University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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well. In New Mexico, he contracted a virus that slowed him down for three days. In northern California on Highway 395, fast moving traffic forced him off the road five or six times. “That was the most danger- ous part of the trip,” he said. High wind in Oklahoma and rain in Kansas made riding miserable. Hasty re- lied upon the military discipline instilled in him during a two-year Army stint in Ger- many to keep him go- ing. Also, a photo perched on his han- dlebars of his Marine son reminded him of the servicemen in the armed forces. Hasty believes that every young per- son should enlist in the service to learn discipline and patriotism, “Having to lis- Sometimes, I had to steal parts from one to get me to the next town, ■Hasty ten to taps, and to salute the flag would make America 100 percent better,” he said. As he traveled through America, he felt that the only people who really un- derstood his message of patriotism were the veterans. Everyone cheered him on, but the vets really supported his mission, he said. Hasty and his wife met many help- ful Americans. Farmers and truck driv- ers stopped to ask Mrs. Hasty if she needed any help as she waited along the road three to five miles ahead. During the trip, Mrs. Hasty recorded statistics in a diary. She wrote down everything that Hasty ate, measured amounts of wa- ter, miles ridden each day, and names and places. ---------- The Hastys borrowed between Hasty certainly proved his dedication. $12,000 and $15,000 for the adventure. They returned to Holdrege with only $30 in their pockets and their two credit cards charged to the limit. “I’ll be paying for the trip for a long time,” Hasty said. “But, the trip was a success. I’m more confident of myself be- cause of it. And, I spread my message throughout the country.” Hasty continues to spread his message. He speaks to school children at assemblies about his trip and the reasons be- hind it. He encourages young people to consider the armed forces to learn discipline before attend- ing college. He is planning yet an- other bike ride to Wash- ington to present a flag to President Reagan as soon as he gets through “the bureaucratic red tape.” He wasn’t al- lowed to give the Presi- dent a flag when he fin- ished his trip this past summer on August 30 in Washington, D.C. “But, I won’t give up,” he said, “This is something I want to do. People need to know about patrio- tism.” While Hasty plans his next ride and rounds up financial assistance through sponsors, his bike waits in its promi- nent place by the front entrance to “Hasty Lanes.” The tattered photo of the Hasty’s son remains on the handle- bars and the faded flag hangs limply on its rod waiting for the breezes of America to flow through it once more. Pam Wood BE36 “Having to listen to taps, and salute the flag would make America 100 percent better. ” -Hasty The KSC human performance lab helped Hasty prepare for the trek.

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Holdreee Citizen S P o R S BICYCLE TREK FOR PRIDE A 47-year-old Holdrege bowl- ing alley owner began exten- sive training for a bicycle trek across America in Janu- ary, 1987 at KSC’s Human Performance lab under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Donnelly. After five months of physical and mental conditioning, Vern Hasty began the 7,717 mile-long trip. According to Hasty, he set his goals to promote patrio- “Ijust want them to yell for the flag .. ” -Hasty tism and to salute America’s true heroes, the veterans. “I wanted to be heard,” Hasty said. “The older I got, the more I saw how peo- ple didn’t respect the national anthem or the flag as much as they did before.” Hasty referred to the Nebraska football games in Memorial Stadium. “People yell and cheer as the football team comes on the field, but not when the flag comes out. I just want them to yell for the flag as much as for the team.” A smaller version of the American flag fluttered behind Hasty as he started his trip on Memorial Day accompanied by his wife driving their white van. The flag followed him through 48 states during the three-month ride. In each state, Hasty presented a miniature flag to various in- dividuals. Of those who re- ceived a flag, many were veterans who had served in the military or families of de- ceased war he- roes. He also gave one to Billy Carter in Georgia and sent on to Sen. Barry Goldwater in Ari- zona. Also a Kansas mechanic and a Mis- sissippi black family received flags as Hasty passed, spreading his message of patriotism throughout America. Hasty rode either his 12-speed or 18- speed bicycle on the trip, “Sometimes, I had to steal parts from one to get me to the next town,” he said. During the trip, Hasty fixed five rear rims and changed Holdrege Citizen The KSC performance Jab helped Hasty prepare for the trek across America. nine tires suffering from blow-outs or flats. He endured other frustrations as 22

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Darrell Ritenour, North Bend, splats the mud ball while Tim Soto, Wood River, and Jodi Kinder, Papillion, stay clean ? IT’S A DIRTY GAME INTRAMURAL SPORT PROVES TO BE FUN AND EXCITING ... AND DIRTY! Mud volleyball has consis- tently attracted KSC students for over five years. According to Irma Odell, intramural director for KSC, the sport is extremely popular. There were 30 teams last fall and the sport seems to be increasing in populari- ty every year. One volleyball pit may not be enough to accommodate the demand in the future. Odell has hopes of expan- ding, “We would like to move to a new location with more pits, but the problem lies in the availability of water ’ she ex- plained. The current location of the KSC mud volleyball court is a landfill north of College Drive near West Campus. The physical plant maintains the pit by dig- ging it out every year and refilling it with 9 to 10 thousand gallons of water chan- nelled from a nearby canal. Any group or organization may par- ticipate in the program by paying a $10 entrance fee. The rules are not much dif- ferent than traditional volleyball, ac- cording to Bob McDonald, referee and supervisor for the sport. Some exceptions. One girl has to hit the ball at least one time before it goes over the net, the boundries are the land and water, and there is a 15 minute time limit on each game. “However,” McDonald says, “I give them lots of time and I let them go over if they are close to winning at 15 points.” KSC owns and runs the courts. Nev- ertheless, the students are liable for themselves and all injuries. Odell said there have never been any serious acci- dents. “Of course, the players usually get scrapes and scratches, but that usually occurs after the game is over and they are just playing around in the pit,” she ex- plained. 24