From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. For more history of Kosciusko County in the news visit yesteryear.clunette.com

Dec. 29, 1979 — Playing on a basketball floor where historic events are commonplace, Warsaw Community High School’s “Iron Five” stamped its name in the history books Friday with a performance overloaded with stamina, poise and heart.

The “Iron Five” lineup consisted of Ron Brandenburg, Mike Petro, Eric Sebo, Mark Sumpter and Randy Heisler.

Playing in their final South Bend Holiday Tourney, the Tigers left a lasting impression by becoming the first non-South Bend team to win the tourney championship in its 14-year history. A title game triumph over unbeaten Clay Friday night – the Tigers’ third win in 24 hours at Notre Dame’s ACC – sent the trophy out of St. Joseph County for the first time.

The 50-48 win over Clay in the finals also ended 11 years of holiday tourney frustration for the Tigers. Their last holiday tourney championship was in 1968 at Greencastle. It was their first tourney title of any kind since winning the regional in 1976

Dec. 24, 1969 — The John (Jack) P. Burns family, 1702 E. Sheridan St., Warsaw, is celebrating the greatest gift this Christmas it could receive — a son!

Lt. Michael Thomas Burns, 25, missing in action since July 5, 1968, over North Vietnam, is among 131 prisoners of war reported alive last night.

Mr. and Mrs. Burns have had no news of their son, Michael, since the terse Defense Department message July 5, 1968, “missing in action.” Lt. Burns was shot down over North Vietnam on that date while flying with Lt. Col. Carl B. Crumpler, Jacksonville, Fla.

Dec. 31, 1964 — The Warsaw High School cheering section had much to cheer about last night as their beloved Tigers edged Nappanee 55-49 for the championship of the holiday tourney at the Warsaw gym.

Warsaw won the crown, its third in nine meetings among the schools, by virtue of a strong third quarter, where the Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 18-8.

Team members include Glynn Johnson, Steve Hepler, Jim Webster, Bill Wiley, Terry Yeiter, Mike Chambers, Ben Niles, Greg Lancaster and Mike Niles.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels