HULLINGER: Runk Sr. was a Hoosier original

December 12, 2007 11:27 pm

— Some people describe Hoosiers as unique. We who were born and bred as Hoosiers readily understand that uniqueness covers a lot of territory including descriptions such as ingenious, savvy, loyal, honest, friendly, funny, likeable, engaging, hard-working and God-fearing. You know, the essentials in character building.
Family members and friends used those words to paint vivid pictures of the life of Joe Runk Sr. as they eulogized him during a true Celebration of Life at the recent funeral of the 65-year-old Kokomo native in Richmond, Va. These stories captured a humorous, personable Joe as well as his intense search for a relationship with his Maker. Joe would have been as proud of the recollections as he was of his Hoosier heritage.
Joe, surrounded by his close-knit family, died Dec. 4 at home after an agonizing two-year battle with cancer.
The Joe Runk Story is based on a desire to turn his Kokomo-learned football skills into greater opportunities which resulted in a flirtation with fame in the National Football League; interactions with famous people that many of us would only dream of; and more travel across this country than you can imagine. Bottom-line results are his Hoosier characteristics charmed and left a trail of Runk supporters at each stop, and a family that loved him ever bit as much as he loved them.
His career started on the playground at St. Joan of Arc School on Purdum Street near his home in the mid-1950s. As Joe tried to develop his pitching arm by throwing rocks at St. Joan buildings, a priest who Joe credited for influencing him greatly, asked him if he had ever considered kicking a football. Shortly thereafter, the priest provided Joe a football and elementary lessons. The rock-throwing stopped.
The next stop was a three-year stint with Bob Hamilton’s blockbuster football teams at Kokomo High School where Joe was a lineman and kicker.
Upon graduation in 1960, his educational interests took him to Purdue University where he earned a scholarship as a walk-on for his kicking ability. But feeling unsettled and unfulfilled, he quit the team and began the first of perhaps 30 moves across the country, now with his bride, Paula Black, at his side. Schoolmates in grades 1-8 at St. Joan, they married in 1962 and began an adventure lasting 45 years.
A bag of a dozen footballs was a constant companion of Joe’s, and whenever he could find someone to retrieve his booming spirals, he continued to practice. Finally, he entered a tryout the Dallas Cowboys were holding for kickers in Phoenix, with the winner guaranteed a contract. Joe was impressive, winning the event.
Although the promised contract never came, an early-morning phone call did. When Joe answered he heard: “Joe, this is Vince Lombardi, I’d like you to come play for the Packers.”
Joe handled preseason kicking duties for the Packers, and then was traded to the Buffalo Bills where O.J. Simpson was a teammate. After two years with the Bills and frustrated by lack of playing time and anxious to help raise his children, Joe decided to move on.
While there were many stops, another football-related job was as general manager and kicker for a Las Vegas semi-pro team. A group expressed an interest in purchasing the team and Joe was called to their offices — suspiciously accessed through a church. While friendly but firm in Mafia style, the negotiators made the purchase and Joe was happy to leave through the church.
After the first of two forays to Eugene, Ore., Joe’s life began to take another direction. While attending a conference, he responded to Pat Robertson’s call for a computer-skilled person to work at his Christian Broadcasting Network. Packing again, Joe, Paula and children Joey and Jennifer headed across country to settle in Virginia Beach, Va.
While Eugene appealed to Joe one more time it was short-lived and Joe returned to Virginia to work and guide his children’s activities. Joey was winning accolades in basketball camps and getting a lot of attention across basketball-rich Virginia. Meanwhile Joe was trying to convey to Joey how high school basketball was played in Indiana, how large the gyms were and the enthusiasm Friday night crowds brought. Joey went on to earn a scholarship at the University of Richmond and enjoyed a successful collegiate career.
During all of this, Kokomo — and Indiana — were never far from his mind. Whenever a Hoosier engaged him in conversation, Joe wanted to know details of Indiana high school basketball and who the prospects were, often already knowing the answers. A food of choice was breaded tenderloins and a return home was never complete without repeated samplings of his favorite food at Ray’s Drive-In, the Corner Pub or wherever tenderloins were served.
Joe’s Virginia license plate read “KOKOMO 1,” Paula’s reads “KOKOMO 2.” On the wall of Joe’s elaborate woodworking shop, he expertly crafted a sign saying “YE OLE HOOSIER WORKSHOP” with a caricature of himself at work. How appropriate.
Prior to doctors discovering cancer, Joe was the driving force to gather his eighth grade classmates at St. Joan as well as those at St. Patrick’s for a reunion. So last summer at Chippendale Clubhouse there was a gathering highlighted by Kokomo memories and much reminiscing.
And naturally — Joe was Master of Ceremonies.
Bob Hullinger was a sportswriter for the Kokomo Tribune from 1958-66 and is now president of Mier Products Inc., near Converse. He has been a Howard County resident since 1958.