Boyer going strong at 93

CEDAR RAPIDS - Don Boyer's competitive nature took shape when he was a senior captain of his high school basketball team in Newman, Ill.

That was in 1936. You know, the year Franklin Delano Roosevelt was still in his first term as president of the United States, "Gone With The Wind" was published, track star Jesse Owens excelled in the Munich Summer Olympics and Joe DiMaggio debuted as a New York Yankee.

At the grand age of 93, Boyer still has that competitive fire as the oldest pitcher in the 2010 National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World tournament at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. He is participating in the elders division, which opened play Monday and concludes Wednesday afternoon before the finals at the end of this week.

As the years have progressed, his love for sports has remained constant.

“I enjoy all athletics,” said Boyer, of Martinsville, Ill., “and competition of any kind really,”

Boyer began pitching horseshoes about 30 years ago, learning to play in Florida from fellow snowbirds and good friends from Indiana. Many of the aspects surrounding the sport make it a perfect fit for Boyer.

“No.1 is the exercise, No. 2 is the sociability and the friendships associated with it, and then the competition of trying to win," Boyer said. "You have to have a goal, you know, but, win, lose or draw, I enjoy all of it.”

Physically, Boyer isn't bothered by the stress that can come with throwing about two-pound horseshoes 30 feet for about two hours. He's kept his body in good condition.

“I've been very fortunate that I have never in my life have had any major physical problems,” said Boyer, whose mother lived to be 100.

Boyer's personality seems to win others over as much as his ability to pitch in his 90's. Bill Marvin, a pitcher from Springfield, Ill., who was the 2009 world tournament host director, called Boyer an inspiration.

"Not only the fact that he's 93 and still throwing. That's just part of it," Marvin said. "The other part is his demeanor. He's just a gentleman."

Boyer, who donned a bright orange Fightin' Illini hat to the tournament Tuesday, graduated from the University of Illinois. He recalled teaching for a year in Martinsville before being called to serve in World War II. He was a member of the National Guard Field Artillery in France, Germany and Italy. After the service, he returned to Martinsville, resuming his position as a high school agriculture teacher until his retirement in 1972.

Even after retiring from education, Boyer didn't slow taking a job with the Illinois Crop Improvement Association as a seed inspector. He held that position until he was 90.

“I walked fields, checking herbicide field dealers," Boyer said. "I did that for 25 years. That did keep me pretty occupied."

Byron Boyer, the youngest of Boyer's three sons, is attending the tournament with his father. He said the seed inspector job helped his father remain active and fit.

“One thing that kept him young is the part-time work,” said Byron Boyer, 60, of Charleston, Ill. “I tell everybody that he's healthier than I am,”

NHPA President Stuart Sipma chuckles when he recalls how Boyer describes the competition.

"He told me one day, 'I'm out there playing with all these kids," Sipma said. "He's talking about the 70 and 80-year-olds."

Boyer, who attended his first world tournament last year in Springfield, Ill., is throwing from 30 feet for the first time this year. He pitched from the 40-foot distance, which is the standard distance for men 19 to 69, even though he could have moved up once he turned 70. It makes his feat more impressive.

"Seventy-eight on up is really amazing. Typically, that's when it gets a little more challenging," Sipma said. "To have a guy come out there and pitch at 93 years old is just awesome."

Boyer, who is one of nine children and the oldest of four siblings still living, is the only one in his family that is serious about horseshoes. His sons, Joe, Larry and Byron, didn't pick up the game, but they support their father. In addition to Byron, Larry Boyer, 67, attended the tournament with one of Boyer's grandsons, who is 40. It means a lot to Boyer to have them there.

“That's fine,” Boyer said. “I appreciate it.”

That doesn't stop Boyer from getting his family involved in the sport. During the annual family reunion, Boyer still organizes a little competition.

“One neat thing is we have a picnic for his side of the family,” Byron Boyer said. “He sets up a family horseshoe tournament.”

He doesn't seem to be packing up his horseshoes, yet. Even though he has declined to travel long distances for the event, he's considering plans to make it to Monroe, La., to compete in his third world tournament next year. He would be 94.

“As long as my health's good and one of my three sons cooperates with me to help, I might go to Louisiana next year,” Boyer said.