Twenty plus years ago, Nikolas (Nik) Kerr, formerly from Mt. Pleasant, was in Minneapolis. He started on the north side of the city and worked his way south. He had a map of every pharmacy, drug store, Walmart and CVC in the metropolitan area. At each store he bought all the pseudoephedrine they would allow. Nik had an advantage, he didn’t look like a druggie. He looked more like Mr. America. He knew how to act, too. In some of the more downscale stores, if he thought he could get away with it, he would fake talking on his cellphone. “Oh, you’re sick? Sure, I’ll see if I can get some more.” His act was flawless.

Except he was eventually busted in Wisconsin for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. He was looking at two-to-five years in prison. Gulp. But he had a lawyer, entered treatment and cleaned up his act.

While he was in treatment, and before his trial in Wisconsin, Nik’s mother, Shelia Kerr of Mt. Pleasant, was working with a group of people and, then Governor Tom Vilsack, to write a bill that would remove pseudoephedrines from over-the-counter sales. She used much of Nik’s knowledge of how easy it was to obtain pseudoephedrines, as justification for writing the bill. Oklahoma already had such a law. Iowa would be the second state.

On the date of the signing, she drug Nik with her to Des Moines. He had just gotten out of treatment the day before. So there Nik and his mother were, with the group of people, getting their photograph taken while Governor Vilsack signed the bill into law. That bill was then used to write the national bill.

So, at the trial in Wisconsin, where Nik was looking at two-to-five years in the slammer, his lawyer assured him that there was no need to worry. Nik had gone through treatment, had done all this work, was a college graduate, clean cut, etc. However, the judge was a “hanging” judge. He was flipping through the pages of Nik’s history and shaking his head, saying things like, “I dunno. What about public safety? I need to make an example of him.”

Nik nearly died. So did his mother who was also at the trial. Nik thought there was no way he was going to beat this rap.

Then the judge flipped over the last page, and there was Governor Vilsack’s letter of support for Nik. The judge said, “Well, if Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (only he pronounced it “Vilasick”) thinks so much of this young man, maybe I’ll reconsider.” Nik was placed on probation. Whew!

In high school Nik was a standout football player, a fullback, earning all-conference and all-state honors. His success continued through college at Wisconsin-La Crosse and Iowa Wesleyan. After his scare with the drug charges, he happened to see that the Quad City Steam Wheelers, of the Arena Football League, was looking for players. He whipped himself into shape, tried out and played with them for two years, fulfilling his desire for more football.

With his two degrees, one in history and one in psychology, and his own experience with drug treatment and rehabilitation, he began working with addicts in the jails and treatment centers in the Quad Cities. He managed programs and managers. Nik is a no-nonsense type of counselor. “This is what you do if you wanna get clean and sober and live a life with meaning.” They listened to him.

To keep up with his competitive spirit, he became heavily involved with volleyball, both indoor and sand. He now runs his own business called QC Court Ratz Volleyball, LLC.

He received his Masters Degree in Psychology with a concentration in addictions, and then his Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. He’s 49, engaged to be married, and has a son, Cooper, age 14. Nik returns to Mt. Pleasant occasionally to compete in Alumni football games. (He’s in better shape than most of the alumni.)

His fiancee, Trace, and he are forming a non-profit called Seeds of Support (SOS) that will provide money to needy people for prescription drugs, rent, etc.

Since his brush with a prison sentence, every day is a gift to Nik. The first thing he does every morning is count his gratitudes.

If you tend to think people with a substance abuse problem are on a dead-end street, talk to Nik. Dr. Nikolas Kerr breaks down those barriers, like a fullback crashing through the line for a touchdown. But he doesn’t spike the ball. He knows that an over-blown ego is as dangerous as drugs and alcohol.

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Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.