90 years after the death of a college football legend, a special ceremony in Cottonwood Falls Saturday allowed friends, family and local residents to remember the legacy and life of Knute Rockne.
The special memorial service, organized by the Knute Rockne Memorial Society of Kansas, featured a look back at Rockne’s legacy as both a player and coach who revolutionized the sport of football. The days events included a video tribute and several speeches from members of the Rockne family, family friends and a keynote speech from Kansas City Star Sports Journalist Blair Kerkhoff.
Kerkhoff says that as great of a player and coach Rockne was, he was also a great human being.
In attendance were Rockne’s grandsons Nils and Knute III. Nils says Saturday’s ceremony was extremely “humbling.”
Knute III says he and his family are honored and often in awe of the respect shown for Rockne’s legacy and impacts nearly a century after his passing.
He went on to say that it is important for people to remember not only everything his grandfather did to revolutionize football but also for them to remember the man behind the legend.
A memorial to Rockne is on display at the Matfield Green service area in Chase County and features a sculpture of Rockne created by world-famous sculptor Jerry McKenna. McKenna was in attendance Saturday and says his life was intertwined with Rockne’s legacy well before he created the sculpture of his likeness.
Rockne, along with seven others, perished in a plane crash on Mar. 31, 1931 in Chase County.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}040321 Knute Rockne 90 year Memorial Service{/gallery}
