Under the radar connections to Iowa

She's like my 3rd or 4th cousin
Did you know Denison used to have a parade every year to celebrate her? My step father is from the Vail area, near Denison and one summer in the mid-80s we were in the area for his family reunion and they forced my brother and I to watch this parade in her honor.
 
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What's the story then? I know a guy that went to East that graduated in the early 90s and said she went there.
The only person that I know that thinks she went to East is Ross Peterson. Maybe she looks like someone that went there. Her real initials are J.B.

She graduated in 1993, flunked out of ISU her 1st year and eventually graduated from Grand View.
 
Calista Flockhart used to have grandparents in Cedar Rapids. She and Harrison Ford were spotted around town a few times but it's been several years.

Terry Farrell is from Cedar Rapids. Her mom or dad -- I can't remember -- worked with my dad at Kirkwood. She was Dax on Deep Space Nine and then was on Becker with Ted Danson. She was also, until recently, married to Leonard Nimoy's son.

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From the creepy files, my Dad was police reporter for the Waterloo Courier and got to know Gacy fairly well, as they were often hanging around the police station at the same times. Gacy was known to kiss ass to cops to avoid suspicion.



True. His older brother Zach went to CR Jefferson before the family moved to LA and was in choir with @keepngoal and me.
Terry Farrell was also in Back to School
 
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Did you know Denison used to have a parade every year to celebrate her? My step father is from the Vail area, near Denison and one summer in the mid-80s we were in the area for his family reunion and they forced my brother and I to watch this parade in her honor.
Oh yes, the Donna Reed festival. They used to get in some minor celebs, writers, directors etc to put on various classes. A guy a grade below me ended up hitting it off pretty well with some of them.

 
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Aquaman and Superman played for the same soccer team in Norwalk.
Really random, I already mentioned my grandma was a Swank, but my cousin lived in Norwalk and played on that same soccer team. I’d met “aquaman” at my my cousins HS graduation party and at a birthday party of his way before he became Khal Drogo. Then on top of that they lived next to the parents of Chris from Slipknot.

It was one of those I have no memory of him at the time but my aunt said Jason Momoa has been around their house when I was at least twice.
 
The following offbeat connections exist, which I find curious:

While the State of Iowa has had a few UFO/UAP sightings, it is far from a hotbed of reports. However! I have discovered what is more than a couple of connections with the topic and IOWA STATE!

I recently learned Edward Ruppelt, a United States Air Force officer probably best known for his involvement in Project Blue Book and author of the essential "The Report On Unidentified Flying Objects" book, is another Iowa State Grad!

He attended Iowa State College where, in 1951, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._Ruppelt

He joins this group (which to me is oddly long) with Iowa/Iowa State Connections::


James McDonald, a highly regarded Atmospheric Physicist has a PhD (1945) from Iowa State in Physics. McDonald believed UFOs were of great importance, especially after his observation of the phenomena. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._McDonald


Donald Menzel was a famous UFO debunker and taught at the University of Iowa for a short time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Howard_Menzel


Philip Klass was another major UFO debunker and was born in Des Moines and grew up in Cedar Rapids. Klass received a degree in Engineering from Iowa State. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Klass


Donald Keyhoe was from Ottumwa, joined the military, and was a proponent of a Government deep-dive into studying UFOs. Keyhoe was a famous author and investigator. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Keyhoe


Brad Steiger was born in Fort Dodge. Studied at Luther College and wrote many UFO-related books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Steiger
 
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I this this thread is one where more names are gonna keep popping into peoples heads! I THINK one of the hot chicks from the Munsters was from Ames. An aunt or cousin on the show or something?

Marilyn, the "normal" one.

Beverley Owen, the first Marilyn, was born in Ottumwa but grew up in Ames.

440px-Beverley_Owen_1964.JPG
 
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A native Iowan and ISU grad made it big in seed corn. Became VPOTUS. And he ran for POTUS.

Also, a key player in the JFK assassination story was from Iowa. Jim Garrison.
 
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The only person that I know that thinks she went to East is Ross Peterson. Maybe she looks like someone that went there. Her real initials are J.B.

She graduated in 1993, flunked out of ISU her 1st year and eventually graduated from Grand View.
She must have started at East and moved to Norwalk or vice versa then. My source has Yearbook proof and her name is Jodi.
 
Randi Oakes was born in Sumner, Iowa, and grew up in tiny Randalia, Iowa.


Oakes is famous for her role as one of Charlie's Angels and dating Joe Namath. My parent's business in West Union did work for her family.

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And I was often told of these two from my hometown area:

Mark Pinter (born March 7, 1950) is an American actor best known for his numerous roles in daytime soap operas from Decorah.

Ellen Dolan As The World Turns actress was born in Monticello, Iowa, and was raised in Decorah, also.
 
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