Chenoa (population 1,845) is located on U.S. Route 24 at Interstate Highway 55 in northeast McLean County. Bloomington is a short 26-mile drive to the southwest of Chenoa. Chenoa was once a stop along the historic 2,200 mile U. S. Route 66, making it a part of the “Mother Road.” Two railroad lines, the Illinois Central Gulf and the Toledo, Peoria, & Western, intersect in Chenoa. The town was founded in 1854 by Kentucky native Matthew T. Scott mainly for the farming potential in the area. Chenoa means “white dove” in Indian. Previous to 1854, the village was called Peoria Junction because of the intersecting railroad lines of the Chicago & Alton RR and the Toledo, Peoria, & Western RR. For more on the town of Chenoa check out their web site: www.chenoail.org.
Early residents of Chenoa started a secondary (high school) education system for their children in approximately 1867.The first actual high school building in Chenoa opened her doors in 1877. The first four graduating classes had a total number of 23 graduates between them. The first graduating class of five students earned their diplomas in 1881. The schooling provided was very strong until consolidation talks started in the early 2000s. An effort between Chenoa and nearby Prairie Central High School in Fairbury took place. This became a reality in 2004 when Chenoa was annexed into the Prairie Central School District.
Prairie Central still uses the Chenoa high school building as a grade school, part of the Prairie Central School system.
Chenoa High School Bldg Front – 2011
Now Prairie Central Grade School
Some interesting facts about Chenoa High School (courtesy of Evie Reis):
*The first Chenoa school was a “subscription school” (tuition-based) which opened in 1856.
*The high school rented the third floor from the grade school from 1866 to 1877.
*The high school opened its own building in 1877, the same year that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. The President of the USA was Rutherford B. Hayes.
*The school colors were changed to Scarlet and Gray in 1924, prior to that the colors were “pale” blue and white.
*Fred MacMurray, father of famous actor Fred MacMurray of “My Three Sons” and “Flubber” fame, graduated from Chenoa High School in 1898.
*Chenoa High School was the second school in state history to play football “under the lights” (Westville was the first). In 1928, Coach George Ferree’s good friend Harry Good attached lights to the elm trees that surrounded Chenoa City Park where the home games were played.
*The school fight song was written in 1931 by Wayne Auspurger, then a student at Chenoa High, who won the contest to promote school spirit. Previous to this song, Chenoa High School used the University of Illinois fight song for their own.
*A great website to view more photos and information regarding Chenoa High School can be viewed at the following address: http://chs1972.homestead.com/index.html. It was created by CHS Class of 1972 alum Peggy Adams Cashmer and is an excellent tribute to the town and high school of Chenoa as well as the Class of 1972.
Chenoa High School Quick Facts
First School opened: 1856
Year HS opened: 1867
Year High School building opened: 1877
First HS Graduating Class: 1881
Number of students-1st grad. class: 5
Year closed: 2004
School nickname: the “Redbirds”
School colors: Scarlet & Gray
Yearbook name: “Chenowan”
School Fight Song: CHENOA LOYALTY
written by Chenoa student Wayne Augspurger, directed
by band director E.L. Meeker – composed in 1931
Come let us stand
To cheer our boys,
For they are fighting hard to win;
They play because they love
To fight for the Scarlet and Gray,
Go smashing through, oh faithful lads,
For we are fighting hard with you,
We are loyal to our high school
And the ones who have fought for C.H.S.!
(Older Ending Cheer)
Che-He! Che-Ha! Che-Ha-Ha-Ha!
Chenoa! Chenoa! Chenoa!
Che-He! Che-Ha! Che-Ha-Ha-Ha!
Chenoa High School
Rah Rah RAH!
(Newer Ending Cheer)
C, C, C-H-E
N, N, N-O-A
C-H-E, N-O-A, Chenoa-Chenoa
YEA!!
Chenoa H.S. Press Box – Ferree Football Field
Photo Courtesy of Peggy Adams Cashmer
Athletics
The Chenoa High School Redbirds were successful on many levels in many sports throughout their existence. Boys baseball, basketball, football, track, and wrestling all brought home IHSA hardware (www.ihsa.org), while the Lady Redbirds competed in volleyball, basketball, softball, and track.
The Redbirds competed in the Mid-State Conference along with their arch-rival Lexington and long-time rival Gridley (who also closed in 2004). The CHS boys attained great heights in football. Their many great seasons are listed below.
Football
Let’s start with the big one. The Chenoa Redbirds could play some football! The Redbirds qualified for the IHSA playoffs 13 times. CHS finished 2nd in the 1A playoffs in 1979 and were State Champions in 1996!!
Chenoa Athletic Field Sign
“Home of the Chenoa Redbirds – 1996 Class 1A State Football Champions”
Coach George B. Ferree got the Redbird program off to a running start in 1928, winning the Illini Conference title. Coach Ferree stayed as the head coach through the 1949 school year, with some time off due to personal reasons and World War II. Coach Ferree and the Redbirds did not “duck” anyone. They played all the surrounding high schools including ones much larger than them including Pontiac, Washington, and Dwight. Chenoa’s enrollment at this time was 120 to 130 students. His 17-year record at the school was a fantastic 90-43-9!! Coach Ferree is inducted as a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
According to a Minonk-Dana alum, Chenoa had some great teams in the early 1950s as well. It is remembered by Bob Schmitz (M-D 1954), the Chenoa boys had a great game at the end of the their undefeated 1951 season when they defeated an also-undefeated Fairbury team with star athlete Bud Goslin in the last game of the season. The Chenoa Redbirds of 1954 were also undefeated and have more than one all-state player on their team.
In fact the Redbirds of 1951-54 did not lose a Conference contest, going 41-0 in that stretch. They won the first three conference games of the 1955 season before losing to Fairbury, stopping their incredible streak at 44 games!
The great successes of the Redbird football program are listed below. Included are the thirteen Mid State Conference Championships won by CHS!!
1928-29 10-0-1 Illini Conference Champs Coach George Ferree
1932-33 6-3 Coach George Ferree
1933-34 8-1 Coach George Ferree
1935-36 8-1 Coach George Ferree
1939-40 9-1 Coach George Ferree
1941-42 7-2 Coach George Ferree
1947-48 7-0-2 Coach George Ferree
1948-49 7-1 Coach George Ferree
1951-52 9-0 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1952-53 8-1 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1953-54 9-0 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1954-55 9-0 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1955-56 8-1 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1958-59 8-0-1Conference Champions Coach Don Daluga
1960-61 7-1-1 Conference Champions Coach Gene Jontry
1961-62 7-1 Conference Champions Coach Gene Jontry
1976-77 9-2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
Conference Champions
1st Rd Beat Buda Western 32-21
2nd Rd lost to Maroa-Forsyth 43-18
M-F lost to Hampshire in semi-final
1977-78 8-1 Conference Co-Champions Coach Ed Thomas
Lost tie-breaker for Playoff bid
1978-79 7-2 (great record) Coach Ed Thomas
1979-80 12-2 IHSA Class 1A Runner-up!! Coach Ed Thomas
Conference Champions
Playoff Results
Chenoa 8 Macon 7
Chenoa 21 Argenta/Oreana 7
Chenoa 47 Catlin 15
Chenoa 8 Hampshire 34
1980-81 8-2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
1st Rd Beat Gilman 24-6
2nd Rd lost to Lexington 12-0
Lexington lost to Atwood-Hammond in title game
1985-86 8-2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
1st Rd lost to Bloomington Central Catholic 27-12
BCC lost to State Champ Arcola in Quarter-finals
1986-87 8-2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
Conference Champions
1st Rd lost to Gilman Iroquois West 19-13
Gilman lost to State Runner-Up Macon in semi-finals
1987-88 8-3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
Conference Champions
1st Rd beat Colfax Octavia 19-8
2nd Rd lost to Lexington 7-6
Lexington lost to State Runner-up Hardin Calhoun in semi-final
1988-89 8-3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
1st Rd lost to Bloomington Central Catholic 13-0
BCC lost to Lexington in 2nd Rd
1989-90 7-2 (great record) Coach Ed Thomas
1990-91 9-1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
1st Rd lost to El Paso 20-12
El Paso lost to State Runner-Up BCC in quarter-finals
1991-92 8-2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Ed Thomas
1st Rd lost to Gridley 8-0
Gridley lost to El Paso in Quarter-finals
1995-96 8-3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Dean Magro
1st Rd Beat El Paso 12 – 7
2nd Rd lost to Arcola 30-28
Arcola lost to Carthage in title game
1996-97 12-2 STATE CHAMPIONS-CLASS 1A COACH DEAN MAGRO
Chenoa 29 Deer Creek-Mackinaw 8
Chenoa 35 Lexington 0
Chenoa 24 El Paso 12
Chenoa 28 Galena 15
Chenoa 35 Sciota Northwestern 28
1996 Chenoa Football
STATE CHAMPIONS!
1998-99 7-3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Dan Groce
1st Rd lost to North Boone 27-2
North Boone lost to Lexington in quarter-final
2000-01 7-3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Matt Christofferson
1st Rd lost to Carrollton 43-0
Carrollton lost to Greenfield in 2nd Rd
2003-04 Final Season Coach Dan Butler
School Records By The Numbers:
11.0 – Rushing average (yards per attempt) by Josh Champion in 1998.
23 – Assist tackles by Darin Cooper on October 15, 1999 against Tremont (Champion would have 21 the following week against Dee-Mack)
48.6 – Rushing average (YPA) by Champion against Gridley on September 20, 1997. He rushed for 243 yards on just five attempts!
190 – Rushing average per game by Jeff Hoselton in 1990.
284 – Rushes attempted by Hoselton in 1990.
1996 By The Numbers:
22.9 – Average passing yardage for the season by QB Dan Butler. He threw for 916 yards on 40 completetions.
26 – Number of first downs accumulated by the Redbirds in their state championship game against Sciota Northwestern.
29 – Number of first downs accumulated by the Redbirds on October 11 against Flanagan.
51 – Number of rushing touchdowns.
74 – Number of rushing plays attempted by the Redbirds against Flanagan.
534 – Total points scored.
719 – Total rushes attempted. This is good for third-best in Illinois H.S. Football history.
797 – Total offensive plays executed (719 rush, 71 pass).
4,579 – Total rushing yards accumulated.
5,675 – Total offensive yardage accumulated.
Great job Chenoa football!!
Chenoa Baseball Field – 2015
Plowed and Ready for Planting
Boys Baseball
The boys baseball teams also had some very rewarding years. From 1955-1961, the teams compiled a record of 69-18 under Coach Robert Newell.The baseball Redbirds also won two Regional titles and four Conference Championships.
1953-54 4-1 Conference Champions Coach Don Daluga
1955-56 12-0 Conference Champions (6-0) Coach Don Daluga
1956-57 10-3 (great record) Coach Robert Newell
1957-58 14-2 (great record) Coach Robert Newell
1958-59 9-3 (great record) Coach Robert Newell
1959-60 12-5 (great record) Coach Robert Newell
1960-61 12-5 (great record) Coach Robert Newell
1977-7815-6Regional ChampionsCoach George Kridner
1979-8010-3Conference Champions (5-1) Coach Norb Zubeck
1981-8211-5Regional ChampionsCoach Norb Zubeck
1996-97 21-8 Conference Champions (14-4) Coach Jarrett Brown
Boys Basketball
The Chenoa Redbirds attained their greatest success in basketball during the 1940s and 1950s. The roundballers won two Regional titles and one District title. The 1948-49 team, led by Chenoa greats Stan Albeck and Bill Sarver, lost in the Sectional Championship game to Pekin by two points, making Chenoa one of the top 32 teams that year!! Chenoa was also known for its play in the Mid-State Conference and at the McLean County Tournament, winning those titles several times. Some scores from the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are available below as well.
1921-22 Fairbury District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Pontiac 32-27
Pontiac lost to Forrest in title game
1922-23 through 1931-32 Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.
1932-33 Normal District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Downs 30-22
Downs lost to Bloomington in semi-final
Bloomington lost to Normal U-High in title game
1933-34 Dwight District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Cornell 32-16
Cornell lost to Fairbury in 2nd Rd
1934-35 Dwight District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Cullom 32-17
Cullom lost to Gardner in title game
1935-36 8-12 Colfax District Champions Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd Beat Gridley 25-22
Semi-final Beat Colfax 32-19
Title Game Beat Cooksville 18-15
Normal Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Lexington 29-28
Lexington lost to Normal U-High in semi-final
1936-37 Dwight Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd Beat Pontiac 20-18
Semi-final lost to Dwight 44-12
Dwight beat Fairbury in title game
1937-38 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
Chenoa Scores Needed
Fairbury beat Normal U-High in title game
1938-39 19- 5 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd Beat Lexington 34-15
Semi-final lost to Normal U-High 34-26
Bloomington beat Normal U-High in title game
1939-40 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd lost to Bloomington 22-20
Bloomington lost to Fairbury in semi-final
Fairbury lost to Normal in title game
1940-41 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd Beat Cropsey 37-28
Semi-final lost to El Paso 38-31
El Paso lost to Normal in title game
1941-42 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd lost to Normal 46-29
Normal beat Normal U-High in title game
1942-43 Lexington Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd lost to Normal 46-24
Normal beat Gridley in title game
1943-44 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd lost to Bloomington Trinity 49-17
Fairbury beat Bloomington Trinity in title game
1944-45 Lexington Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd lost to Fairbury 51-20
Fairbury lost to Gridley in semi-final
Gridley lost to Normal U-High in title game
1945-46 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd lost to Normal 44-36
Normal U-High beat Normal in title game
1946-47 22- 7 Lexington Regional Champs Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd Beat Fairbury 55-35
Semi-final Beat Gridley 36-35
Title Game Beat Normal U-High 51-47
CHENOA (51): K. McGregor 21, G. McGregor 13, Erdman 6, Sarver 6, Osborn 4, Ferree 1
NORMAL UNIVERSITY (47): Short 17, Martens 12, Weidig 12, Mette 4, Donahue 2
Pekin Sectional Runner-Up!
Semi-final Beat Springfield Lanphier 50-46
CHENOA (50): K. McGregor 19, Sarver 17, Erdman 8, Ferree 4, G. McGregor 2.
1948-49 28- 4 Lexington Regional Champions Coach George B. Ferree
1st Rd Beat El Paso 61-35
Semi-final Beat Normal U-High 62-53
Title Game Beat Normal 70-45
Pekin Sectional Runner-Up!
Semi-final Beat Athens 68-48
Title Game lost to Pekin 58-56
Pekin lost to Hillsboro in Elite 8 Rd
Hillsboro lost to Mt. Vernon in title game
1949-50 21- 9 Chenoa Regional Tournament Coach Lyle King
1st Rd Beat Saybrook 77-53
Semi-final lost to Lexington 77-51
Lexington beat Normal U-High in title game
1950-51 21- 6McLean Co. Tourn. ChampsCoach Lyle King
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Lexington 83-51
Lexington beat Normal in title game
1951-52 Lexington Regional Tournament Coach Lyle King
1st Rd Beat Octavia 64-62
Semi-final lost to Normal U-High 74-64
Lexington beat Normal U-High in title game
1952-53 21- 7Conference ChampionsCoach Lyle King
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Lexington 61-59
Lexington lost to Normal in title game
1953-54 19- 6Conf. Champions (12 – 0)Coach Lyle King
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat El Paso 80-43
Semi-final lost to Octavia 71-56
Lexington beat Octavia in title game
1954-55 19- 9 Conference ChampionsCoach Lyle King
McLean Co. Tourn. Champs
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Fairbury 74-56
Fairbury lost to Normal in Semi-final
Normal beat Normal U-High in title game
1955-56 Fairbury Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Lexington 62-59
Semi-final lost to Forrest 49-44
Forrest lost to Normal in title game
1956-57 Normal Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Octavia 56-53
Octavia lost to Fairbury in semi-final
Fairbury lost to Forrest-Strawn-Wing in title game
1957-58 Fairbury Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Normal 72-47
Normal lost to Forrest-Strawn-Wing in semi-final
Fairbury beat F-S-W in title game
1958-59 Normal Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Normal 71-47
Normal beat Octavia in title game
1959-60 Fairbury Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Normal 85-47
Normal beat Fairbury in title game
1960-61 Normal Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lexington 48-43
Lexington beat Octavia in title game
1961-62 17- 9 Conference Champions Coach Gene Jontry
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat El Paso 58-50
Semi-final lost to Normal U-High 58-55
Normal U-High lost to Octavia in title game
1962-63 Normal Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Octavia 74-54
Octavia beat Normal in title game
1963-64 Fairbury Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 61-53
Octavia beat Lexington in title game
1964-65Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Leroy 64-48
Semi-final lost to Lexington 71-67 (O/T)
Normal U-High lost to Octavia in title game
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1966-67 Fairbury Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Octavia 77-50
Octavia beat Farmer City in title game
1967-68 Heyworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Tri-Valley 66-58
Octavia beat Lexington in title game
1968-69 15-10 McLean Co. Tourn. Champs Coach’s name needed
Octavia District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Lexington
Semi-final lost to Wapella 60-53
Wapella lost to Octavia in title game
1969-70Leroy District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Leroy 82-71
Semi-final lost to Wapella 66-55
Wapella lost to Octavia in title game
1970-71Leroy District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Gridley 64-62
Semi-final lost to Wapella 93-72
Wapella lost to Octavia in title game
1971-72Fairbury Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat El Paso 57-43
Semi-final lost to Normal U-High 55-43
Normal U-High beat Octavia in title game
1972-73 Colfax Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 48-47
Lexington beat Octavia in title game
1973-74 Fairbury Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 69-44
Lexington beat Normal U-High in title game
1974-75 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1975-76 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1976-77 Fairbury Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lexington 64-57
Lexington lost to Normal U-High in title game
1977-78Colfax Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Eureka 53-50
Semi-final lost to Gridley 74-64
Gridley beat Fairbury-Cropsey in title game
1978-79 15-11 McLean Co. Tourn. ChampsCoach George Kridner
FairburyClass ‘A’ Regional
1st Rd Beat Fairbury-Cropsey 64-62
Semi-final lost to Lexington 75-66
Gridley beat Lexington in title game
1979-80 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1980-81 Pontiac Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lexington 47-46
Lexington lost to Flanagan in title game
1981-82 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1982-83 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1983-84 21 – 4Conf. Champions(14 – 0) Coach Terry Field
Postseason scores needed.
*Jim Jacobs (Class of 1984) – Athree time all-conference selection (1982, ’83, ’84). Led the Mid-State Conference in scoring in 1983 (25.9 ppg) and 1984 (28.9 ppg).
1984-85 – 2003-04 Postseason scores, records, and coaches; names needed.
Chenoa High School had at least one player that could “slam dunk” the ball. Redbird player Joe Moore competed at the Class A “Slam Dunk Contest” in 1994 and placed fourth. He had a preliminary dunk point total of 89, and 51 in the final round.
Boys Track & Field
In all, six different athletes won medals at the IHSA State Track Meet. The two medalists from 1929 fared so well that they earned a 5th place finish overall for the Redbird thinclad team. The award winners are listed below.
1924-25 Russell “Rutt” Dunham Javelin 3rd Place
1927-28 Estel “Ike” Lennington Pole Vault State Champion
1928-29Eldon Streid High Jump State Champion
Estel “Ike” Lennington Pole Vault 2nd Place
1928-29 Team Finished 5th Overall
Meet Results
1.) Chicago Hyde Park 15 points
Chicago Tilden 15
2.) Oak Park – River Forest 14
3.) Atwood 10
4.) Murphysboro 9
Streator 9
5.) CHENOA 7.5
Staunton7.5
6.) Lawrenceville 7
West Frankfort 7
Harrisburg 7
1949-50 Ben Clark Shot Put 3rd Place
1951-52 Dale Miller Pole Vault 2nd Place
1955-56 Dell Dunham Pole Vault 3rd Place
*A note about Russell “Rutt” Dunham and Dell Dunham:
These two were one of the few father-son combinations in state history to both medal at the IHSA State Track Meet! Both father and son earned third place medals; Rutt medaled in the javelin in 1925 and Dell earned his iron in the pole vault in 1956!!
*A note about Ben Clark:
Ben played football, basketball, and track for the Chenoa Redbirds. His effort of 51′ 6″ gained him a third place finish in the old one-class state track meet. Ben was Mid-State Conference Champion in the Shot Put in the 1949 and 1950 seasons. He set the school Shot Put record for Chenoa High School in the Midstate Conference Meet in 1950 of 52′ 8″, a record which stood at CHS until she closed in 2004! Ben went on to play football at the University of Illinois and later at Illinois State University in Normal. He also set the then-school record for ISU in the Shot Put of 47′ 10″. Great job Ben Clark!
Conference Boys Track Titles and Individual Champs
The Redbird thinclads also won 12 Boys Track & Field Conference Championships!!
1948-49 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1950-51 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1951-52 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1952-53 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1953-54 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1954-55 Conference Champions Coach Lyle King
1955-56 Conference Champions Coach Don Daluga
1957-58 Conference Champions Coach Don Daluga
1958-59 Conference Champions Coach Don Daluga
1961-62 Conference Champions Coach Gene Jontry
1963-64 Conference Champions Coach Bob McAllister
1964-65 Conference Champions Coach Bob McAllister
Three-time Conference Individual Champs
Lem Clark – Shot Put ’52, ’53, ’55 (younger brother of Ben Clark, also a great discus thrower!)
Tom Scott – 120 Yard High Hurdles ’53, ’54’, ’55
Jay Downs – 880 Yard Run ’56, ’57, ’58
Roger Sommer – 120 yard High Hurdles ’71, ’72, ’73
Dan Groce – Won the 100, 200, and 400 Meter Dashes in the 1979-80 Conference Meet
James Grider – 400 Meter Dash ’86, ’87, ’88. Also in 1988, James Grider won the 100 Meter Dash and anchored the winning 4 X 400 and 4 X 800 Meter Relay Teams!! During his four years at CHS Grider won a total of 6 golds, 3 silvers, and 3 bronze medals in Mid-State Conference Varsity Meet action. Grider also earned varsity letters in wrestling and track his freshman year and in football, wrestling, and track his sophomore, junior, and senior years for a total of 11 varsity letters at Chenoa High School! James Grider is the son of CHS graduate Danny Grider (Class of ’57).
Boys Wrestling
The success of the boys wrestling team is also well-documented. As a team, they did not win any IHSA hardware; however, they did have some individual state medalists as well as some nice season records.
Individual Medalists
1973-74 Ernie Garcia 98 Lbs. 4th Place
1981-82 Bill McKinsey 167 Lbs. 4th Place
1990-91 JeffHoselton 171 Lbs. 4th Place
Team Records
1994-95 15 – 6 (great record) Coach Dean Magro
1995-96 17 – 4 (great record) Coach Dean Magro
1996-97 13 – 8 (good record) Coach Dean Magro
Individual Events
The IHSA also holds competition in academic and speech areas as well. The following Chenoa High School students were Individual Events Speech Medalists.
1973-74 Randy Harrison Humorous Interpretation 3rd Place
1989-90 Catye Palomino Special Occasion 1st Place
1990-91 Eric Bertsche Humorous Interpretation 6th Place
In addition the Drama Team won a District Title.
1976-77 Drama Team District Champions Coach Victor Palomino
Girls Athletics
Girls basketball, volleyball, softball, and track were offered to the Chenoa Lady Redbirds. We have received some conference information on the Lady Redbirds which will be listed below, courtesy of Mid State Conference historian Merlin Haas.
If you have any additional information you can share regarding the girls’ athletic program, please e-mail us at eganann@sbcglobal.net.
Girls Volleyball
The Lady Redbird netters had two nice seasons under Coach Betsy Palmer. The 1982-83 team even won the Mid State Conference Championship!
Chenoa High School girls basketball had some real nice seasons in the 1980s. Included were some great records and a conference championship during the 1989-90 season.
1982-83 17- 9 (11-3 in Conference)
1983-84 15-11 (9-3 in Conference)
1984-85 12-11 (9-5 in Conference)
1985-86 17- 6 (9-4 in Conference) Coach Dan Groce
1988-89 14- 8 (9-3 in Conference) Coach Dan Groce
1989-90 18- 5 Conference Champions (11-1) Coach Dan Groce
Girls Track & Field
The Lady Redbird thinclads scored a near-miss in the 1980-81 season, taking second place in the Conference track meet (coming up a half-point short) to Streator Woodland. Sue Peters was a 3-time Conference Champ in the 400 Meter run winning the event in 1980, ’81’ and ’82. She also won trhe High Jump, 100 Meter Dash, and was on the 1st place 800 Medley Relay team.
1980-81 Conference Runner-up
The Music Department
Chenoa High Schooloffered a “total” experience for its students to enjoy and participate in. The Music Department was once such entity. The band participated in competitions and played in many functions for Chenoa. A yearly award was given to an individual band member and was called the John Phillip Sousa Band award. James Grider won this award in 1985, 1986, and 1988. If you have any further information regarding the Chenoa High Music Department, please forward it to us at veemonster1@aol.com.
Future Farmers of America
The Chenoa High School experience included a top-notch F.F.A. program. The sponsor for many years was Howard Zimmerman. If you have any information you would like to add about CHS’ FFA program, please send it to us via e-mail.
Famous Alumni
*Stan Albeck (Class of 1949), player on the the 1949 basketball Regional Champions who would lose to Pekin in the Sectional Championship game in a two point heartbreaker (see #70 in front row of 1947-48 team photo above). Stan Albeck went on to become Head Basketball Coach of the Bradley University Braves and later a stint in professional basketball as Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls!
*Bill Sarver (Class of 1950), player on the 1949 basketball Regional Championship team who also went on to a great career at what is now known as Illinois State University.
*Ben Clark (Class of 1950) – Three sport standout set school record in shot put which stood for 53 years. Went on to star at Illinois State University, playing football and setting the school Shot Put record there as well.
*John Capasso (Class of 1976), current Superintendent for Prairie Central High School. Former Superintendent of Leroy and Minonk Fieldcrest high schools. Former star of many musicals at Chenoa High School.
MEMORIES
From Marco Tome, AFS Student, Class of 1976:
“I graduated at Chenoa H.S in 1976. I was reading an article about FHS and the name Howard Zimmerman was mention. He gave me some classes in H.S, I had a lot of respect for him and I was wandering if I can get some information about him? Also, I remember Victor Palomino, my english teacher. Do you have an e-mail for him?
I was an AFS exchange student back in those days and that year was very special because of the bicentenial. I enjoy so much my staying there and learn so much about this wonderful country call America. I also enjoy the pictures of the 4th of July and looked at them carefully in hopes to find someone I knew from those days. I also remember John Capasso, he was a very sharp and inteligent young man. We always knew that he was bound for success. Those days were wonderful and full of memories. I also participated in a play that year called “Arsenic and Old Lace”. I’m an architect and have a designing and construction company with my wife. She is also an architect.
If I can find any info about those of whom I have written, I would deeply appreciated it.
Thank you,
Marco Tome.
Honduras, Central America”
Always Wanting More
We are hopeful an area fan or resident of Chenoa will help us fill in the gaps for the Chenoa High School Redbirds. We are especially interested in photos and personal stories. Drop us an e-mail at veemonster1@yahoo.com or write to us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 North Neva
Chicago, IL 60631
Home of the “Redbirds”
“Chenoa High School will live forever in our hearts.”
