Here is his obituary:
Francis Xavier Boggess, the son of Les and Mary (Nolan)Boggess was born February 22, 1920, in Estherville, Iowa.Francis passed away Friday, October 19, 2012 at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, Iowa at age 92.
He attended Estherville High School graduating in 1937. He then attended Estherville Junior College 1938 - 1939. Francisserved in U.S. Air Corp - 1942 - 1946 as a Radio Operator and was discharged as Corporal.
Returning home from service, he worked at the Estherville Ready Mix and was part of the Surveyors crew for the State Highway Commission.
He enrolled at Drake University in 1949 majoring in Education where he received three degrees; Bachelors in 1950, Masters in 1954 and EDS in 1966. He also attended summer school sessions at Colorado State, University of Cincinnati and University of Minnesota.
Francis began teaching English and Business Subjects in Kensett High School in 1951 where he coached both boys and girls varsity basketball. He became Principal of Kensett High School in 1954. He served as Junior High Principal for 15 years at Northwood-Kensett before becoming High School Principal in 1981 until his retirement in 1992. Francis started the girls basketball program at Northwood-Kensett High School and coached the girls there for 12 years. The Iowa High School Athletic Association awarded Francis for his contribution to High School Athletics
He was a member of National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Education Association; St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville; Knights of Columbus; American Legion and Elks Lodge.
Francis's interests included all sporting events but he especially enjoyed watching Notre Dame football and Drake basketball. He was an avid reader and loved working crossword puzzles. Francis enjoyed traveling both in the U.S. and Europe visiting Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany. He traveled with his best friend Robert Perkins, a fellow educator whom he met while they were both students at Drake.
Left to cherish Francis's memory are twenty-one nieces and nephews and many more grand-nieces and nephews..
Preceding Francis in death were his parents, Les and Mary; his two brothers, Nolan and Maurice and his sister, Virginia (Boggess) Johnson.
Chuck used to coach against him when Francis was head girls' BB coach at N-K and Chuck held the same position at Lake Mills. Francis would get so upset with his team that he would kick the bottom of the bleacher where he was seated. In fact he totally cracked it! He and Chuck had a lot of good joshing around over the years. One of the summers he was going to school in Colorado he hired me to type one of his papers...he was my typing teacher in 8th grade and I must have impressed him with my nimble fingers! Funny the things you remember. He was a quirky guy with a quirkier sense of humor. RIP, Francis! Janis H.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about Mr. Boggess. Yes, you are right, Janis about Mr. Boggess being a quirky guy and having a quirker sense of humor. One of his favorite sayings was "Up Yours." I worked in the high school cafeteria when he was principal. He loved coming up behind us and scaring us. He was good at getting to the bottom of problems. My son Michael, when he was a freshman, was picked on by an upper classmate. Mr. Boggess had both boys in his office and solved the problem. He said,"they will never be friends, but the bullying will end." He was not a kind teacher to students who did not grasp algebra as my husband states, he belittled students who didn't get it. Also he got away with being too forward with the high school girls, according to my daughter, Bethanie. Anyway, I will also say RIP, Francis!
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