By Mari Radtke
Eric Kumm, Paullina resident and South O’Brien Ag Sciences and Industrial Tech instructor was honored at the “Heroes Game.” The Heroes Game is the name selected for the rivalry football game between University of Iowa and University of Nebraska. The game was played at Lincoln, NE on Friday November 24, 2023. A nominee from each state was given the award.
Eric Magnussen and his wife, Annaliese of Paullina nominated Mr. Kumm. Eric grew up on a farm outside Paullina and recently opened a Pioneer Seed dealership in town. Pioneer sponsors of the program. Word of the nomination spread. More than 40 letters of support for the selection of Mr. Kumm was submitted.
Eric Kumm first learned of the nomination 2 weeks before the game. The school was contacted and informed of the selection. Mr. Kumm says he did not know he was nominated and describes his reaction as “confused.” As part of the awards ceremony during halftime of the rivalry game, a short video and still photos of each state’s Hero were shown. The Heros were awarded a 2-night stay at a hotel near the stadium. Eric and Annaliese were also guests for the occasion. They were wakened that Friday morning to join a tour of the Air National Guard Refueling base near Lincoln. Mr. Kumm commented a former student, Jaime , spent some of her military time there. She ran the refueling boom. Jaime is the daughter of 33-year veteran Traci (Rohrbaugh) Nelson. Part of the tour was to get a close look at the plane that would do the flyover during halftime, and to learn about the different jobs of the refueling crew members.

The honorees were treated to a reception in downtown Lincoln near the stadium. From there they walked to the stadium. Kumm described it as a “cold, cold morning.” At the stadium, the group had a sideline tour. They watched warm ups. Mr. Kumm nearly walked in front of a camera during Coach Kirk Ferentz’ interview. “It was a great atmosphere,” he said. They learned how the radio broadcasting was done and all the people it took to make the announcers, Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak quick with player information and statistics. Kumm said, “It was neat watching the radio broadcast.” The two Heroes even did little radio interviews. But Mr. Kumm makes it clear he is very uncomfortable with being in the spotlight, saying, “I’d rather have the kids get the recognition.”
Following the sideline and radio tours the Heroes finally made their way to their game suite. At the suite they found warmth and food. There was a halftime presentation about the Iowa Hero and the Nebraska Hero with the video playing on the jumbotron. The traveling trophy goes to the home of the game’s winning team. This year that honor goes to Iowa.
Mr. Kumm summed up the experience by saying, “At least for me something like this doesn’t happen without support from other people. My wife, friends and family, students and other teachers, former students and administration. Community support,” are among those whom he credits with giving him the necessary support to achieve such success. “It is very humbling,” he added. Mr. Kumm closed by saying, “It’s nice if people think you’re doing things okay. I heard from people I haven’t heard from in quite a few years. It was a really great experience. It was nice Michelle could be a part of it, too.”