"Dear Coach" Homecoming Premier - Press Release

“Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII” to Debut at Elizabethtown College Homecoming

Lancaster, Pa. September 30, 2009 –

Officially making its debut at the Elizabethtown College Homecoming on October 17 at 2 p.m., “Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII” will give history new life.

Authored by Lois Herr, “Dear Coach” is the story of Elizabethtown College’s, legendary coach Ira Herr, and the men and women athletes of 1937-1946. More than just a collection of letters "Dear Coach" is the scrapbook of an extended family dealing with a war that forced a generation to grow up overnight.

This yearbook-style book of 160 fully illustrated pages will be presented on the Elizabethtown College Campus in the Thompson Gymnasium to alumni, students, family and friends. Open to the public, those that attend the event are in for a presentation by not only author Lois Herr, but also featured writers Edwin Boll, the family members of Paul F. “Porky” Leicht, W. Wilbur “Wib” Raffensperger, Emory Stouffer and Brenda Beadenkopf, daughter of Charles Walker. Many of whom will read selections from and sign copies of “Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII.”

For some it will bring back memories of college days and wartime. For others it will be a special view into what the world was like as our country turned from depression to war. The letters and relationships are personal between coach and player and between college friends, but I’m sure you’ll find the stories are universal.