Remembering Bob Moss

Robert L. Moss was born June 24, 1926 in Linton, and was laid to rest Friday afternoon, February 13, 2015.

Not long ago, I spent an afternoon with Mossie - I always called him "Mossie" - at his home at the east end of Oak Street in Green Acres.

It was Dec. 19, 2014. I remember the day because it was one of those rare sunny afternoons in December and I remember the date because Linton-Stockton was playing Shakamak that night in boys basketball at Jasonville.

I had gotten a letter from Bob on Tuesday of that week. His letter was delivered to the Greene County Daily World office. Mossie knew I was back in town, because he'd read my articles in the paper, but didn't know where I lived.

His letter read, in part:

"Dear Terry,

I have known you most of your life and I have seen most of the games you played. I am 88 years old and can't get around anymore. Seventy years ago I was an 18-year-old infantry soldier fighting in Germany in World War II.

My mind is still good but my body is shot. I would like to talk to you but you would have to come to me. Please call.

Your friend,

Bob"

So I did.

We sat in Mossie's "Military Room," he in his recliner and I in the guest chair. He showed me his vast collection of military awards, medals and memorabilia. Some of the memorabilia included battle-worn World War II Army helmets.

Bob had been awarded nine medals, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His letter to me was written on Military Order of the Purple Heart stationery.

In the month prior to his passing, he'd been awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal. It was pinned to the lapel of his suit jacket for his viewing.

To say that Bob Moss was a proud and distinguished World War II veteran, well, mere words somehow seem inadequate.

Naturally the conversation turned to sports. Much of the talk involved Miner football and basketball. Mossie was what I'd call a "superfan." He'd never miss a game without a good reason.

A topic that came up was the 1971 Switz City sectional, when Bloomfield was upset by Worthington, when Jeff Farmer's apparent game-winning basket was disallowed.

Rick Hudson - he of Greene County Sports Network fame - was Bloomfield's point guard and the trigger man on the out of bounds play. Hudson was also a baseball pitcher and he threw a length-of-the-court pass to Farmer who caught it, spun and banked it in before time expired.

Or so it seemed.

There was no buzzer that night. The scorers' bench was using a starter's pistol, and the gun fired just before the clock ran out. Worthington won.

Mossie wasn't just a Miner fan. He was a Greene County fan. He and Rex Hudson over at Bloomfield had been longtime friends. Rex still talks about that Worthington game too.

In his letter to me, Mossie recalled a play I'd made in the 1976 sectional semifinal game against Eastern (back then it was Linton and Eastern. We didn't call 'em Linton-Stockton and Eastern Greene.)

I won't bore you with the details of that play. This isn't about me. I just think it's pretty amazing that an 88-year-old guy would still remember a play I'd made in a sectional game 39 years ago.

Bob's sister Julia Skeel lived four blocks up the street from us, on Northeast H street. Before I was in high school, my dad and I would sometimes walk up to the school to watch Little League games at the ball diamond or to shoot baskets on the outdoor courts at the school. Bob would often be at Julia's visiting, and if he was outside, we'd stop and chat on the way to the school. Almost always, the conversation would involve basketball.

Another item Mossie had in his collection was a game program from the 1934 IHSAA sectional basketball tourney hosted by Linton, March 2 and 3, 1934. Julia Skeel loaned it to me for this article. I'm guessing he would have been in second grade in 1934.

There were 10 teams in the Linton Sectional and first round play began Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. with Midland against Scotland in Game 1. Solsberry played Newberry next at 3 p.m. In the Friday evening session, Linton faced Lyons at 7:30 p.m. in Game 3. Jasonville and Owensburg followed at 8:30 p.m.

Switz City and Bloomfield drew byes and squared off in Game 5 at 9 a.m. Saturday with Friday afternoon's winners meeting at 10 a.m. Friday night's winners played at 2 p.m. with Saturday morning's winners playing next at 3 p.m. The championship was set for 8 p.m. Saturday.

It's possible that a team would have had to play three games on Saturday, depending on the draw.

Ticket prices were 35 cents for a single session, one dollar for four sessions and $1.25 for all five sessions.

The last time I saw Mossie at a game was the Linton-Sullivan football game at Sullivan in August of 2012. I've been told Charlie Karazsia made arrangements to secure a wheelchair for Bob so he could still get around and attend the games.

Thank you, Charlie.

Even when he was no longer able to attend, Mossie still kept up with the games and teams he loved through radio and newspapers.

At last Thursday's White River Valley at Linton Stockton boys basketball game, the crowd observed a moment of silence in remembrance of Bob Moss. That was the first I'd heard of his passing. I didn't see his obituary on-line until I'd finished my game story.

I thought that was a classy gesture.

Rest in peace, Mossie.

Terry Schwinghammer is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 27. He can also be reached via email at tschwing32@yahoo.com.