This Is Iowa: Eagle Grove man still teaching, officiating basketball games at age 88

It's the start of another school week. <NAT POP> Buses are making the rounds --- <NAT POP> and students are filling the halls of Eagle Grove High School. <NAT POP> A friendly face <CLIP 3053 TIME 8:01:51 "GOOD MORNING."> is greeting kids on a Monday morning. The bell signals --- <CLIP 3048 TIME 7:59:35 NAT POP OF BELL RINGING."> the start of first period: American History. <CLIP 3054 TIME 8:07:06 "ANY QUESTION ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER TODAY?"> College level --- with Jerry Becker. <CLIP 3054 TIME 8:07:46 "IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSONALITY AND THE BACKGROUND, THE ATTITUDE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT."> Today's focus? The early 1900s. <CLIP 3057 TIME 8:11:55 "HE SAID SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK. WHAT'S HE MEAN BY THAT?"> The students note --- this teacher seems to know what he's talking about. <CLIP 3057 TIME 8:12:10 "DON'T SHOUT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. JUST DO IT."> After all --- he's been doing it --- <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:40:39 "65 YEARS."> for quite some time. <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:40:43 "YOU'RE HOW OLD? 88."> 88 years old. And he still gets up every single morning to go to school. <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:49:20 "THESE KIDS WANT SOMETHING MORE, I WANT TO GIVE IT TO THEM."> He gives them important lessons. On history --- yes. But about life too. <CLIP 3054 TIME 8:08:16 "I ASKED YOU AT THE START WHAT ROOSEVELT SAID: HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE GREATNESS?"> <CLIP 3054 TIME 8:08:26 "IT'S SOMETHING I WISH YOU'D THINK ABOUT."> Will Batterton says he's learned a lot from Mr. Becker. <CLIP 3084 TIME 9:32:40 " HE'S TAUGHT ME HOW TO KEEP GOING AND EVEN PUSH MYSELF."> He's not alone. Generation ---- <CLIP 3093 TIME 10:09:13 " 95. 96."> after generation ---- <CLIP 3095 TIME 11:56:53 "2000."> after generation ---- <CLIP 3094 TIME 10:15:18 "2008, 2009."> have passed through Mr. Becker's classroom. In some cases --- it's become a family affair. <CLIP 3093 TIME 10:11:18 "MY MOM HAD HIM IN, IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I HAD HIM IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND, I HAVE A SOPHOMORE SON THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HIM NEXT YEAR."> <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:42:15 "WELL, IT HELPS BECAUSE THE KIDS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO."> Former students say kids are lucky to have him as a teacher. <CLIP 3094 TIME 10:15:39 " I REMEMBER HIS COURSES WERE CHALLENGING. YET REALLY REWARDING IN THE END."> <CLIP 3074 TIME 8:46:47 "YOU DID PRETTY WELL GUYS. YOU DID PRETTY WELL THIS MORNING."> After second period <CLIP 3087 TIME 9:37:32 "THAT'S A GOOD DAY."> Mr. Becker bids farewell to his students, packs up for the day --- <CLIP 3089 TIME 9:51:36 NAT POP OF DRAWER CLOSING.> and shuts the door. <CLIP 3089 TIME 9:51:53 NAT POP OF DOOR SLAMMING SHUT> He takes the stairs <CLIP 3090 TIME 9:52:45 NAT POP OF SHOES ON STAIRS> to stop by the front office. <CLIP 3090 TIME 9:53:04 "I'M ON MY WAY OUT AND I'LL BE BACK THIS AFTERNOON FOR BASKETBALL."> His day is just getting started. <CLIP 3091 QUICK NATS OF WALKING, JACKET ZIPPING & DOOR OPENING."> <CLIP 3094 TIME 10:20:38 "IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT HE STILL GETS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT AND RUNS UP AND DOWN AND REFS FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS."> You heard that right. Mr. Becker --- is also known as ref. <CLIP 3116 TIME 16:11:40 NAT POP OF CROWD.> <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:42:59 "I'VE BEEN OFFICIATING, I THINK, ABOUT 67 YEARS"> Running up and down the court --- <NAT POP> Becker keeps up with these middle school girls. He makes the calls <NAT POP OF WHISTLE BLOWING> and keeps his eye on the ball. Pausing only at halftime for a quick water break. <NAT POP> <CLIP 3132 TIME 16:40:01 "CRAZY, BECAUSE HE RUNS MORE THAN I WOULD AS A REF, SO."> <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:46:49 "I WANT TO BE ACTIVE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I WORKOUT REGULARLY. I LIKE TO KEEP IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE."> Staying in shape --- is paying off. And those nearly seven decades of experience --- are too. <CLIP 3093 TIME 10:12:46 "HE DEFINITELY KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING."> The Iowa High School Athletic Association confirms: Becker is the oldest active official in any high school sport in the state. <CLIP 3132 TIME 16:39:42 "HE'S THE LONGEST TENURED EVERYTHING IN IOWA IT FEELS LIKE."> And if that wasn't enough ---- <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:43:35 " IN CROSS COUNTRY, WE'VE QUALIFIED FOR STATE FOR 26 YEARS IN A ROW."> he's also Coach Becker. <CLIP 3084 TIME 9:33:02 "HE'S OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. COLD, HOT DAY. WHATEVER. HE'S, WORKS WITH THE HURDLERS A LOT."> You can see the dozens of trophies, plaques and photos next to the gym. <CLIP 3095 TIME 11:58:25 "HE'S ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO SHOW UP AND GO TO WORK, WHETHER IT'S TEACHING OR COACHING, VOLUNTEERING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE."> Giving lessons --- taught not by the book. But rather --- by example. <CLIP 3093 TIME 10:10:26 "THE WAY HE TAUGHT AND THE WAY HE, JUST INTERACTED WITH HIS KIDS, IT'S WHAT MADE ME WANT TO BECOME A TEACHER."> <CLIP 3094 TIME 10:18:27 "I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT HE GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, TOO."> <CLIP 3057 TIME 8:11:15 "IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS YOU HAVE TO STRIVE FOR IT."> Mr. Becker says he has no plans to stop doing what he loves any time soon. <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:46:39 " I WOULD GO CRAZY IF I HAD TO JUST SIT IN THE CHAIR AND WATCH RERUNS ON TELEVISION ALL DAY."> A humble man ---- <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:45:30 "OH I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE GOT ANY LEGACY AT ALL.'> who says he's never worked a day in his life. <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:45:05 "I LOVE TO DO IT. I ENJOY THE YOUNG PEOPLE I WORK WITH."> <CLIP 3132 TIME 16:40:23 "HE'S STILL YOUNG. HE STILL LIVES A YOUNG LIFE."> Spending his golden years teaching the younger generation ---- <CLIP 3057 TIME 8:11:30 "STRIVE FOR IT. SET GOALS HIGH SAID THEODORE ROOSEVELT."> how to go after their goals. Luckily for Mr. Becker ---- <CLIP 3088 TIME 9:47:58 " MY GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO ENJOY MYSELF. I AM ACCOMPLISHING THAT. I ENJOY TEACHING, I ENJOY WORKING WITH THE KIDS."> he's achieving HIS every single day. THAT WAS OPHELIE JACOBSON WITH PART OF IOWA'S GREAT BASKETBALL LEGACY OF PLAYERS, FANS AND COMMUNITIES PROVING BASKETBALL IS MORE THA

An 88-year-old Eagle Grove man is still in the classroom and on the court, hoping to make a difference in the lives of young kids.Jerry Becker, 88, has been teaching for 65 years. He teaches college-level history classes at Eagle Grove High School for the two first periods of each school day. "These kids want something more. I want to give it to them," Becker said.Becker has taught generation after generation. In some cases, he's had grandkids of his former students in his classroom."My mom had him in high school, and I had him in high school, and I have a sophomore son that could possibly have him next year," Ryan Pedersen, a physical education teacher at Eagle Grove Elementary School, said. Becker said having the same family members helps because "the kids know what they're getting into."» MORE THIS IS IOWA: Visit the This Is Iowa page on ��vlog's website and follow the series on Facebook and YouTubeBoth former and current students said they are lucky to have Becker as a teacher and that they've learned a lot from him."He's taught me how to keep going and even push myself," Will Batterton, a current student of Becker, said. "I remember his courses were challenging, yet really rewarding in the end," McKristie Willard, a principal at Eagle Grove Elementary School, said. Becker's influence on the next generation doesn't end in the classroom. It extends to the basketball court, too: he is also a referee. "It's incredible that he still gets on the basketball court and runs up and down and refs for the younger kids," Willard said. Becker has been officiating for 67 years. He still runs up and down the court and keeps up with the middle school basketball players. "I want to be active," Becker said. "Both my wife and I work out regularly. I like to keep in good physical shape."The Iowa High School Athletic Association confirmed to ��vlog that Becker is the oldest active official in any high school sport in the state."Crazy because he runs more than I would as a ref," Colton Poncin, a teacher at Robert Blue Middle School, said. "He's the longest-tenured everything in Iowa, it feels like."Becker has also coached cross country for a long time. In the hallway outside of the gym, dozens of plaques and photos show the different teams he coached over the years. Under Becker's guidance, the team has qualified for state 26 years in a row. He said he has no plans to stop doing what he loves any time soon. "I would go crazy if I had to just sit in the chair and watch reruns on television all day," Becker said. "My goal right now is to enjoy myself. I am accomplishing that. I enjoy teaching; I enjoy working with the kids."More from the Feb. 20, 2025 episode of This Is Iowa:This Is Iowa: Telling Iowans' stories through the game of basketball Fielding basketball teams is a source of pride for Diagonal, Iowa's smallest school districtBasketball superfan hasn't missed a high school game in 50 years — that's 2,126 and countingCommunity, basketball teams rally around Johnston girl battling cancerThis Is Iowa: Telling Iowans' stories through the game of basketball

EAGLE GROVE, Iowa —

An 88-year-old Eagle Grove man is still in the classroom and on the court, hoping to make a difference in the lives of young kids.

Jerry Becker, 88, has been teaching for 65 years. He teaches college-level history classes at Eagle Grove High School for the two first periods of each school day.

"These kids want something more. I want to give it to them," Becker said.

Becker has taught generation after generation. In some cases, he's had grandkids of his former students in his classroom.

"My mom had him in high school, and I had him in high school, and I have a sophomore son that could possibly have him next year," Ryan Pedersen, a physical education teacher at Eagle Grove Elementary School, said.

Becker said having the same family members helps because "the kids know what they're getting into."

» MORE THIS IS IOWA: Visit the This Is Iowa page on ��vlog's website and follow the series on and

Both former and current students said they are lucky to have Becker as a teacher and that they've learned a lot from him.

"He's taught me how to keep going and even push myself," Will Batterton, a current student of Becker, said.

"I remember his courses were challenging, yet really rewarding in the end," McKristie Willard, a principal at Eagle Grove Elementary School, said.

Becker's influence on the next generation doesn't end in the classroom. It extends to the basketball court, too: he is also a referee.

"It's incredible that he still gets on the basketball court and runs up and down and refs for the younger kids," Willard said.

Becker has been officiating for 67 years. He still runs up and down the court and keeps up with the middle school basketball players.

"I want to be active," Becker said. "Both my wife and I work out regularly. I like to keep in good physical shape."

The Iowa High School Athletic Association confirmed to ��vlog that Becker is the oldest active official in any high school sport in the state.

"Crazy because he runs more than I would as a ref," Colton Poncin, a teacher at Robert Blue Middle School, said. "He's the longest-tenured everything in Iowa, it feels like."

Becker has also coached cross country for a long time. In the hallway outside of the gym, dozens of plaques and photos show the different teams he coached over the years. Under Becker's guidance, the team has qualified for state 26 years in a row.

He said he has no plans to stop doing what he loves any time soon.

"I would go crazy if I had to just sit in the chair and watch reruns on television all day," Becker said. "My goal right now is to enjoy myself. I am accomplishing that. I enjoy teaching; I enjoy working with the kids."

More from the Feb. 20, 2025 episode of This Is Iowa:

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