Just this past week on August 31, one of Cook County’s finest residents, Holly Nelson, passed away. Holly was one of the most humble, gracious, and selfless people that I have ever met. He was one of those rare people you meet who never had a bad word to say about anyone.
When I was a young boy, I remember going over to Nelson’s TV and Radio Repair when my dad needed something as I was always trying to get something, at the candy store. Later on, I remember looking at all the cool toys he would cram into his little Radio Shack over the holidays.
As I got older and started playing football at CCHS, I would always see Holly videotaping the football games with Walt Mianowski and Bob Spry. On Monday afternoons, they would come into practice and film the “Coach’s Show” with Lyle Anderson that they would air on PAC-13 (Grand Marais’ Public Access Channel on cable television) on Saturday mornings before the re-run of the high school football game the night before.
I would get out of bed on Saturday mornings in the fall just to watch the Coach’s Show and then review the game we had played the night before. Cable television was all we had then, as all of my teammates were doing the same thing at home on Saturday mornings.
During each taping of the Coach’s Show, Mr. Mianowski would interview the “Players of the Week.” On the few occasions that I received the “Player of the Week” award, Walt and Holly would always make me feel like a million bucks. They loved Cook County football, but more importantly, they both loved all the young men that were involved in the program.
Years later, I never would have imagined that I would be talking to Walt and Holly on Monday afternoons instead of Lyle Anderson who had done it for over 25 years. Theconversations were always centered on the team and the kids. What always impressed me most, however, was the fact that they had so much fun taping the games. Holly loved life and he loved to serve people.
Over the years, I have misplaced copies of games and I called on Holly numerous times to get copies. He never once failed to deliver. He met me at my house, at school; I met him at his house, etc. Holly was a true servant and great person. I am a better person for having known him.
As we had a moment of silence before our game this past Friday, I was thinking to myself, “I bet Holly just gets to watch the game from where he is now.”
May God bless him with front row seats!
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