Long-time coach back at the court after 60 years

Former St. Joseph's basketball coach Keith Kendall was recognized and applauded by Jays fans between varsity games last week Tuesday. [Click to enlarge]

It's been more than seven decades since Keith Kendall ran the court for Le Mars Community High School, and more than six since he coached at St. Joseph's School, but one thing remains the same.

"I just love the game," Kendall said.

The former St. Joseph's (now Gehlen) Catholic basketball coach got to take in plenty of the game he loves last week as he visited Le Mars with his son-in-law, Mark Pehrson.

Kendall and Pehrson attended Gehlen's games against Spalding Catholic on Tuesday and Le Mars Community's games against Western Christian and Sergeant Bluff-Luton over the weekend.

After taking in so many games, Kendall attested that over the years, not a whole lot has changed.

"It's a little faster," he said.

Besides that, he noticed that the guards have become more agile since his coaching days back in 1941-42 for St. Joe's.

"When we were coaching, only the people in the center were supposed to shoot, but now there are better shooters," he explained.

Even with these minor changes, basketball still remains the game he loves.

Kendall fell in love with the game as a student athlete at LCHS, where he graduated in 1938. From there, he attended Western Union (later Westmar) College where he earned a degree in education while he played basketball.

Beginning in 1940, Kendall put his degree to good use at St. Joe's, where he set a strong foundation for future generations of basketball by taking the boys to the state tournament - for the first time in school history - during his second year of coaching.

"It was really fun coaching," he said. "I loved the game and I loved coaching."

However, Kendall's time at St. Joe's was short-lived as he was drafted to the Air Force that state tournament year.

But in the Air Force, Kendall was still able to embrace his love.

"I played with all the teams in the Air Force," he said. "I always told people that my favorite sport was the one I was playing at the time."

While in the Air Force, Kendall found his other love, Aloha Rose Eastman.

The two were married at Le Mars' First Methodist Church in 1944 and moved to her hometown, Salt Lake City, Utah, where Kendall currently resides.

Kendall's visit to Le Mars last week was his second in the past few years - he also visited in 2007.

"This is my home," he said.

After a busy week of basketball and reminiscing in his hometown, Kendall returned to Salt Lake City - and potentially warmer weather - on Sunday.