Let me share with you my four Westrum brothers.

Lyle Westrum graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1939. He played football and golf in high school and hockey outside of high school, as we didn’t have high school hockey until 1963. Lyle was 5 feet 11 inches and 200 pounds and played tailback in the single wing. He was fast for a big guy. According to a former player from Owatonna, Lyle was like tackling a manhole cover rolling down a hill, and that he would rather run over you than go around you. I was told that he was just as good a high school player as Bruce Smith was.

Bruce Smith was from Faribault, and at the University of Minnesota, he won the Heisman Trophy. Lyle was a better-than-average golfer and ended up a club pro. In hockey he was rough and tumble. A former player from North Mankato said Lyle would rather check you or skate over you as he looked at you. I guess he had a mean streak

Bud graduated in 1941. He played football and golf in high school, and hockey on the town team known as the Packers, sponsored by Wilson & Co. Bud was a better skater than Lyle, and was real good with the stick.

Bill graduated in 1947. He played golf in high school and played hockey for the Packers and freshman hockey at the University of Minnesota. Bill received a knee injury that ended his hockey days and slowed his golfing.

Clayton, better known as Bumper, was by far the best athlete of the four brothers. No matter what he did, it was hard to beat him. He graduated in 1952. Bumper played high school golf, football and basketball. In football he was mostly a kicker but could kick with either foot — right foot to kick off and the extra points and left foot to punt. By punting with his left foot, the spiral was spinning the opposite direction as a right-footed kicker and was difficult to catch. In basketball he could shoot with either hand. It made it hard to guard him.

After high school he played one year of pro basketball with the Detroit Vagabonds. They were a traveling team and played many games against the Globetrotters. In one game, Bumper took the ball away from a Trotter; and the Trotter said, “Don’t do that, kid. Let us do our thing.” In golf he was a two-time high school state champion. In 1952 the Albert Lea High School team won the state title, and Bumper was the medalist. Many people I talked to feel that Bumper was the best all-around athlete to come out of Albert Lea. I agree.

It was great having these four guys for brothers. I also was lucky enough to have two sisters!

I wanted to be the best athlete but fell short. That’s life.

There were seven kids in our family. I was the youngest, so my dad called me the caboose.

 

Butch Westrum

Albert Lea