Over the years, McCook has had many fine athletes. It is difficult to compare athletes from one era to another, and there really is no need to do so.

By any yardstick, Jerry Carpenter needs to be included in a select group of all time greats from McCook.

Jerry came along in the late '30s and early '40s, when McCook had a number of good teams, football, basketball, and track. Those were the days when Curtis, Oberlin and Culbertson were always strong opponents -- but North Platte was McCook's arch rival.

McCook usually prevailed against those smaller schools, but wins against North Platte were rare, either home or away. But there were exceptions.

Jerry was a standout performer for McCook in Class A High School competition in three sports, football, basketball, and track. But the summers were busy as well.

In addition to Legion Baseball in the '30s Softball very popular in this area, with teams made up of mostly men, and just a few boys. The McCook teams played area town teams, home and away games, the season climaxing with a number of area wide tournaments.

Jerry's finest moment in softball came in the prestigious Gazette -- Merchants Southwest Nebraska Softball tournament in 1938, competing against teams from McCook, Oxford and North Platte, before the largest crowds to ever witness a game at East Ball Park (Felling Field).

Carpenter was a sophomore in high school, playing for the McCook Fender Works, a team made up of mostly veteran players. In the championship game against Oxford, Jerry came up to bat in the ninth inning, with bases loaded, with two outs and his team trailing 3-1.

Manager Roy Karr stated later that he seriously considered replacing "Little Carp" for a batter with more experience, but at the last second changed his mind and decided to see what his youngster could do.

Carpenter quickly ran the count to 1 ball 2 strikes. On the next pitch he hit a high foul ball halfway down the first base line.

The Oxford catcher moved in for an easy catch, which would have ended the game. Instead, the ball hit his glove. He juggled it for a second, then watched it fall to the ground. Carpenter and McCook were still alive.

The Oxford fans were brimming with confidence. The McCook fans were on pins and needles. Jerry Carpenter was probably the only one in the East Ball Park who was calm. He pounded the next pitch over the fence in left field, to bring his team a 5-3 victory, and claim the Gazette Championship Trophy, with a team cash prize of $50.

As Manager Karr walked off the field he was heard to say, "Geez, and to think I was going to pinch hit for the kid!" That game provided a glimpse of Carpenter's future athletic prowess and competitive spirit

In football Jerry (nicknamed Little Carp, or Scab, or Scooter) was a regular for each of his three years of varsity competition, as a very versatile quarterback, playing for Coaches Bob Manley and Merle Confer. At 160 pounds, he was a shifty runner, an accurate passer, an elusive punt return man, the team's punter, and a stalwart in the defensive backfield.

He was a team leader, the ultimate team player. He once reprimanded his mother after hearing her tell a neighbor, "Jerry made a touchdown."

"Don't ever say that Mom, I couldn't do anything if every guy on our team didn't do his job. I carry the ball, but THE TEAM gets the touchdown."

Unassuming, he was also chosen as the most bashful boy in his class. He was selected to the Nebraska All State first team in 1939 and 1940.

But there was disappointment as a team. Although they beat arch-rival North Platte two out of three years, they also lost to both Curtis and Gothenburg twice.

Carpenter's exploits on the gridiron were many and he was a very consistent performer. The upset of North Platte in 1939 will illustrate: McCook had beaten North Platte just once since 1914 and entered this contest a decided underdog. Jerry figured in all four of McCook's touchdowns. He made a 40 yard run for a score on the 6th play of the game.

Again in the third quarter he slithered through the entire North Platte team for another touchdown.

He passed to Harold Sigwing for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter. In the fourth quarter, with just under 3 minutes remaining, North Platte took a 20- 19 lead over the Bison.

After the kickoff Carpenter teamed with another All-Stater, Bill Grant.

Operating from his 30-yard line Carpenter retreated to his own 20, then launched a 40-yard bomb to Grant, who took the pass in stride and outran the Bulldog secondary for the TD -- 25-20 McCook. North Platte mounted a furious comeback, but McCook, aided by two pass interceptions by Loren Nelson held on for the victory as time ran out.

In basketball, Carp-enter was again a steady performer and a team leader, beginning with his Sophomore season at McCook High. As a team, his Junior year, 1939 was their best season. McCook won 21 straight games, including a thrilling first round victory over the Benson Bunnies in the State Tournament. The next night the game was equally thrilling, but McCook lost a two-point match to Lincoln High, the eventual State Champion, for their only defeat of the season. Carpenter was named to the All Tourney team, and was named to All State teams in both his Junior and Senior seasons.

For all his prowess on the gridiron and the basketball court, track was perhaps Carpenter's best sport. Jerry was a good all-round athlete, and a dependable contributor of team points in any event he entered.

It was only natural that he would be drawn to the Pentathlon. Over the years the sports, which make up the Pentathlon have changed. In the ancient Greek Olympics the Pentathlon athletes competed in Discus, Javelin, Jumping, Running and Wrestling.

The modern Olympic Pentathlon athletes compete in Cross Country Running, Pistol Shooting, Epee Fencing, and Riding. However, high school Pentathlon athletes before World War II confined themselves to 110 yard High Hurdles, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump, and the Mile Run.

The period just before World War II was a golden period for Pentathlon athletes in Nebraska.

There were a number of track standouts who excelled in Pentathlon, and the duels between Howard Debus of Lincoln High and Jerry Carpenter of McCook proved to be particularly outstanding.

Debus, who went on to become one of the all time greats of NU track, excelled in the throwing events, while Carpenter was faster on the track. In the jumps the two went back and forth.

Never-the-less, at the State Track Meets in Lincoln, Howard Debus prevailed. Jerry Carpenter was a strong second to Debus in his Sophomore and Junior years. With Debus gone in his senior year Carpenter took home the Gold Medal in the Pentathlon, completing his sweep of Class A athletic honors -- All-State Quarter-back in football, All-State Guard in basketball, and Gold Medal in Pentathlon at the State Track Meet (McCook High's first) -- truly an outstanding achievement.

Carpenter was recruited by NU, but because of employment problems (no scholarships in 1941) at the last minute he joined most of his high school mates to bolster strong MJC squads in both football and basketball.

By the end of the '41-'42 season Jerry and most of his teammates had left school to go into the service of their country. Carpenter served aboard a Navy Destroyer Escort at Wake Island.

When the war was over, he put aside his athletic pursuits to take a job with the railroad, where he served for many years.

In the 1980s, Jerry Carpenter, truly one of McCook High's all time great athletes, passed away in the Denver area, where he had lived in retirement and where his widow, the former Janice Ludwig, still lives.

-- Source: Gazette, World Herald, and Lincoln Journal clippings.