The History of Bowen High School Bowen (population 535) is located in the southeastern corner of Hancock County in western Illinois. The town is located at the intersection of Il. Rt. 61 and Il. Rt. 94 approximately 35 miles northeast of Quincy. The town of Bowen was originally platted in 1863 by a man named Peter Bowen and was first named Bowensburg. It was located along the Toledo, Wabash, & Western railroad at the time of its birth. A short Youtube video of the main intersection of the town of Bowen can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVBdROlwkZM . It is not known at this time what year the school system was begun. The Bowen school system held strong for several years until a consolidation effort with nearby Augusta was started. The consolidation effort became a reality in 1970 when the two districts merged to form Southeastern High School. Further information regarding this merger and the many towns that now make up Southeastern High School was provided to us by Dan Veach: “Southeastern High School was the result of a merger, (Bowen Bulldogs and Augusta Redskins). The high school is now located in Augusta. In the early 90s Plymouth High (Blackhawks) students were welcomed into the district. Other communities included in the district are: West Point, Stillwell, Colmar, Huntsville, Mindale and Birmingham.”
The high school building in Augusta is used for the high school students. The former Bowen High School building now serves as the Middle school for the Southeastern School District. The school building appears to be in good shape as is evidenced buy the photos at the top of the page taken in 2013 by Owen Pulver. Bowen High School Quick Facts Year school opened: late 1800s Year school deactivated: 1970 Consolidated to: Southeastern School District (Augusta) School nickname: the “Bulldogs” School colors: Purple & Gold School Fight Song: “Onward Bulldogs” University of Wisconsin Fight Song Tune Courtesy of Cheryl O’Halloran Athletics The Bowen athletic teams were the mightiest of the small schools in Hancock County when it came to the sport of basketball. Bowen has also had success in boys baseball. Their best seasons are listed below. We need your help in gaining the coach’s names and the records of the various teams. We are also searching for the school’s fight song.
Boy’s Basketball We understand that Bowen High School’s gym was “unique”. Small in stature with a few rows of permanent wooden bleachers on each side. Pillars holding up the ceiling would obstruct some fan’s views. The Bulldogs didn’t allow this to effect their accomplishments. The teams from Bowen took home an AMAZING 18 District titles. Included in this were also three regional titles and one sectional title. Going even farther the Bowen boys of 1953-54 made it all the way to the Elite 8 of the state tournament. Incredible considering the one class system they competed in then. Their loss in the state tournament that year was to Chicago DuSable, a school probably 10 – 15 times their size! Some scores from the IHSA Tourney involving Bowen High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores“. They are transcribed below. No scores available prior to 1922. 1921-22 Quincy District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Beat Hamilton 18-13 Lost in 2nd Round Score not available 1922-23 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, coaches names, and season records needed. 1933-34 Macomb District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd. – Lost to Carthage 26-13 Carthage lost in 2nd Round 1934-35 Macomb District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd.- Lost to Bushnell 20-19 Bushnell lost in title game. 1935-36 Carthage District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. Semi-final – Beat Elvaston 31-18 Title Game – Lost to Burnside 38-23 Top two from District went to Regional Carthage Regional Tournament 1st Rd. – Lost to Carthage 62-17 Carthage lost in title game of Reg. 1936-37 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. District Scores unavailable Carthage Regional Tournament 1st Rd. – Lost to Burnside 46-12 Burnside Regional Champions Burnside lost in 1st Rd. of Sectional 1937-38 Plymouth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. Title Game – Lost to Burnside 31-22 Burnside lost in Regional title game 1938-39 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District scores unavailable Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. Beat LaHarpe 38-23 Semi-final Beat Dallas City 26-23 Title Game – Lost to Hamilton 29-27
1939-40 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District scores unavailable Regional scores unavailable 1940-41 Postseason scores, coch’s name, and record needed
1941-42 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Bowen did not compete in District Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Beat Dallas City 31-26 2nd Rd. – Beat Plymouth 40-26 Title Game – Lost to Hamilton 20-13 1942-43 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Bowen did not compete in District Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Lost to Hamilton 49-32 Hamilton lost in semi-final round 1943-44 Postseason scores, coach’s name, and records needed. 1944-45 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District scores unavailable Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Lost to Hamilton 50-39 Hamilton lost in semi-final 1945-46 Fountain Green District Tourney Coach’s name & record neeeded Lost title game to Elvaston 42-40 1946-47 Postseason scores, coach’s name, and record needed. 1947-48 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Bowen did not compete in District Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Lost to Carthage 66-35 Carthage won Regional title. 1948-49 Colusa District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. Title game – lost to Nauvoo Sts. Peter & Paul 47-43
1949-50 N.R.A. Colusa District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. Semi-final Beat Colusa 63-37 Title game Beat Plymouth 67-65 Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Beat Augusta 33-32 2nd Rd. – Beat Dallas City 53-51 Title game – Lost to Carthage 73-48 1950-51 N.R.A. Carthage Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed Bowen did not compete in District Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Beat Dalas City 48-39 2nd Rd. – Beat Carthage Title game – Beat Plymouth 43-41 Galesburg Setional Touurney 1st Rd. Lost to Macomb Western 61-43 Macomb Western won Sectioal title. Macomb Western lost in Sweet 16 1951-52 N.R.A. Nauvoo District Champions Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd. – Beat Nauvoo 40-38 Title game – Beat Plymouth 69-46 Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Lost to Warsaw 60-59 Warsaw lost in semi-final round. 1952-53 N.R.A. District/Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed Hancock County Tourney Champs District scores unavailable Carthage Regional Champions 1st Rd. – Beat LaHarpe 71-39 2nd Rd. – Beat Augusta 61-45 Title game – Beat Carthage 71-44 Macomb Sectional Tourney 1st Rd. Lost to Canton 60-49 Canton won Sectional title. Canton lost in Sweet 16 round 1953-54 30 – 3 IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifier!! Coach Jim Lewis Hancock County Tourney Champs District Champions District scores unavailable Carthage Regional Champions 1st Rd. – Beat Warsaw 79-53 2nd Rd.- Beat Carthage 73-55 Ttle game – Beat LaHarpe 48-36 Macomb Sectional Champions 1st Rd. Beat Joy 85-55 Tite game – Beat Monmouth 56-54 IHSA State Finals Sweet 16 – Lost to Chicago DuSable 87-64 DuSable lost in State Championship game.
1954-55 Postseason scores, coach’s name, and record needed
1955-56 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District scores unavailable Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Beat Plymouth 54-48 2nd Rd. – Lost to Dallas City 59-56 Dallas City won Regional Dallas City lost Sectional title game 1956-57 Postseason scores, coach’s name, and record needed. 1957-58 N.R.A. Nauvoo District Champions Coach’s name & record needed Title game – Beat Nauvoo 54-41 Warsaw Regional Tourney 1st Rd. Beat Hamilton 62-61 2nd Rd. Lost to Warsaw 59-51 Warsaw won Regional title 1958-59 N.R.A. Plymouth District Champions Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd – Beat Terre Haute Lomax 93-47 Title Game – Beat Plymouth 59-51 Carthage Regional Tourney 1st Rd. Beat Nauvoo 64-58 2nd Rd. Lost to Carthage 72-69 Carthage lost in title game. 1959-60 N.R.A. Bowen District Champions Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd – Beat Colusa 79-34 Title Game – Beat Plymouth 53-44 Regional scores unavailable
1960-61 Postseason scores, coach’s name, and record needed 1961-62 N.R.A. Bowen District Champions Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd – Beat Industry 72-42 Title Game – Beat Plymouth 59-49 Hamilton Regional Tourney 1st Rd. -Lost to Warsaw 51-43 Warsaw lost in semi-final round
1962-63 N.R.A. Plymouth District Champions Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd – Beat Plymouth 68-64 Title Game – Beat Augusta 68-52 Dallas City Regional Tourney 1st Rd. – Beat Carthage 89-54 2nd Rd. – Lost to Dallas City 69-56 Dallas City lost title game
1963-64 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District & Regional Scores Unavailable 1964-65 N.R.A. District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District & Regional Scores Unavailable Hancock County Tourney Champs
1965-66 & 1966-67 Postseason scores, coaches names, and records needed 1967-68 14 – 12 Industry District Tourney Coach Carroll Herman 1st Rd lost to Augusta 78-65 Augusta lost to Industry in title game 1968-69 Plymouth District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd. – Lost to Industry 68-58 Industry lost in title game
1969-70 N.R.A. Augusta District Champions Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd. – Beat Plymouth 80-63 Title Game – Beat Industry 52-51 Dallas City Regional **1st Rd. Lost to Dallas City 64-55 Dallas City lost in semi-final round **Final game played as Bowen High School, became part of Augusta Southeastern in the fall of 1970. **Dan Veach tells us Bowen High School only had 4 losing basketball season records between 1952 – 1970! Boy’s Baseball 1940-41 N.R.A. District Champions Memories & Facts From Cheryl O’Halloran (Class of 1965): “I graduated from Bowen High School, Bowen Illinois in 1965. Our school colors were purple and gold and the school song was “Onward Bulldogs” The picture you have (at the top of the page) is the old school building not the brick building which was the last Bowen High. By the way, I love this site and appreciate all the work it has taken.” Further Information Being Sought We are seeking further information regarding other sports and facts you would like to share about Bowen High School. We are especially interested in a photo of the high school building. If you are interested in providing more information about Bowen HS please complete a School Submission form or write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write us at the following address: Illinois HS Glory Days 6439 N. Neva St. Chicago, Il. 60631
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