The response to my column on Lyell Bremser was overwhelming on Thursday, and pretty cool. Including a note from Bremser’s granddaughter, Beth Morrissette, who told stories about meeting young Husker fans today who know who her grandfather was.
Another good thing: hearing the origin of Bremser’s signature phrase “Man, woman and child.”
A couple of readers knew the answer, but the best explanation came from Al Mackiewicz, Bremser’s son-in-law and a longtime member of the KFAB Nebraska radio crew. Mackiewicz told the story as he accepted Bremser’s being inducted into the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night at the Scott Center.
According to Mackiewicz, Bremser heard the phrase growing up in Dow City, Iowa, and hanging around his father’s grocery store. Apparently the phrase was a favorite of his uncle, who, when he got emotional, would blurt out, “Man, woman and child!” instead of swearing.
I love those kind of stories.
It was a great night at the Hall of Fame. The Bremser family was there. Creighton Prep had a huge showing for coach Tom Jaworski, including Brother Mike Wilmot. Former Millard North soccer star Kelly Lindsey was a delight. It was good to see former coach Red McManus there. And the appearance and short speech by Ron Stander, the “Council Bluffs Butcher,” stole the show.
It was a night that offered another reminder that we live in a very underrated sports town. It’s a great sports town, in its own way.
Now, about that lingerie football …
