and during their 28 seasons compiled a record just about as impressive as the Rockets'. The Rockettes won 414 games and lost only 177, for a 69. 8 winning percentage. They competed in the State tournament in 1960, 1962 and 1963. The Rockettes also had the State free-throw champion in 1963, when Carol Holland won that title.
Seventeen Roland athletes were selected to the first seven All-State teams over the years. These are Shirley Auld, Marcia Bakke, Norma Christian, Allen Erickson, Susan Erickson, Donna Hagen, Charlene Hall, Janet Hansen, Janet Hanson, Deanne Hill, Debbie Holen, Duane Hovick, Rod Larson, Ralph Johnson, Patty Morgan, Gary Thompson, and Paul Twedt.
Records are not complete on the baseball and softball accomplishments of the Roland High School teams. Indications are, however, that their records over the years were just as impressive as the basketball records.
The Rockets and Rockettes both sent six teams to the State tournaments. The Rockets went in the spring seasons of 1936, 1944, 1951, 1952, 1953, and in the fall season of 1952. The Rockettes went in the summer seasons of 1959, 1960, 1969, and in the fall seasons of 1959, 1960, and 1968. The Rockettes were particularly strong in 1959 and 1960 when they won the State championship in the summer of 1959, the fall of 1959, the fall of 1960, and finished second in the summer of 1960.
Dr. Moses R. Ballard settled in Howard Township in the year 1857. Before coming to Iowa, while working in the woolen mill in Gill, Massachusetts he had the misfortune of having a limb severely injured. During the long convalescence he studied medicine. Desiring a less crowded place to raise his seven sons, he migrated first to New Bremen, Ill. , where he practiced medicine for 12 years.
In 1857, he migrated to Howard Township. A log cabin built of round logs, with shake roof, puncheon floors, door of split stuff with wooden hinges and windows covered with greased cloth, sheltered the family until a new house of hewn logs was built. The cabin was traded to neighbor John Michaelson for a bay, a nine:-year-old who played a large part in his doctoring life, being ridden or driven until the age of 34.
This kindly old doctor extended his services to anyone who needed him. His last professional trip was a call to Nevada. Too feeble to brave the bitterly cold winds, he lay prone upon a sled and was covered during the ride.
His last years, due to age, were spent with his beloved children, books and violin. Peacefully he passed away on January 7, 1878.
Dr. Ballard was the great-great-grandfather of Dorothy Bielefeldt.
Jacob Skimland (Mrs. Erling Shold's great grandfather), his wife and two children, Anna and Kari; his brothers, Anders and Reinert; Wm. Tunge and wife, who was Jacob Skimland's sister Martha, and four children came to
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