The George Wright farm west of Danville, in Vermilion Co., was the site of the
October 30,1939 state tussle. An all time state record attendance was established here
when 95,000 watch Ecus Vaugh of Piatt Co. finish ahead of young Leland Klein of
Woodford County. Both won free trips to the National and Ecus took home a medal and
$100, while Leland won the $50 runner-up pie. Donley Martin took third place, and later
he represented Minnesota at the national after moving there.
     Sheriff Ward provided 40 mounted policemen to handle the crowd and traffic.
Farm Advisor Ivan Parett and Verlo Butz of the Prairie Farmer directed various
committees that were necessary for staging the state meet.
     The Danville Commercial News announced the winner of it's Corn Husking Queen
at the banquet on the night prior to the battle of the bangboards. Miss Maxine Lindley was
the happy winner of that contest, via votes.
 
Place  Name County  Husk Ded Gleanings Ded Net Bu
1 Eucus Vaughn Piatt 30 30.10
2 Leland Klein Woodford 34.74 90 29.23
3 Donley Martin LaSAlle 41.44 31.5 28.56
4 Ivan Bauman Woodford 10.01 58.5 27.62
5  Roy Dremann Marshall-Putnam 135.3 49.5 26.65
6 L. Thompson Shelby 35.57 28.5 25.82
7  Schaunberg Vermilion 40.94 39 25.44
8 Ed Ghys Henry  89.39 81 24.73
9 Earl Nord Stark 17.18 45 24.63
10 A. Rapp Bureau 121.09 76.5 24.21
11 Roy Harmon Peoria 30.21 64.5 24.03
12 Franklin Ross Stephenson 168.3 82.5 23.43
13 Roland Doubler Jo Daviess 59.25 15 23.12
14 Ernest Sheese Mercer 52.44 202.5 23.11
15 Ed Olson Kendall 33.63 153 22.61
16 Bert Weichman Livingstion 53.56 150 21.69
 
 
National 1939

     The sunflower State hosted it's second National, this time at the Frank Leonhard
farm near Lawrence in Douglas County. One hundred- thousand fans gathered in the dry
Kansas field of listed hybrid to see 21 huskers have a go at it. None of the huskers at this
November 3 battle of the bangboards had won a National , but the field was studded with
standout shockers.
     Joy bubbled over in Fontain County when the results were flashed; "Slim Pitzer
wins National." The 40 year old Indiana picker had return to the national after an absence
of 3 years, and today, he let out al the stops to garner the top prize. Pitzer's habit of keeping
the ducks down in the minimal category, help beat out 3 huskers with larger loads. Slim
stands as the only Hoosier to win a National, and at the age of forty, holds the record as
being the oldest to win the prize.
     Richard Huth of Yellow Medicine Country made his debut a huge success by
copping runner up spot. His zero docks paved the way  in the easy breaking  ears, although
many of the huskers took big Husk deductions, for excess husks.
     The biggest gross load was brought in by Ecus Vaughn but 400 pounds in the
docking department, dropped him to 3rd place. Ted Koger and Otto Sorenson took the
remaining two cash awards. Kansas great Lawrence house snapped out over one ton of
corn, but lost more than 1/4 ton of that to the old bugaboo: Husk and Gleanings.
     The combined age of the two Illinois pickers, Vaughn and Leland Klein, was only
4 years more than the champ's age. Shortly after this contest, Pitzer announced his
retirement.
 
 

Place Name County State Net. Bu.
1 Lawrence Pitzer Fountain Indiana 28.39
2 Richard Huth Yellow Med. Minnesota 27.03
3 Ecus Vaughn Piatt Illinois 26.51
4 Ted Koger Macon Missouri 26.48
5 Otto Sorensen Washington Nebraska 26.37
6 Leland Klein Woodford Illinois 26.29
7 George Steffens Cass Iowa 26.02
8 Everett Taylor Boone Nebraska 25.7
9 Cecil Vining Franklin Kansas 25.5
10 Ernest Torkelson Lincoln So. Dakota 25.09
11 Ralph Eckles Andrew Missouri 25.03
12 Mearl Bartee Licking Ohio 24.01
13 Jack Wolles Moody So. Dakota 23.56
14 Lawrence Hauk Grant Wisconsin 23.01
15 Alvin Roberts Muscatine Iowa 22.57
16 Lawrence House Sherman Kansas 21.96
17 Richard Post Rock Wisconsin 21.2
18 Floyd Gesse Porter Indiana 20.88
19 Augustine Hoffman Perry Pennsylvania 20.84
20 John Feehan Henry Ohio 19.82
21 Stanley Yeager York Pennsylvania 18.75
 
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