Monday Morning Quarterbacking

Who couldn't agree that one of the best images of yesterday's Super Bowl came at the end when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees held up his adorable little son while colorful confetti floated all around them?

It was a celebration to behold, and the father-son snapshots made it all the more touching.

At our house, it was also touching to watch Bill, within seconds of the game's ending, quietly rise from his rocking chair, head for the desk and find his twin sister's telephone number.

"Who Dat gonna beat Dem Saints?" he soon said to Margaret. We all watched quietly, knowing this was a profound moment in both of their lives.

They talked over the game for a few minutes. Then, Bill came back, reporting that they had chuckled over the fact that they were 17 when the Saints started their franchise (officially on All-Saints Day, Nov. 1, 1966 and first season in 1967) and just shy of 60 when they finally won a Super Bowl.

As is typical, Bill's responses during the game were measured throughout. His only assessment of any finality came about third quarter when he said, "Well, I was glad they made it to the Super Bowl. Then, I worried that people would say they didn't deserve it, but they've played well against the Colts."

He would not allow himself one second of slack, however, in celebrating victory until Drew Brees looked at the clock with just seconds remaining and started walking off the field.

It was a great game, and we're very happy for the Saints and for the city of New Orleans. Every once in a while it's nice and so refreshing to follow a huge national news event with a happy ending. Yesterday's Super Bowl provided the venue for many triumphs after some tough times.

And, for Monday morning quarterbacking, I'd say both quarterbacks yesterday were superb. After all, they set a Super Bowl record for most passes completed in a game.

Plus, fans across the country were treated to a well-played, exciting contest. And, the Manning family can't be complaining this morning cuz they've all been associated with Super Bowl winners now. Dad Archie just had to wait a while.

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Speaking of football heroes, my friend Billie Jean Plaster asked me to put some information about her father-in-law's funeral service, (scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m. at First Christian Church) on my blog in hopes of reaching as many people as possible who knew Leonard.

So, I'll include the entire obituary. Leonard distinguished himself as a local football hero back in the early 1950s, and his life story is definitely worth sharing.

Leonard Plaster, 77

A Sandpoint resident for more than 70 years, Leonard Eule Plaster, 77, passed away Feb. 4, 2010, at Kootenai Medical Center from heart failure. In the two days that he was in the hospital, he was visited by numerous family members and friends. When he passed, his children were at his side.

He was born in Gillette, Wyo., on Nov. 13, 1932, to Oren and Marguerite Plaster, sheep ranchers who moved to Sandpoint in 1936 during the Great Depression. They settled in Dover where they raised a large family, totaling 10 children.

As a child, Leonard milked cows for neighbors for 25 cents a week. That was how he developed strong hands; he was known for his vise-grip handshake. As a teenager, he worked odd jobs from logging for Diamond Lumber to construction of the Cabinet Gorge Dam.

He attended Sandpoint High School where he was a four-year letterman in football – in his freshman and sophomore years as a guard, and as a junior and senior at halfback and linebacker.

He was selected as one of the two top guards in the Inland Empire and Panhandle League. In his junior year he was chosen as the Second Team High School All American. He also lettered three years in track and played basketball.

Leonard was inducted into the Sandpoint Bulldogs Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, where he wrote about his special memories: “My sophomore year we beat Coeur d’Alene for the first time in 13 years. We beat them 13-0 at Coeur d’Alene. In the first series of the game, Frank Kom, the other guard, and I made a deal with Coach Barlow that we would run a quarterback sneak until Coeur d’Alene stopped us. We did that play over and over and took the ball down the length of the field and scored.”

Following high school, in 1953, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War, ending up as a corporal. He earned four medals and was honorably discharged in 1956.

He married Ileene Hagemann Aug. 9, 1957, raised a family of six children and worked as a logger in Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Oregon and Washington. He operated dozers and built many forest roads, including working for Russell Oliver on Schweitzer Mountain Road. In 2002, he was selected by the North Idaho Timberfest Committee as the Bull of the Woods.

Some of his happiest moments were coaching junior tackle football and watching his sons and grandsons play football. He made a habit of nicknaming everyone he came across and, especially, giving waitresses a hard time, which was his way of showing affection.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oren and Marguerite; brothers David, Jack and Mike; sisters Shirley, Juanita (Bonnie), Evelyn and Patricia; grandson Travis Carter; and granddaughter Amy Plaster. He is survived by his sisters Vivian (Bud) Willford and Elaine (Chris) Vardas; his children, Debra (Randy) Williams, Donna Plaster, Diana (Jimmy) Shaw, Mark (Billie Jean) Plaster, Christina Buck and Eric (Amy) Plaster; grandchildren Jessica Townsend, Darcy Plaster, Mark Plaster, Corey Stevens, Emily Verwolf, Andrew Verwolf, Ashley Gleason, Kenna Pfel, Luke Plaster, Auja Plaster, Chloe Plaster, Sydnie Plaster, Sean Buck and Alexandria Buck; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held at Coffelt Funeral Service Monday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services will be held at First Christian Church, 201 N. Division in Sandpoint, Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m., followed by burial at Pinecrest Memorial Park with military honors.

Pastor Ben Ortize of Grace Sandpoint will officiate. Afterwards a no-host reception will be held at Mitzy’s Lounge at 5th Avenue. The family requests donations be made to a memorial fund set up for Leonard Plaster at Panhandle State Bank.