The city of Atlanta is located on Interstate 55 approximately 10 miles northeast of Lincoln. Originally, the town was named Xenia and then Hamilton, only to find other towns in Illinois with those names. It eventually was named Atlanta, after Atlanta, Georgia. The town was a stop in the road for the old US Route 66, and many tourists continue to make a stop here today. The town’s population currently sits at 1,650.
The Atlanta school district was established in the 1800s. Richard Savage tells us the following about the original Atlanta High School building:
“From the History of Logan County by Lawrence B. Stringer, Pioneer Publishing Company of Chicago, the original High School in Atlanta was built in 1870. This was the building destroyed by fire in 1908.”
Photos of the building before and after the fire are shown below. “Left click” on either photo for a larger view.
Atlanta High School Building After Fire 1908
Submitted by Richard Savage
Atlanta High School Building 1870 – 1908
Submitted by Richard Savage
The high school building pictured at the top of this page (circa 1940s) was built in 1909 on the corner of Vine and Sixth Streets after a fire in the summer of 1908 destroyed the original building. The school was the focal point of the community for nearly 70 years and holds a special place in the hearts of those who walked her halls. Dave Kindred, class of 1959, and a member of Atlanta’s only regional championship basketball team, fondly says, “I loved that place … I can still hear the polished wooden floors squeaking.”
In 1972 the towns of Atlanta, Armington, Danvers, Minier, Hopedale, Waynesville, Stanford, and McLean consolidated their school districts to form the Olympia School District. The high school for Olympia is located near Stanford.
The Atlanta High School building no longer stands. After being deactivated in 1972 the building was used as the grade school until it was demolished in 1980. The gymnasium that housed the Redwings’ teams for parts of five decades was kept intact and attached to the new Atlanta Grade School building, which in 2004 was transformed into Olympia South Grade School.
Atlanta High School “Quick Facts”
Year High School Opened: 1800s
Year High School Closed: 1972
Year H.S. Building Demolished: 1980
Team Nickname: the “Redwings”
School Colors: Red & White
School Fight Song: Loyal to You A.C.H.S.
(Taken from the personalized scrapbook of Lynn Hieronymus, 1950.)
(Click the Play Button below “ATHLETICS” below and to the left and sing along!!)
We’re loyal to you A.C.H.S.
We’re red and white, A.C.H.S.
We’ll back you to stand
‘Gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand, A.C.H.S.
Rah! Rah!
So crack out the ball, A.C.H.S.
We’re backing you all, A.C.H.S.
Our team is our fame protector:
On! Boys for we expect a
Victory from you A.C.H.S.!
Che-he, cha-ha, cha-ha-ha-ha,
Atlanta, Atlanta,
Rah, Rah, RAH!
Fling out that dear old flag of
Red and White,
Lead on your sons and daughters
Fighting for you
Like men of old, on giants.
Placing reliance, shouting defiance
Oskee-wow-wow———
Amid the broad green plains that nourish our land,
For honest Labor and for Learning we stand.
And unto thee we pledge our heart and our hand,
Dear Alma Mater, Atlanta High!
ATHLETICS
BOYS BASKETBALL
The boys’ basketball team was the staple sport of Atlanta High School. One of the highlights of the school’s basketball history was the Redwings of 1958-59. The team is held in high esteem decades later by townfolk for a season that brought a touch of “Hoosiers” to the heart of small-school basketball in Illinois. The team won the school’s only Regional Championship that year and in the process defeated their big neighbors from the south, Lincoln High School.
After reeling off 29 straight wins, the ’58-’59 Redwings completed their season with an incredible 29 wins and 1 loss. In the Regional Championship game the Atlanta boys beat the mighty Lincoln Railsplitters 84 – 80, ending Lincoln’s 10-year reign as Regional Champs. The Redwings toed the line, making good on 32 of 39 attempts from the charity stripe; Lincoln made just 12 free pitches. Atlanta was led by its two senior all-conference players Larry Rodgers (23 points) and Marvin Hulva (21). Junior Wayne Turner added 15 points, junior John Quiram 14 and senior Dave Kindred had 11.
Think about this, 155 points in 64 minutes. Armington had tried to slow down the Runnin ‘Redwings to no avail in the Regional opener, a game won by Atlanta 71-39. The Redwings faced sickness and injuries to key personnel in the Sectionals, where they lost for the first time to Jacksonville. Jacksonville would lose to Springfield, who went on to win the one-class state championship.See the team photo and list of players above.
School Spirit!
Imagine standing or sitting on the stage, decorated with the big red “A”, overlooking the gym at half court as your favorite players like Gordie Hamblin, Jim Ash, Terry Rich, Weldon “Cork” Cheek, Dave Kindred, and Larry Rogers ran the court, making the hometown fans wild with excitement. It must have been a great atmosphere to play and cheer in. Each Redwing wore his red Atlanta letter jacket with pride!!
There were other great teams at Atlanta with the best listed below.
Boys Basketball
Several scores involving Atlanta High School in the IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores”, these scores are listed below as well.
1920-21 Fairbury District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Melvin 28-17
2nd Rd lost to Fairbury 13-10
Fairbury beat Saunemin in title game
1921-22 Bloomington District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Bloomington 40-19
Bloomington beat Stanford in title game
1922-23 – 1931-32 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1932-33 Lincoln District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lincoln 36-5
Mt. Pulaski beat McLean in title game
1933-34 Lincoln District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Waynesville 66-20
2nd Rd Beat Hartsburg 36-31
Semi-final lost to Mt. Pulaski 32-17
Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game
1934-35 Lincoln District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Middletown 35-28
Semi-final lost to Mt. Pulaski 27-8
Mt. Pulaski beat Hartsburg in title game
1935-36 New Holland District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Shirley Ben Funk 33-25
Title Game lost to Latham 40-24
1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1938-39 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Mt. Pulaski 38-18
Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game
1939-40 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Mt. Pulaski 24-18
Lincoln beat Latham in title game
1940-41 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Elkhart 33-21
Lincoln beat Elkhart in title game
1941-42 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hartsburg 28-24
Semi-final lost to Lincoln 38-25
Lincoln beat Mt. Pulaski in title game
1942-43 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat McLean 39-35
Semi-final lost to Mt. Pulaski 35-26
Lincoln beat Mt. Pulaski in title game
1943-44 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Elkhart 31-30
Lincoln beat Springfield in title game
1944-45 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat New Holland 34-29
Semi-final lost to Springfield Lanphier 44-28
Lincoln beat Lanphier in title game
1945-46 Logan County Champions Coach Phil McCullough
Lincoln Regional Runner-Up
1st Rd Beat Middletown 51-30
Semi-final Beat Lincoln 55-39
Title Game lost to Mt. Pulaski 41-28
Coach Phil McCullough
Atlanta Redwings 1945-46
Logan County Champions
1946-47 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Mt. Pulaski 46-21
Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game
1947-48 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to New Holland 54-36
Hartsburg-Eden beat Lincoln in title game
1948-49 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Springfield Feitshans 55-35
Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game
1949-50 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lincoln 43-19
Lincoln beat Hopedale in title game
1950-51 Williamsville Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Mt. Pulaski 71-34
Lincoln beat Springfield in title game
Lincoln lost in Elite 8 Round
1951-52 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Riverton 64-57
Lincoln beat Hopedale in title game
1952-53 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Buffalo Tri-City 61-58
Lincoln beat Tri-City in title game
1953-54 Williamsville Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lincoln 63-47
Lincoln beat Hartsburg-Emden in title game
1954-55 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
The Greatest Atlanta Redwings Basketball Team – 1958-59
Coach Eldridge “Doc” Kinsey
1959 Regional Champs with the plaque
Credit: Bloomington Pantagrph
1959-60 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Armington 60-48
Semi-final lost to Lincoln 64-39
Lincoln beat Riverton in title game
1960-61 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Williamsville 65-61
Lincoln beat McLean-Waynesville in title game
1961-62 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lincoln 87-63
Lincoln beat Williamsville in title game
1962-63 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to McLean-Waynesville 82-58
Lincoln beat Williamsville in title game
1963-64 Mt. Pulaski Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lincoln 87-63
Lincoln beat Williamsville in title game
1964-65 Hartsburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to New Holland-Middletown 54-47
New Holland-Middletown beat Beason in title game
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1966-67 Hartsburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Beason 74-66
Elkhart beat Armingtonin title game
1967-68 Hartsburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to New Holland-Middletown 63-59 (O/T)
Armington beat Beason in title game
1968-69 Hartsburg-Emden District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to McLean 71-67
Hartsburg-Emden beat Elkhart in title game
1969-70 Beason District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat New Holland-Middletown 69-58
Semi-final lost to Elkhart 96-63
Elkhart beat Williamsville in title game
1970-71 16 – 10 Hartsburg District Champions Coach Rick Bristow
Semi-final Beat New Holland-Middletown 71-57
Title Game Beat Hartsburg-Emden 58-34
Mt. Pulaski Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Maroa-Forsythe 75-65 (3 O/Ts)
Lincoln beat Clinton in title game
1971-72 Leroy Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Downs Tri-Valley 62-55
**Semi-final lost to Heyworth 65-41
Farmer-City beat Heyworth in title game
**Final game for the Atlanta High School Redwings. Consolidated to Stanford Olympia High School in the summer of 1972.
In a December 19, 1946 game against McLean, the Redwings attempted 53 free-throw shots, the most in school history.
The number 53 comes into play once again as the point total of one of Atlanta’s best players in the early-to-mid 1960s, Lance Rogers. In a December 15, 1964 game against Wapella, Rogers scored 53 points with 27 of them coming in the first quarter. That’s the highest individual point total achieved in a game by any Redwing player.
Boys Baseball
The boys baseball teams also had many successful seasons. The best of these seasons included the 1963-64 and 1965-66 seasons. The season records of these teams is not listed nor is the coach, however according to the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) these two teams earned Regional Championships.
1963-64 N.R.A. Regional Champions Coaches names unavailable
1965-66 N.R.A. Regional Champions
Track and Field
Out of the many great athletes who walked the halls of Atlanta High School the following Redwings faired the best in Track and Field, all placing in the Illinois High School Association State Track Meet. Earl Mountjoywas responsible for the 1907 Atlanta team’s 4th Place finish at the State Meet.Jack Freeston obviously sticks out in the early 1930s as the premier weight man in the state. He led the AHS thinclads to a 5th place finish in 1933 and a 6th place finish in the 1934 state track meet!
1902 2/3 Mile Relay Team 2nd Place
Team Members Included:
Everett Pumpelly, Will Dowdy,
Ed Gebhardt, and Ed Schindler
Team lost only to Chicago South Division HS
1905 Martin Dowdy Standing Broad Jump 3rd Place
1906 Martin Dowdy High Jump 3rd Place
1907 Team Placed FOURTH (4th) at the State Track Meet
Individual Medalist
Earl Mountjoy 440 Yard Dash STATE CHAMPION
Earl Mountjoy Hammer Throw 2nd Place
1907 Final Team Standings – State Track Meet
1.) Oak Park-River Forest – 18
2.) Chicago University – 14.5
3.) Chicago Englewood – 10
4.) ATLANTA – 8
5.) Chicago Lakeview – 6
Champaign – 6
7.) Chicago North Div. – 5.5
8.) Chicago Phillips – 5
Normal, Greenefield, Joliet,
McKinley, Moline
1912 Huber Hammer Throw 3rd Place
1932 Jack Freeston Shot Put 3rd Place
Jack Freeston Discus 5th Place
1933 Team Placed FIFTH (5th) at the State Track Meet
Individual Medalist
Jack Freeston Shot Put STATE CHAMPION
Jack Freeston Discus STATE CHAMPION
1933 Final Team Standings – State Track Meet
1.) Rockford – 18
2.) Maywood Proviso – 16.5
3.) Oak Park-R. F. – 12
4.) Glen Ellyn – 10.5
5.) ATLANTA – 10
Centralia – 10
Tuscola – 10
8.) Chicago Hyde Park – 9
9.) Galesburg – 8.5
Winnetka New Trier – 8.5
1934 Team Finished Sixth (6th) in the State Track Meet
Individual Medalist
Jack Freeston Shot Put STATE CHAMPION
Jack Freeston Discus 2nd Place
1934 Final Team Standings – State Track Meet
1.) Winnetka New Trier – 19
2.) Sterling – 15
Rockford – 15
4.) Chicago Englewood – 10.5
5.) Centralia – 9.5
6.) ATLANTA – 9
Kankakee (Sr.) – 9
8.) Carrier Mills – 7
Chicago Tilden – 7
10.) Evanston – 6.5
Girls Bowling
Atlanta deactivated in the tail end of the time when Girls Athletics were starting to form in high schools in Illinois. Atlanta did compete in pre-Title IX “Postal Tournaments”. In the Bowling tournaments, schools with participating teams tried to get the best bowling scores they could muster and the results were mailed (hence “postal”) to the IHSA and the winner was determined by which team had the highest overall team score (similar to the more common Basketball postal tournaments). Atlanta’s team placed second in this tournament in 1968.
Great Coaches
Two men left an outstanding legacy on Atlanta High School athletics, Phil McCullough (pictured below) and Eldridge “Doc” Kinsey.
Lynn Hieronymus, AHS class of 1950, writing in a 1981 memoir, eight years before Hieronymus’ passing, noted McCullough’s “emphasis of discipline and in using one’s head.”
In Kinsey’s first six seasons at the school (1954 – 1960) his basketball teams compiled a cumulative record of 129 – 37! Kinsey came back after a brief rest to coach basketball for three more seasons winning 40 more ball games. He had school spirit, always known for wearing his famous red bow tie. Kinsey’s overall record at Atlanta was an awesome 169 – 71.
Famous Alumni
Dave Kindred, a player on the 1959 Regional Championship team, loved basketball and all sports in general. In fact he loved them so much he continued his sports mentality and made a career out of it. Dave Kindred is a nationally reknown columnist for “The Sporting News” after stints at three of the country’s foremost newspapers. He has authored seven books, including a dual biography of Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell. Through all his many travels, Kindred keeps a part of AHS close to his heart. Upon returning home in 2004, he found the doors to the gym open. He walked in, took a seat on the top row of the four-row bleachers and sat there for nearly a half hour. The memories flowed for sure.
Special thanks to:
Ruth Ann Hieronymus, Atlanta librarian, for her research.
Norma Adams Price and Paul A. Adams for their pictures and history in their outstandin book, “More Momentous Happenings in Atlanta, Ill. – 1876-2003”.
All the great Redwings players and coaches who made all these special moments happen.
Seeking Further information
If you have further information you would like to share regarding Atlanta High School please submit a School Submission Form or Guest Commentary Form. You may also write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or via postal mail at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
Members of the 1945-46 Atlanta High School Redwings (below,right) are:
(front row, from left) Wayne “Stooge” Polley, Dick Gilbert, Weldon “Cork” Cheek, Harold “Tee” Brooks, Dick Schmidt; (second row) Jack Brandt, Chet Hout, Jim Ash, Eddie Bevard; (back row) Orville “Speed” Compton and coach Phil McCullough.
