Don Overcash (left) and Ken Bresley (right) promoting the first International Eelpout Festival on a Duluth television sports show, 1980. Photo by Don Smith, Walker Pilot-Independent. Used with permission.

Embroidered patch created for the first International Eelpout Festival, 1980. From the private collection of Don Overcash, used with permission.

Buttons issued the first year of the International Eelpout Festival, 1980. The buttons were numbered, but four buttons featured the number “1” for Don and Debbie Overcash, Ken Bresley, and Barbara Robers. From the private collection of Don Overcash, used with permission.

Poster from the first International Eelpout Festival, held on Leech Lake, January 13–14, 1980. From the private collection of Don Overcash, used with permission

Official logo for the 40th International Eelpout Festival in Walker, Minnesota, held February 21–24, 2019.

The Way women’s softball team poses for a group portrait in Minneapolis ca. 1985. Photo by Charles Chamblis.

Demolition of the Met Center (Metropolitan Sports Center) in Bloomington, 1994. The stadium was demolished after the North Stars hockey team left Minnesota. A common refrain among North Stars fans, who blamed owner Norm Green for abandoning the state, was “Norm sucks.”

Minnesota North Stars Stanley Cup pennant, 1991. As the North Stars made their second trip to the Stanley Cup finals, fan memorabilia was made to celebrate the achievement.

The logo used by the Minnesota North Stars hockey team between 1991 and 1993. Public domain. As owner Norm Green was looking to relocate the North Stars, the logo was redesigned and the word “North” was removed. Some fans saw this as an ominous sign for the future of Minnesota’s team. Public domain.