Robert Richard Fenwick
Bob was born in 1946 on the island of Okinawa, but he only claims American citizenship. When he was born, being a Japanese citizen in America wasn't exactly what a parent would want for a child. His mother and father returned to his father's hometown, Lake City, Minnesota, after World War II was resolved. His mother, Miyoko, was later named Mabel when living in the United States. She spoke English, Japanese, and the non-written language of Okinawan. His father, James, was a corpsman in the Navy when he met Mabel. When returning to Lake City, he was the reverend and choir director of a church. Bob is the oldest of three. His brother is 10 years younger and his sister is 11 years his younger. Though the marriage of a woman of Okinawan descent and an American man wasn't looked highly upon by either groups, Bob described his childhood as a happy time, where he spent the majority of his time outside playing with his friends. A life spanning through many decades, his favorite decade was the fifties, which he described as being the "happiest decade."
A historical event that touched his life was the assassination of Kennedy. He remembers distinctly being in Mr. Hoss' social studies class and hearing the announcement over the school loudspeaker in Anoka, MN. He also remembers watching the moon landing in 1968 with his baseball team in a sports bar.
A historical event that touched his life was the assassination of Kennedy. He remembers distinctly being in Mr. Hoss' social studies class and hearing the announcement over the school loudspeaker in Anoka, MN. He also remembers watching the moon landing in 1968 with his baseball team in a sports bar.
Roy Rogers
When Bob was little, his dad entered him into a talent show sponsored by Roy Rogers, the American singer and cowboy actor, and whoever won went on the show the following night with him. Bob ended up spending a lot of time with Roy Rogers and rode the original horse, "Trigger," who starred in many western films with Rogers. Later, Roy Rogers took Bob to St. Mary's pediatric and polio ward.
Bob's dad was a great singer and musician who preformed in many contests and musicals. His father was also the choir director and sang in church. The singing talent was passed down to Bob, who sand with Susan Johnson at an Anoka High School talent show. She played piano and had near-perfect pitch while bob sand. Although they sang many songs together, the one Bob remembered most was "16 going on 17" from The Sound of Music. Also, on the backside of Bob's baseball card from the St. Louis Cardinals, his noted hobby is singing.
Bob's dad was a great singer and musician who preformed in many contests and musicals. His father was also the choir director and sang in church. The singing talent was passed down to Bob, who sand with Susan Johnson at an Anoka High School talent show. She played piano and had near-perfect pitch while bob sand. Although they sang many songs together, the one Bob remembered most was "16 going on 17" from The Sound of Music. Also, on the backside of Bob's baseball card from the St. Louis Cardinals, his noted hobby is singing.
Baseball
Bob began his baseball career in high school at Anoka, MN. Nobody started on Varsity as a freshman, but when he was a sophomore he started for their team. He didn't realize that he might have a chance at playing Minor or Major League ball until his junior year, when scouts were starting to notice him more and more. He was offered a full-ride scholarship to the University of Minnesota, who, at the time, had the best baseball coach in the country. He took the scholarship and played for the U of M for two years.
Immediately after two years of college ball, he joined the San Fransisco Giant's minor league team. He played for five years, and the final three years on that team he was in class AAA and training with men in the big leagues. In 1972, he was "claimed" by the Huston Astros. He played for one year, and spent spring training in Coco Beach, Florida. He played in the Huston Astrodome, which is a dream to many a baseball player. In 1973, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. After a couple months, he was "optioned out," which means he could be sent down to the minor league team. He quit in the same year, although his contract was with the San Diego Padres.
In '74, San Diego asked him to come back to major league ball. He accepted and spent his final year playing in Hawaii with his first wife and three children; they would attend most of the games, which he would have to play nearly every day. His three oldest, all under the age of ten at the time, would play catch with other men on the team and hang out near the dugout. Bob thinks that they gleaned baseball and athletic skills just by being around so many athletes.
What made Bob so desired by the Pro Baseball teams was that he was a very versatile player. In high school, he was a pitcher and played shortstop. He said shortstop is one of the hardest positions in baseball because it combines three of the four needs for a baseball player: fielding, throwing, and the need to be fast. The fourth is hitting. In shortstop, it is vital to run quickly, throw accurately, and catch well. Other infield bases and the outfielders don't need all of these traits. During college, he was in the outfield and continued playing shortstop for the U of M. Once he entered the big leagues, however, he played second base, which is what his baseball card says. Though it might seem easy to switch positions because Bob managed to so frequently, it really is difficult to adjust. That is why he was "optioned out." He was able to adjust so quickly that he could fill in for any team.
Bob had a friend in Hawaii who was on the track to become a major-league baseball manager. His friend told Bob, "I'll take you with me, anywhere." Bob declined and moved back to Minnesota with his family in order to spend more time with his kids. In hindsight, though, he wishes he would have taken him up on his offer.
Immediately after two years of college ball, he joined the San Fransisco Giant's minor league team. He played for five years, and the final three years on that team he was in class AAA and training with men in the big leagues. In 1972, he was "claimed" by the Huston Astros. He played for one year, and spent spring training in Coco Beach, Florida. He played in the Huston Astrodome, which is a dream to many a baseball player. In 1973, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. After a couple months, he was "optioned out," which means he could be sent down to the minor league team. He quit in the same year, although his contract was with the San Diego Padres.
In '74, San Diego asked him to come back to major league ball. He accepted and spent his final year playing in Hawaii with his first wife and three children; they would attend most of the games, which he would have to play nearly every day. His three oldest, all under the age of ten at the time, would play catch with other men on the team and hang out near the dugout. Bob thinks that they gleaned baseball and athletic skills just by being around so many athletes.
What made Bob so desired by the Pro Baseball teams was that he was a very versatile player. In high school, he was a pitcher and played shortstop. He said shortstop is one of the hardest positions in baseball because it combines three of the four needs for a baseball player: fielding, throwing, and the need to be fast. The fourth is hitting. In shortstop, it is vital to run quickly, throw accurately, and catch well. Other infield bases and the outfielders don't need all of these traits. During college, he was in the outfield and continued playing shortstop for the U of M. Once he entered the big leagues, however, he played second base, which is what his baseball card says. Though it might seem easy to switch positions because Bob managed to so frequently, it really is difficult to adjust. That is why he was "optioned out." He was able to adjust so quickly that he could fill in for any team.
Bob had a friend in Hawaii who was on the track to become a major-league baseball manager. His friend told Bob, "I'll take you with me, anywhere." Bob declined and moved back to Minnesota with his family in order to spend more time with his kids. In hindsight, though, he wishes he would have taken him up on his offer.
State Competitions
In high school, Bob played football, basketball, and baseball. For two years, Bob and his team went to the State tournament in basketball. Back then, there weren't classes like A, AA, or even AAA. Small schools with less than 100 people sometimes went to State or Regionals against a larger school like Anoka. One year, his team went to State in baseball. His senior year of high school, he was a kicker for the football team due to an injury his sophomore year that restricted his ability to throw. Bob was known and praised for his "lucky toes," which allowed him to kick a number a field goals. That may not seem like anything special now, but when he was in high school it wasn't very common. When playing against North St. Paul, he kicked a relatively far field goal that "broke the ice" for the game to follow. One game Bob's sure to remember was when Anoka was playing St. Cloud Tech. The score was 19-19, and in those days they didn't play any overtime. Bob was kicking for the extra point after a touchdown and missed, causing the game to be tied and Anoka to be ranked second in State as apposed to first.
Bob's oldest, Todd, has also participated in two years of State Wrestling tournaments. Todd was a fantastic wrestler and was also being scouted by the U of M. His senior year, he was wrestling at State and was finally beat by a man from Apple Valley, but many people think that Todd pinned him during the meet! If the referee had called it differently, Anoka would have been State Champion because they lost by only one point, and pin is worth three! Todd declined to wrestle during college because the coaches wanted him to wrestle near 120 lbs, and when he was starting he was already close to 145 lbs.
Bob's second son, Scott, was an avid golfer during high school and participated in a State Golfing Competition. He went on to do a small amount of Pro Golfing after high school.
His third son, Chris, also wrestled in high school and competed in one State Championship also. Currently, Chris coaches a high school volleyball team. This year he was able to take those girls to the State volleyball game.
His stepson, Jeremiah, has not participated in a State tournament.
His fourth son, and the first with his current wife Jennifer, Jeff, also has not participated in any State meet or game. However, he does have one of the highest ACT scores in the history of Cook County High School graduates.
His youngest son, Lucas, participated his senior year in the 2013 State Alpine meet with the Cook County/Silver Bay Alpine Ski team. The boy's team took fifth place. Individually, he was 38th out of over 80 skiers total.
Bob's oldest, Todd, has also participated in two years of State Wrestling tournaments. Todd was a fantastic wrestler and was also being scouted by the U of M. His senior year, he was wrestling at State and was finally beat by a man from Apple Valley, but many people think that Todd pinned him during the meet! If the referee had called it differently, Anoka would have been State Champion because they lost by only one point, and pin is worth three! Todd declined to wrestle during college because the coaches wanted him to wrestle near 120 lbs, and when he was starting he was already close to 145 lbs.
Bob's second son, Scott, was an avid golfer during high school and participated in a State Golfing Competition. He went on to do a small amount of Pro Golfing after high school.
His third son, Chris, also wrestled in high school and competed in one State Championship also. Currently, Chris coaches a high school volleyball team. This year he was able to take those girls to the State volleyball game.
His stepson, Jeremiah, has not participated in a State tournament.
His fourth son, and the first with his current wife Jennifer, Jeff, also has not participated in any State meet or game. However, he does have one of the highest ACT scores in the history of Cook County High School graduates.
His youngest son, Lucas, participated his senior year in the 2013 State Alpine meet with the Cook County/Silver Bay Alpine Ski team. The boy's team took fifth place. Individually, he was 38th out of over 80 skiers total.