Bolen

October 3, 2022 admin X-COUNTRY 0

Bill Bolen, far left, on the old west football field in the fall of 1953 along with his backfield made up of Beebe, McCoy and the speedy Jimmy Fisk.

By Al Rabenold

Montezuma lost a great one last week. 

I never saw the late Bill Bolen play, but I heard numerous stories about his feats at MHS and later at Drake University in the ‘50s. 

I always enjoyed listening to Bill talk about Montezuma’s outstanding athletes from the past. 

Bill Bolen as a Drake Bulldog.

As a high school basketball coach, I tried to “pick his brain” and get his feel for what we were doing and how we could get better. 

I would visit him in his office at Peoples Savings Bank.  Bill was honest with me and told me exactly how he saw it. 

Early in the basketball season I would invite him to our practices or scrimmages to “scout” us. 

Bill was a loyal supporter of the Montezuma community and our school. 

I was a better coach because of Bill. 

I am going to miss him. R.I.P. Bill Bolen.