There was a warm welcome at the Bottorff home, and it started with a special story about the "Days of Tyner". Sitting down to get this story began with Joe saying "Let's start with basketball"! So we did.
Joe began to officially pursue his passion of basketball during his 7th grade year at Tyner School. During that season, his 7th grade team scrimmaged against Tyner's 8th grade team.
Final score:
Tyner 8th grade - 12
Tyner 7th grade -2*
*Joe scored those 2 points
And so began Joe's lifelong journey of dedication and devotion to be the absolute best he could be at basketball... and st life. Joe collected pictures and articles of his, and his teammates' accomplishments, and kept them in scrapbooks in hopes of inspiring the next generations. The scrapbooks are remarkable!
Joe recounted that he had scored 1,005 points for the Tyner Redmen in his basketball career, including 3 years on the varsity squad. He was pretty sure that he is still ranked #10 in overall points, mentioning that Bruce Dayhuff is probably still in the #1 spot.
At Tyner, Joe wore #33! Joe was a highly successful shooter! He verbally replayed the basketball game of 'THS vs Plymouth High School in 1953'. It was Joe's Senior year. At half time, THS was ahead by 4 pts. Joe replayed the half time excitement felt in the locker room! Plymouth won by only 4 points! A rare HS occasion for THS to this day.
Joe spearheaded the exciting win for the Tyner Redmen in the 1952-53, 4-Way Holiday Tournament, hosted by West High School. The teams included in the tournament were: West High School, Grovertown High School, Aubbeenaubbee/Culver High School and Tyner High School. The final of the tournament pitted Tyner against Aubbeenaubbee. From the opening buzzer, Joe dominated the floor scoring the first 11 points, most of them coming from near half court. Joe finished the game as the tournament's top scorer with 27 points. WE WON ! GO REDMEN! Joe accepted the tournament trophy from this Holiday Tournament. Thank you, Joe! The local newspaper reported the entire event, and the article was kept for Joe's scrapbook.
After graduation, Joe followed his love of organized basketball with a local Independent Youth Basketball League. His volunteer team called themselves the Tyner Independents, just for fun. However, the momentum of winning was still there!
Next, Joe told about joining the Army. Joe's military physical was on his birthday at the age of 21, in 1956.
Joe served two year active and 4 years reserve. As a new recruit, and after completing basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Joe was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. Joe's company Sergeant asked the recruits, "Who here can type?" Joe ha Miss Hission for typing in high school and was confident in raising his hand. He, along two other fellows, were the only ones who raised their hands. Joe said their orders were to report to KP right away.LOL
Miss Hission's teaching skills paid off. Joe was chosen to type for the Captain. Part of his duties were to type the complete schedule roster for the men in his unit. The schedule was for 6 A.M. to 6P.M. everyday. Joe's Sergeant emphasized, "NO MISTAKES - NONE", and no way to make corrections except to start over. Joe couldn't remember exactly how many words a minute he typed. Sally, Joe's wife, said it was something like 65 to 70 wpm without mistakes. It was interesting that Joe also made copies, as part of his duties, on a Ditto Machine. We all just know Tyner's Miss Hission was proud of Joe. Joe and Sally became close friends with Miss Hission right up until she passed.
Continuing with basketball seemed to be Joe's path because the Army had a basketball team at Ft. Bliss. Joe tried out for the team and he made the cut! Our Tyner guy, still a skilled team player, was part of the winning team for their company! Their team picked up the nickname "The Famous 10" - Real winners on base.
Back in Tyner, Joe met his wife-to-be, Sally Lemert Bottorff, when she came to Tyner from Teegarden School, in the 8th grade. Her brother, Larry Lemert, was friends with Joe and loved basketball, also. Sally and Joe dated until Joe left the service. They had talked it over and decided to take a break while he was gone. However, while Joe was on active duty in Texas, Sally wrote Joe every single day!
Joe do you still have those letters?
Married for 67 years. They have two daughters, Cheri, Terri, and a son Berry. They also have 3 grandchildren, and a new great grandson.
Joe told of his early years living on 6th road with his parents and sister, Marlene Bottorff Swank. They lived about a mile from Tyner. Joe's dad, Glenn Bottorff, graduated from Tyner in 1919. Glenn received his teaching degree from the Indiana State Superintendent and Manchester College. He then taught Teegarden School from 1928 to 1932.
Glenn became bed ridden when Joe was about 10 years old. To make ends meet, Joe's mother sold eggs, gardened, butchered chickens and they all helped to milk cows. During the two years that Joe's dad was bed ridden, he had weekly visits from Doctor Thompson. Dr. Thompson showed up one day and told Joe's parents there was a new medication he'd like to try on Joe's dad."It is expense", said Doc Thompson, "but when you're well and back to work, you can pay me back." IT worked! Joe's dad got up from bed and went back to making a living working for the county. The miracle drug was penicillin!
Joe's mom came from Missouri and traveled to Tyner by covered wagon through the streets of St. Louis. She told her family that the streets were dirt at that time.
Joe was able to retire early from Farm Bureau Insurance at the age of 56 after serving 26 years with Farm Bureau. His career as a Field Underwriter for the N.W.Division of Indiana allowed him to retire early and draw a pension.
The Bottorff's bought a place in Minong, Wisconsin and spent 40 summers there. Soon after, many of Joe's family members and friends moved to the area as neighbors to join in for summer fun.
Joe spent 25 winters as part of the "Tyner Group" at Avon Park, FL. Joe competed every year in the Annual Avon Park Basketball Hoop Shooting Contest. They called it the 6 position shots - 5 shots at each position. A total perfect score is 30. His skills remained and he took 1st prize many times. Joe's high score was 27 points. In Avon Park that's a record. His nickname there was "Tyner Joe".
Joe continued in basketball leagues after graduated from THS starting out with his home church - Blissville Church. They called their team the "Independent Tyner Guys" for fun.
One of the things that Joe treasures is the close friendship he had with Hal Muncie.
The short list of Joe's community involvement:
Captain of THS Basketball team Senior Year.
THS Hi-Y Club president.
Joe is a member of the Tyner United Methodist Church 40+ years.
Member of Tyner Odd Fellows 70 years. Still going strong 100+ members (Joe told the story of the 1st bus they made to fry fish. It was so hot in the bus - even with the windows down, that the temperature got up to 135°!)
Fireman for Polk Township ans was part of the original 1975.
56 year member of the North Liberty Masonic Lodge.
32nd degree member of the South Bend Valley Scottish Rite.
School Board member for the Polk Lincoln Johnson School District 8 years.
Member of the American Legion in Walkerton after his military service.