Memories rekindled

I commend John Blanchette on his column about Guido Bardelli (Sept. 30), the professional fighter known as Young Firpo, “The Wild Bull of Burke.”

I have been a reader of your newspaper for years, going back to the days of sports editors Bob Johnson and Harry Missildine and the long-gone evening paper, the Chronicle.

I was born 72 years ago in Kellogg and never tire of listening and reading the myriad stories of the world-famous Silver Valley and its many colorful inhabitants. Stories were related to me by my dad, Tommy, who worked underground in several Silver Valley mines beginning at age 16, which was illegal even back then.

Although I moved to Spokane, my ties to the Silver Valley remain strong.

My uncle Joe Boni (cut down from Bonifacio) was all-state for four years playing football for the Kellogg Wildcats. He was offered a full scholarship to play football for Gonzaga University but opted to work in the mines until the day he died. Uncle Joe’s nickname was “Firpo,” for obvious reasons.

Joe Destefano

Spokane