No player in college football history meant more to a whole state than Nile Kinnick meant to Iowa becoming its most popular hero and is still today its most revered icon. Following his Iowa career, in which he won the Heisman trophy, Kinnick chose to go to law school and join the Naval Air Corps Reserve. On June 2, 1943, while flying a routine training mission in the Gulf of Paria, his plane suddenly developed a serious oil leak. Since landing on board would have endangered many lives, Nile instead decided to ditch at sea. No trace of him or his plane was ever found. Program, 5 x 7, two pages from the Third Annual Y. M. C. A. Athletic Banquet, held in the Y. M. C. A. Gymnasium in Dubuque, Iowa on April 1, 1940. Signed on the inside in pencil, above his photo of himself on the field, “Best Wishes, Nile Kinnick.” Caption below Kinnick’s photo reads, “Nile Kinnick, Iowa University’s All American and Grid Player of the Season.” Accompanied by a photocopied news article of Kinnick at the banquet. In very good condition, with a bisecting vertical crease through a single letter each of signature and sentiment, as well as through facial area of image and some expected handling wear. LOA Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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