Bomber Man

"Oh when the Bomber Man goes down the field, he is the perfect Joe from head to toe. He's got that style, that smile, that winning way. No matter where you go you'll recognize him and you'll say, "Now there's a man I'd like to know. He's got that Bomber spirit, pep and go", and when you look at him, it's quite a treat, you cannot beat, a Bomber Man!" ~ MHHS Fight Song

It was a great weekend celebrating my Dad's induction into the MHHS Athletic Hall of Honor. He was recognized for his accomplishments as a player and also as a coach. It's been awhile since he's been either of those things, and the honor meant so much, as people recognized his history with our school.

 

 

 

Two articles from The Baxter Bulletin:

 

 

 

Born in Kansas, John Boogaart moved to Mountain Home in 1957 during his freshman year of high school. He went on to compete in four sports, a rarity at the time.
“His induction is interesting, because he’s going in as a player and a coach,” Wood said. “He was a four-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, baseball and track. I believe basketball was his best sport, making All-District. It was very difficult to be a four-sport athlete. He was very successful in all four.”
His senior football season, the Bombers were undefeated and Boogaart was named to the All-District Team. The baseball team went to the state tournament each season and were state runner-up his junior year.
Boogaart was an All-District player in basketball and competed in sprint events, relays and field events in track. He held the school high jump record for several years.
After being named Mountain Home’s Outstanding Athlete upon graduation, Boogaart attended the University of Arkansas. In 1967, Boogaart was hired as the head junior high boys’ basketball coach and served as an assistant football coach and track coach.
“From a coaching standpoint, the players who played for him — like Dave Plumlee — remember him as a player’s coach,’ said Wood. “In fact, he was known at one time for having 37 boys on his junior high basketball team.
“The stories I heard about him, he used to two-platoon a lot. He would play five (kids), then five more and five more. He had a way to keep a lot of young men involved in sports,” she added. “It was more about the kid and character, and participation, more so than winning. That’s what players remember most about coach Boogaart.”

Article #2:

 

       

John Boogaart speaks during his induction into the Mountain Home High School Athletic Hall of Honor Saturday at Mountain Home High School. Boogaart was inducted as a player and coach at the school. / Sonny Elliott/The Baxter Bulletin

  

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Leslie (Marler) Henderson speaks during her induction into the Mountain Home Athletic Hall of Honor Saturday at Mountain Home High School. / Sonny Elliott/The Baxter Bulletin

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Don Webb laughs during his speech at the Mountain Home Athletic Hall of Honor Saturday at Mountain Home High School. Webb was inducted for his successful coaching career at the school. / Sonny Elliott/The Baxter Bulletin

The Mountain Home High School Athletic Hall of Honor added four new members Saturday afternoon at Mountain Home High School.

 

Former Lady Bomber basketball/track standout Leslie (Marler) Henderson, Bomber standouts Danny Keeter and John Boogaart and longtime head baseball coach Don Webb comprised the 2013 class.

All recounted memories of their time at the school, sharing laughs and anecdotes throughout the afternoon.

Boogaart served as the junior high basketball coach from 1967 to 1975 and now works as a Realtor in Mountain Home. He was a four-sport athlete at Mountain Home, playing baseball, football, basketball and track and field....