Aces Fullback Dan Kinney, 1959
Fred Elder – When I think of Dan Kinney, I remember two things in particular. One was the way he always ran so hard and so low when carrying the ball on the football field. He ran into other team’s players and knocked them aside as one would envision a bowling ball knocking down the pins.
My other memory is when he rolled his car off the dam at the party being held at Joyce Stevens parent’s farm. I was in the car right behind him. We rushed down to see what had happened. Dan’s car was on its side. Dan was standing up and said they were OK. They exited, we manually rolled the car over on its wheels and Dan drove away. Amazing!!
Gene Carter – Dan, unlike some linemen, was always amiable to me, one of many athletically challenged guys. We even double-dated a few times.
A reunion or two before this one, I told Dan I appreciated what he’d done in Missouri, with the parks and recreation department. I’d once joined parents and grandparents of our honorary grandchildren at their annual July Fourth celebration week near Springfield. Relatives lived nearby on family farms, some dating to the 1800s..
We went riding in fields on machines close enough to the Ford tractors on which I learned to drive.
Tate and I thanked him, too. Dan smiled.
Glad I knew him.
Diane Rusch Zinn – For Dan, it was never too late to own up to past pranks. A few years
ago, I received a large manila envelope from Dan with two items: a handwritten admission of having entered my house our senior year (along with some other guys who have remained nameless) and welcomed themselves to some snacks in the fridge and just generally looked around and also an 8×11 photo of me that he had kept all these years. Was he downsizing or absolving some guilt? Who knows, but I sure got a kick out of it.
Calvin Ross – We’re all saddened by Dan’s sudden death. It’s so shocking.
I
have clear memories of our years as athletes. At Roosevelt we would often walk together after afternoon basketball practice to his house on N Madison. I would then head up to mine on N. Lorraine.
At East our basketball careers came to a screeching halt the same day our Junior year. During a practice session, he and I were talking together on the sideline. Coach Sickles came over to us and said, “I think Coach Barger wants you boys to go out for wrestling. “Oh! OK! Sure thing, Coach.”
In football, whenever we needed at least five yards, I would call in the huddle the play for the fullback to run to the right of center—Fred Elder, or for him to run to the left. To start the play, I would hand off to fullback Dan who would blast away for the necessary yardage—often more.
Lee Ayres – Dan has a fabulous spark of life. I suspect he will continue to serve with energy and distinction in the chapters ahead. 
Ruth Ann Lanman Thompson – There will be tons of stories to tell. Dan was one good person with a great and adventurous heart. Both Doug and I loved him and his passing brings a terrible hole in our lives. The one thing we are thankful for is that he did not suffer. Thank you, Jesus for that gift that you gave him and us.
Editor’s Note: We hope you will add your memories of Dan in the Comments section below. Here is a link to obituaries published by Dan’s family and by the Springfield-Greene County Park District. “Dan Kinney, Obituaries“
