| ROGER BANWART |
Even though it has been 50 years, Roger and I have remained in contact and stayed friends. Roger, Richard
Magarian and I lived together at the Casa Del Sol, a brand new apartment. Much of my memory of our days there
has gone, but I do remember a few things. Roger was from Mankato, Minnesota and this is where he returned after
our year at A&M. The three of us were taking most of the same courses and we often went out to eat, played golf
and handball together, studied, or just had fun together. Roger was the studious one, while Richard and I were the
academic pluggers. Roger had the bedroom by himself and Richard and I shared the other one. Besides the
bedrooms, we had a kitchen, living room and bath. The laundry room was found conveniently next door..
Roger taught me how to play Hand Ball, which I had never played before and have only played a few times since. I
did play my friend Royce Shelton and beat him....one of the few things I was ever able to outdo him.. A&M had some
great hand ball courts and hand ball is a terrific exercise.
Our AYI group convened on Fridays for our luncheon and weekly updates. This is where Roger and I would smoke
our cigars. I think it may have been nearly 50 years since I have smoked one.
Roger and I have exchanged Christmas cards over the years and even gifts. Several years ago, one Roger's
fellow Mankato football coaches visited in Houston for the summer. I met him at OLD TOWN SPRING and had lunch. I
gave him a 'How to Talk Texan" book and later Roger sent me a Mankato tee shirt. Recently Roger sent me a picture
showing he and his Grandson with a Turkey kill.
Magarian and I lived together at the Casa Del Sol, a brand new apartment. Much of my memory of our days there
has gone, but I do remember a few things. Roger was from Mankato, Minnesota and this is where he returned after
our year at A&M. The three of us were taking most of the same courses and we often went out to eat, played golf
and handball together, studied, or just had fun together. Roger was the studious one, while Richard and I were the
academic pluggers. Roger had the bedroom by himself and Richard and I shared the other one. Besides the
bedrooms, we had a kitchen, living room and bath. The laundry room was found conveniently next door..
Roger taught me how to play Hand Ball, which I had never played before and have only played a few times since. I
did play my friend Royce Shelton and beat him....one of the few things I was ever able to outdo him.. A&M had some
great hand ball courts and hand ball is a terrific exercise.
Our AYI group convened on Fridays for our luncheon and weekly updates. This is where Roger and I would smoke
our cigars. I think it may have been nearly 50 years since I have smoked one.
Roger and I have exchanged Christmas cards over the years and even gifts. Several years ago, one Roger's
fellow Mankato football coaches visited in Houston for the summer. I met him at OLD TOWN SPRING and had lunch. I
gave him a 'How to Talk Texan" book and later Roger sent me a Mankato tee shirt. Recently Roger sent me a picture
showing he and his Grandson with a Turkey kill.
Roger and his Grandson with their Turkey kill. I
think they were Bow hunting.
think they were Bow hunting.
On a different hunt with a gun
He said the big one got away!!
Looks like Roger is
enjoying his retirement!!
enjoying his retirement!!
| 50 + years of great friendship. Thanks, Roger. |
A picture of Roger
the day we all
arrived at Texas
A&M, Aug. '66
the day we all
arrived at Texas
A&M, Aug. '66