The Lisbon connection

Lisbon, Iowa. It borders Mount Vernon but is often overlooked in Cornell’s history.

During 7th Block Mike Conklin ’69 — former Chicago Tribune writer and current communications professor at DePaul University — took a month off and returned to the Hilltop to teach a Distinguished Visiting Feature Writer Seminar on journalism and creative writing. For one of his assignments, Conklin’s students researched and wrote articles on Lisbon.

Why Lisbon? The simple answer is that Conklin is from Lisbon himself. The better answer is that Lisbon has a long and storied connection with both Mount Vernon and Cornell College, a connection that the students explored.

From Cornellians who student taught in Lisbon schools to those seeking a late snack at the all-night Highway 30 cafe, it has been a two-way relationship. The town has been home to faculty and staff as well as the residence of Rowena Stuckslager, one of the first two female trustees named to the board in 1932.

Former Cornell coach Barron Bremner helped the high school’s legendary wrestling program get off the ground in 1961 and Jack Carbee ’68 later matriculated to the Hilltop, where he became a two-sport star in basketball and baseball. Now it is Paige Stamp Telecky, Lisbon’s national record-setting softball pitcher, helping coach Ram athletes.

With so many stories, they wouldn’t all fit within these pages. On the right side of this page are links to a few of the stories that bind Lisbon to Cornell.