ST PAUL, Minn. — For over 90 years, two St. Paul families have braved Thanksgiving cold to uphold their football tradition which has become a cherished part of their holiday celebration.
The Battis-Bohen Turkey Bowl, as it's now known, began in the early 1930s when Margret Battis, seeking peace while preparing Thanksgiving dinner, sent her children out of the house.
The Battis kids were joined by the Bohen kids, and a new tradition was born.
Jim Bohen, a participant who has played for more than 70 years, recalls how his grandparents, Tom and Carmella, grew up across the alley from each other.
"I was 6 or 7 when I started playing," he said. "I missed it in my 70 years maybe for a sprained ankle and one time I got sick."
The tradition was solidified when a Battis married a Bohen, intertwining the two families.
The annual game has only been missed twice: Once during World War II when many family members were drafted, and once during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the event draws participants spanning about five generations, from toddlers to grandparents.
The game has been held in various locations, including Highland Park, under all kinds of weather conditions.
A custom-made trophy, weighing 43 pounds, features the original football and has become a symbol of this enduring tradition. Jim Bohen, now the most senior player, proudly holds the title.
Laura Bohen emphasized the emotional significance of the gathering.
"It's a nice, sweet time to just get together to find those warm memories," she said, adding that it's a moment to remember family members who have passed.
While the game is competitive, no official score is kept. The real victory, participants agree, is in the continuation of a tradition that has spanned nearly a century, bringing together generations of family members each Thanksgiving.