How One Rockne Hat Survived Almost 100 Years!

I received this email from my friend Andy Nickle, telling the back story to the latest addition to his extensive Knute Rockne collection—thought you'd enjoy this:

In the last year a very significant and previously unknown Knute Rockne artifact surfaced. It is the only known surviving hat owned and worn by Rockne. It has an interesting story of its own—one that helps explain how it has survived for nearly a century.

Maurice Vennet, a well-known South Bend resident in Rockne’s day, put the story in a letter to Richard Batt:

“I came into possession of it because Rock picked up my hat by mistake at the old Elks Club in South Bend, Indiana. We both had attended a meeting to further promote athletic…