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ATHLETICS
Englewood was a member of both the Cook County League and its’ successor, the Chicago Public High School (aka the Public League), offering boys’ sports in track, basketball, baseball, football, cross-country, swimming, soccer, gymnastics, golf, speed skating, and rifle marksmenship. The female students of EHS had their choice among basketball, volleyball, softball, track, and swimmng, even though there was very little information about these sports available while researching. Anyone who has more information about these offerings is encouraged to contact us with details at dr.veeman@gmail.com.
BOYS’ TRACK
Before you get settled in, allow us to say that it may not be a bad idea to make a quick trip to the restroom or grab something to drink since this listing is going to a very long one. The Eagles won four state championships, 18 conference titles (indoor & outdoor), along with numerous relay and individual championships at the state meets. Here’s a look at the Englewood boys’ track history:
1891 First team known competed in Cook County League meet
1893 Individual Medalists
B. Hails 1-mile bike 3rd place
E. Kinchin 880-yd run 3rd place
1894 Tied for 8th in State
Cook County League Champs
State Final Standings
1 Urbana 22
8 Chicago Englewood 10
Yorkville 10
Individual Medalists
Clayton Teetzel 1-mile run 2nd place
880-yd run 3rd place
A. Vernon Hales 1-mile bike STATE CHAMPION!!
1895 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
Cook County League Champs
State Finals Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Chicago Englewood 26
2 Rockford HS 20
3 Chicago South Division 16
4 Springfield HS 14
5 Mattoon 12
Individual Medalists
T.B. Egbert 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
L.V. Porter 1-mile bike STATE CHAMPION!!
Clayton Teetzel 1-mile run 3rd place
880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!
James Hutchinson 100-yd dash 3rd place
220-yd dash 2nd place
N.C. Thayer 50-yd dash 2nd place
high jump 2nd place
1896 2nd in State!!
Cook County League Champs
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Rockford HS 23
2 Chicago Englewood 21
3 Chicago Hyde Park 11
4 DuQuoin HS 10
5 Chicago English 9
Individual Medalists
James Hutchinson long jump STATE CHAMPION!!
T.B. Egbert 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
W.D. Brookfield 1-mile walk 3rd place
James Henry triple jump 2nd place
Bert Hodgman 1-mile run 2nd place
N.C. Thayer 100-yd dash 2nd place
Gage Leake pole vault 3rd place
1897 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
Cook County League Champs
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Chicago Englewood 22
2 DuQuoin HS 20
3 Chicago Hyde Park 17
4 Peoria HS 16
5 Aurora East 14
Individual Medalists
Gage Leake pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!
Clayton Teetzel 220-yd dash 3rd place
440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
Harry Salmon 880-yd run 2nd place
Roderick “Jack” Siler 1-mile run 3rd place
Charles Flocken hammer 2nd place
broad jump 3rd place
Willard Doud 880-yd walk 2nd place
1898 3rd in State
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Aurora East 36
2 Peoria HS 28
3 Chicago Englewood 19
4 Chicago Hyde Park 13
5 Lewistown 11
Individual Medalists
Willard Doud 220-yd hurdles 3rd place
Zellner Pettet 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
Theodore George 800-yd walk STATE CHAMPION!!
John Maloney 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!
shotput 2nd place
1899 4th in State
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Biggsville 23
2 Aurora West 21
3 Chicago Hyde Park 19
4 Chicago Englewood 15
5 Taylorville 9
Individual Medalists
Thomas Webster 880-yd run 3rd place
E. Maginnis 1-mile bike 3rd place
Clarence Gray 100-yd dash 2nd place
50-yd dash 3rd place
William Hutchinson 220-yd hurdles 3rd place
Roderick “Jack” Siler 1-mile run 2nd place
Fred Indermille 800-yd walk 3rd place
1900 2nd in State
Cook County League Champs
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Biggsville 33
2 Chicago Englewood 22
3 Decatur HS 17
4 Taylorville 15
5 Aurora West 12
Individual Medalists
Fred Indermille 800-yd walk 3rd place
William Forbes 1-mile run 3rd place
Charles Kennedy long jump 2nd place
Frank Lasley 100-yd dash 2nd place
180-yd dash 2nd place
50-yd dash 2nd place
1901 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
Cook County League Champs
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Chicago Englewood 20
2 Taylorville 18
3 Aurora West 15
4 Decatur HS 9
Chicago Northwest Division 9
Individual Medalists
Robert Maxwell shotput STATE CHAMPION!!
Thomas Webster 1-mile run STATE CHAMPION!!
880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!
Ernest Salmon 220-yd hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!
1902 Tied for 3rd in State
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Chicago South Division 31
2 Paris 14
3 Centralia 10
Chicago Englewood 10
Pontiac 10
Individual Medalists
Ernest Salmon 220-yd hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!
Robert Maxwell shotput STATE CHAMPION!!
1903 Tied for 10th in State
State Final Standings
1 Chicago Hyde Park 24
10 Taylorville 5
Cuba 5
Chicago Englewood 5
Elmwood 5
Oak Park-River Forest 5
Relay & Individual Medalists
2/3rd mile relay 2nd place
Corson Morris pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!
1904 Relay & Individual Medalists
2/3rd mile relay 3rd place
Corson Morris pole vault 2nd place
1905 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
Cook County League Champs
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Chicago Englewood 16
2 Chicago Phillips 11.5
3 Greenfield 10.5
4 Petersburg 8
5 Chicago Crane 9(?)
Relay & Individual Medalists
2/3rd mile relay 2nd place
R. White 220-yd dash 2nd place
C. Butler 1-mile run 2nd place
Walter Merrill 100-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
50-yd dash 2nd place
Roy Madigan discus 2nd place
1906 Individual Medalist
(James) Austin Menaul 440-yd dash 2nd place
1907 3rd in State
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Oak Park-River Forest 18
2 Chicago University 14.2
3 Chicago Englewood 10
4 Atlanta 8
5 Chicago Lake View 6
Champaign HS 6
Individual Medalists
(James) Austin Menual 440-yd dash 3rd place
shotput STATE CHAMPION!!
Ray Coleman 1-mile run 2nd place
880-yd run 3rd place
1908 Individual Medalist
Ray Coleman 880-yd run 2nd place
1910 10th in State
State Final Standings
1 Chicago University 26
10 Rushville 5
Chicago Englewood 5
Individual Medalist
Darwin Tate 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!
1911 6th in State
State Final Standings (top 6 schools)
1 Chicago University 23
2 Chicago Hyde Park 18.5
3 Oak Park-River Forest 17
4 Chicago Lane 16
5 Decatur HS 11
6 Chicago Englewood 9.75
Individual Medalist
Charles Bachman discus STATE CHAMPION!!
pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!
shotput 3rd place
1912 3th in State
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Chicago Lane 18
2 Oak Park-River Forest 17
3 Chicago Englewood 14.83
4 Chicago University 14.67
5 Chicago Bowen 12
Individual Medalist
Charles Bachman discus STATE CHAMPION!!
hammer STATE CHAMPION!!
pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!
shotput 2nd place
1915A Individual Medalist
F. Patton 220-yd dash 4th place
1916A Individual Medalist
F. Patton 220-yd dash 3rd place
1922A Tied for 6th in State
State Final Standings
1 Evanston Township 35
2 Highland Pk. Deerfield-Shields 17
3 Marion HS 14
4 Springfield HS 12.75
5 Oak Park-River Forest 10
6 Chicago University 9
Champaign Central 9
Urbana HS 9
Chicago Englewood 9
Individual Medalists
Albert Washington 100-yd dash 2nd place
50-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
Joseph Cody high jump 3rd place
1923A Individual Medalists
Joseph Cody high jump STATE CHAMPION!!
Gilbert Mintz 220-yd dash 2nd place
1924A Individual Medalist
Robert Colin high jump 3rd place
1925A Individual Medalist
Nelson Brefford high jump 5th place
1926 Individual Medalists
Nelson Brefford high jump 5th place
Raymond Singer 50-yd dash 3rd place
1932 Individual Medalist
Stephen McCall long jump 4th place
1933 Individual Medalist
L. Hayes 220-yd hurdles 4th place
1934 4th in State
Public League Champions (both indoor & outdoor)
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Winnetka New Trier 19
2 Rockford HS 15
Sterling HS 15
4 Chicago Englewood 10.5
5 Centralia 9.9
Relay & Individual Medalists
880-yd relay 4th place
(?) Chism high jump STATE CHAMPION!!
Ed Smith 220-yd hurdles 2nd place
1935 9th in State
Public League Champions (both indoor & outdoor)
State Final Standings
1 Rockford HS 21
8 DeKalb 7
9 Chicago Englewood 6.5
10 Palatine HS 6
Peoria HS 6
Relay & Individual Medalists
880-yd relay 5th place
Joseph Bowles high jump 5th place
Ricardo Ruiz 440-yd dash 3rd place
Aquila Austin long jump 4th place
1936 Tied for 9th in State
Public League Champions (both indoor & outdoor)
State Final Standings
1 Elmhurst York 20
8 Shelbyville 7.5
9 Chicago Englewood 7
9 Alton Senior 7
Individual Medalists
Aquila Austin long jump STATE CHAMPION!!
Evans Walker 100-yd dash 4th place
1937 Tied for 10th in State
Public League Champions
State Final Standings
1 Oak Park-River Forest 18.5
9 Urbana HS 8
10 Chicago Englewood 7
10 Anna-Jonesboro 7
Individual Medalists
Ray McQueary 220-yd dash 3rd place
Eddie Culp 880-yd run 2nd place
1938 Individual Medalist
Eddie Culp 1-mile run STATE CHAMPION!!
1951 Individual Medalist
Clyde Ware 440-yd dash 2nd place
1952 Individual Medalist
Bernard Porter high jump 5th place
1957 Individual Medalist
L.V. Morrow long jump 4th place
1967 Individual Medalist
Willie Thomas 880-yd run 2nd place
1968 Tied for 8th in State
State Final Standings
1 Hillside Proviso West 20.5
7 Moline HS 11
8 Chicago Englewood 10
8 Maywood Proviso East 10
8 Chicago Harlan 10
Relay & Individual Medalists
880-yd relay 3rd place
Willie Thomas 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!
Ray Smith 220-yd dash 5th place
1969 3rd in State
Public League Champions
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Alton Senior 25
2 East Moline United 16
3 Chicago Englewood 15
4 Chicago Hts. Bloom 13
5 Berwyn Morton West 10
Individual Medalists
Willie Thomas 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!
Harry Johnson 1-mile run 5th place
Roderick Moss 220-yd dash 4th place
Michael Stover 120-yd hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!
1970 4th in State
Public League Champions
State Final Standings (top 5 schools)
1 Evanston Township 21
2 Alton Senior 17
3 Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 14
4 Chicago Englewood 10
5 Belleville West 9
Individual Medalists
Alan Everett shotput 3rd place
Lonnie Brown 180-yd hurdles 2nd place
long jump 3rd place
1971 6th in State
Public League Champions
State Final Standings (top 6 schools)
1 Evanston Township 24
2 East Moline United 21
3 LaGrange Lyons 15
Alton Senior 15
Chicago Heights Bloom 15
6 Chicago Englewood 13
Relay & Individual Medalists
1-mile relay 6th place
Lonnie Brown 180-yd hurdles 5th place
long jump STATE CHAMPION!!
Alvin Everett shotput STATE CHAMPION!!
1972 Individual Medalist
Steve Jackson 2-mile run 3rd place
1973 Tied for 6th in State
Public League Champions
State Final Standings (top 6 schools)
1 LaGrange Lyons 16
East St. Louis Lincoln 16
3 Harvey Thornton 15
4 Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 13
5 Chicago Parker 12
6 Chicago Englewood 10
Chicago Heights Bloom 10
Granite City 10
Lebanon 10
Relay & Individual Medalists
1-mile relay 3rd place
880-yd relay 5th place
Alphonso Sanders 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!
James Thompson 440-yd dash 6th place
1974 Individual Medalist
James Thompson 440-yd dash 3rd place
1976AA Public League Champions
Individual Medalists
Kenneth McCloud 880-yd run 7th place
Tyrone Smith 330-yd hurdles 3rd place
AN OUTSTANDING RUN BY THE ENGLEWOOD TRACK PROGRAM!!!!!
BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY
Englewood competed in the first Cook County League meet held in either the fall of 1908 or spring of 1909. From there, the school competed over hill and dale, winning 12 Public League championship, placed in the top 10 of the team standings at the state finals four times (including a second and a third in successive years), and had four individuals place in the top 10 to gather all-state honors.
1933 Public League Champs coach unknown
1934 Public League Champs coach unknown
1936 Public League Champs coach unknown
1937 Public League Champs coach unknown
1948 Public League Champs coach unknown
Individual Medalist at State Finals
Jerold Richard—-10th place
1950 6th in State
Public League champs
State Final Standings (top 6 teams)
1 Chicago Hts Bloom Twp. 49
2 Paris 70
3 Des Plaines Maine Twp. 99
4 Peoria Woodruff 104
5 Lincoln 117
6 Chicago Englewood 126
Individual Medalist
Charles Towns—-5th place
1951 Public League champs
State qualifier
1953 Public League champs
State qualifier
1954 Public League champs
State qualifier
1955 2nd in State!!!!
Public League champs
State Final Standings (top 5 teams)
1 LaGrange Lyons 95
2 Chicago Englewood 122
3 Urbana 139
4 DesPlaines Maine Twp. 161
5 Peoria Central 163
1956 3rd in State!!!!
Public League champs
State Final Standings (top 5 teams)
1 LaGrange Lyons 102
2 Rock Falls 113
3 Chicago Englewood 151
4 Maywood Proviso 156
5 Alton Sr. 171
Individual Medalist
Leonard Williamson—10th place
1957 Public League champs
State qualifier
1966 State qualifier
1967 State qualifier
1968 9th in State
Public League champs
State Final Standings
1 Elmhurst York 121
9 Englewood 263
Individual Medalist
Willie Thomas—5th place
1971 State qualifier
BOYS’ SWIMMING
Englewood’s tankmen were one of the better teams in the state of Illinois when the IHSA began offering a state championship in the sport during the 1930’s. The Eagles scored three top-10 team finishes (two of them in the top five) in that era, and also were Public League champs in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Names of coaches are unknown.
1922-23 Public League Outdoor Champs
1924-25 Public League Indoor Champs–20-Yard Division
1927-28 Public League Indoor Champs–25-Yard Division
1930-31 Public League Indoor Champs–20-Yard Division
1931-32 8th in State
State Final Standings
1 Des Plaines Maine 22
8 Englewood 4
Relay Medalists
200 medley relay—4th place
1933-34 5th in State
State Final Standings (top 5 teams)
1 Des Plaines Maine 27
2 Chicago University 19
3 Chicago Roosevelt 14
Rockford HS 14
5 Chicago Englewood 8
Relay Medalists
160 freestyle relay—4th place
180 medley relay—3rd place
Individual Medalist
Harold Cullen diving—4th place
Public League Indoor Champs–20-Yard & 25-Yard Divisions
1934-35 4th in State
State Final Standings (top 5 teams)
1 Des Plaines Maine 26
2 Chicago University 19
3 Oak Park-River Forest 10
4 Chicago Englewood 8
5 Winnetka New Trier 7
Chicago Hyde Park 7
Relay Medalists
160 freestyle relay—3rd place
180 medley relay—4th place
Individual Medalist
Billy Edgecomb 40 freestyle—3rd place
Public League Indoor Champs–20-yard & 25-Yard Divisions
FOOTBALL
The Eagles enjoyed success on the gridiron, taking home either the outright title or sharing it with another school on 14 occasions in its early years, and even won a couple of division titles as well in Public League play. It even made a playoff appearance in 1996, winning its first game in the 4A playoffs before ending its season.
There have been a number of notable players that played for the Purple and White, but one has a trophy named after him: Robert Maxwell. The Maxwell Trophy goes to the top collegiate player in the country, and was started in 1937 by friends of the Englewood grad, who died from injuries suffered in a auto accident in 1922.
In addition, one of the oldest traditional football rivalries involved Englewood with neighboring school Hyde Park. Robert Pruter wrote at length about the meetings between the two schools that began in 1889 and serves as the oldest prep football rivalry in the state of Illinois: http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/hstoric/football_engle-hp.htm
With help from Pruter as well as Tom Sikorski and the IHSA’s website (www.ihsa.org), here’s a look back at some of the better teams in school history:
1889 First team
1890 Cook County League Champs
1895 Cook County League Champs
1897 Cook County League Champs
1898 Cook County League Champs
1899 Cook County League Champs
1903 Co-Cook County League Champs
1908 Cook County League Champs
1909 Cook County League Champs
1914 Co-Public League Champs
1915 Public League Champs
1916 Public League Champs
1918 Public League Champs
1919 Public League Champs
1920 Public League Champs
1933 3–2–1
1936 4–2–1
1947 5–2
1951 5–3
1958 7–0–1 Blue Division Champions!!
Blue South Central Division Champs
Defeated Roosevelt 19-6 & Farragut 12-6 for Blue Division Title
1961 8–1 Blue South Central Champs!! Coach Yoshio Yamada
Defeated Wells 41-14 in Blue Division playoffs
Lost to Roosevelt in Blue Division finals, 14-13
1962 5–2–1 Coach Yoshio Yamada
1963 5–2 Coach Yoshio Yamada
1965 5–4 Coach Yoshio Yamada
1966 7–2 White South Central Champs Coach Yoshio Yamada
1967 5–3 Coach Yoshio Yamada
1968 4–2–1 Coach Yoshio Yamada
1969 5–3–1 Coach Yoshio Yamada
1970 5–2–1 White South Champs Coach Yoshio Yamada
1975 6–3
1976 5–3
1977 6–2
1980 5–4
1984 6–3
1985 6–2
1994 6–3 Coach Eudell McKenzie
1995 5–4 Coach Eudell McKenzie
1996 9–2 State 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach David Stiggers
Beat Aurora Marmion in 1st round, 56-15
Lost to Batavia in 2nd round, 55-6
1997 Coach David Stiggers
1998 coach unknown
1999 6–3 Coach Albert Cruse
2000-02 Coach Albert Cruse
2003 6–3 Coach Albert Cruse
2004 6–3 Coach Albert Cruse
2005 Coach Albert Cruse
2006 4–5 (last season w/team) Coach Michael Singleton
Last win was a 1-0 forfeit victory from Chicago Sullivan
Last game played was a 36-12 win over Chicago Payton
Englewood alumni that later went on to play professional football:
—Tom Farris: Following graduation, Farris attended the University of Wisconsin and later played from 1946-47 with the Chicago Bears and 1948 with the Chicago Rockets of the All-American Football Conference as a quarterback & defensive back.
—Ed Bradley: Bradley went on to play for Wake Forest, then was chosen in the 16th round of the 1950 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, with whom he played with in 1950 and 1952 as a defensive end in 12 games.
—Harold Bradley: This offensive guard went on Iowa, then signed with Cleveland, where he played from 1954-56. The Browns were NFL champs in 1955 as Bradley appeared in 11 games that season. Following the three years with Cleveland, Bradley played the 1958 season with Philadelphia before retiring.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Englewood’s basketball program made history on March 2, 1900, when the Eagles played Elgin High School in the earliest-known interscholastic game between two prep teams in Illinois, winning that contest at Sauer’s Hall in Elgin by the score of 16-12. The school won three conference titles, four more at the lightweight division, and a “Sweet 16” showing in the last year of operation.
1909-10 Cook County League Champions coach unknown
1917-18 Public League Champs coach unknown
1922-23 Public League Lwt. Co-Champs coach unknown
1924-25 Public League Lwt. Champs coach unknown
1925-26 Public League Lwt. Champs coach unknown
1926-27 Public League Champs coach unknown
1927-28 Public League Lwt. Champs coach unknown
2007-08 29-4 “Sweet 16” in 2A!!! Coach Louis Adams
Defeated Hales Francisan for Englewood Regional Title, 60-57
Downed Niles Northridge Prep 60-50 in Chicago North Lawndale Sectional
Upset by North Lawndale in sectional finals, 70-68
(North Lawndale eventual state 2A champs)
BOYS’ SOCCER
The Eagles made history as they participated with Oak Park-River Forest in the first-known prep match between two Illinois schools, ending in a 1-1 tie in 1909. Soccer was introduced to the school in 1905 following a serious football injury, playing the Chicago Wanderers that fall and winning 4-3. The school was not able to schedule games against other schools until 1909 when OP-RF started the sport due to a football death in 1908, so they played amateur clubs until then.
Archibald Patterson was the school’s first coach, and helped push the Cook County League to establish the sport in the league in 1912. Englewood won a number of Public League titles as well as the Peel Shield in the fall of 1914 as champion of the Public League and winner over the Suburban League participate in a winner-take-all game. The Eagles were a perennial contender in the CPL as well as for the Peel Shield for the remainder of the decade.
The 1919 Peel Shield match versus OPRF was marred by rough play and the referee ordered an extra period of play after being knotted at two in regulation time. OPRF pulled their team off the field, despite protests by Peter J. Peel, sponsor of the title match, and that ended the series. Englewood won the CPL title again in 1922, then disbanded their program in 1925.
1914 Public League Champions
Peel Shield Winners
1915 Public League Champions
1916 Public League Champions
1918 Public League Champions
1919 Public League Champions
1922 Public League Champions
BOYS’ TENNIS
The Eagles competed among the Cook County League and Chicago Public League teams, coming away with two singles and two doubles titles in addition to a team title. It also placed in the top three at the IHSA tournament in singles & doubles five times when the state finals were in their infancy.
Englewood was a part of the Cook County High School Lawn Tennis Association tournament that was held in 1894 only. The program gained some notice in 1910 when Alexander Squair won the University of Chicago Interscholastic singles title and then followed it up in 1914 with the Western Tennis Championship.
1912 Cook County Team Singles & Doubles Champions
1913 Cook County Team Singles & Doubles Champions
State Tournament Medalists
Al Lindauer & (?) Becker–2nd in doubles
(lost to Jerry & Jimmy Weber of Chicago Harvard 2-6, 7-5, 6-2)
Al Lindauer–2nd in singles
(lost to Jerry Weber of Chicago Harvard 3-6, 6-4, 6-2)
1921 State Tournament Medalist
(?) Reichenbach–3rd in singles
1922 State Tournament Medalists
Gene Quinn & Emmet Wertheimer–2nd in doubles
(lost to Rudolph Mulfinger & Frank O’Connell of Chicago Hyde Park, scores unavailable)
Gene Quinn–3rd in singles
1923 Public League Champions
BASEBALL
The Eagles started as early as 1890 on the baseball diamond, according to information received from historian Robert Pruter, as Englewood won three Cook County League championship during the 1890’s. As you can tell below, they were still playing up to the school’s final days.
1892 Cook County League Champions
1898 Cook County League Champions
1899 Cook County League Champions
2005 17-4 good record Coach Louis Adams
GOLF
Englewood enjoyed success as a team in the sport, winning three league titles, and even having one of its own players return home with a top five finish at the state tournament during the 1922 meet.
1910 Cook County League Champs
1912 Cook County League Champs
1922 Chicago Public League Champs
Individual Medalist
Eldridge Robinson—4th place (246, 15 strokes behind)
BOYS’ GYMNASTICS
The Eagles were pioneers in the sport, helped by the fact that they were coached by Henry Smidl, who introduced the sport to Illinois high schools. Englewood won the first Public League title in 1924 & 1925 before Smidl moved onto other Public League members Lindblom & Gage Park. Smidl was a gymnast himself, having won the national Sokol Club all-around championship from 1919-26. (The Sokol Club was an organization that was made up of Czechs and Slovaks who had immigrated to the US.)
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Englewood was a member of the Cook County League from 1900-1906 before the sport was banned by Edwin Cooley, superintendent of Chicago schools. The Englewood girls won the first league title in 1899-1900, and resumed play when girls’ sports were re-introduced in the 1970’s, but no Eagle team won a league title or qualified for the state finals.
MINOR SPORTS
SPEED SKATING
Englewood offered a team in the early 1920’s and won the senior division title at the 1922-23 Public League meet.This sport was contested all the way thru the 1970’s when it was dropped by the Public League.
RIFLE MARKSMENSHIP
The Eagles had both boys’ & girls’ teams in the post World War I era (1919-1929) that competed in area competition between schools from the city and possibly the suburbs, but no date is known on when the school discontinued these teams.
FAMOUS ALUMNI OF ENGLEWOOD
The folks at Englewood were proud of their students and honored those who became successful in athletics, business, education, entertainment, government, media, military, religion, and science & technology by inducting a number of them into the school’s hall of fame (see photo below). Among those inducted:
—Patricia Roberts Harris–attorney, former UN ambassador to Luxembourg, former Secretary of HUD (Housing & Urban Development) 1977, served as Secretary of HEW (Health, Education, & Welfare) 1979-80, and Dean of Students at Howard University.
—Jewel S. LaFontant-Mankarious–attorney, served as former Assistant General in US Attorney General’s office, and as a US Ambassador.
—Avis Lavelle–public relations specialist, former broadcaster with WGN Radio & Television in Chicago. Has served as media specialist for former President Bill Clinton and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
—Merri Dee–radio/television personality with television stations WSNS & WGN in Chicago. Also worked as director of community relations for WGN.
—Samuel Greenlee–writer, poet, radio talk show host. Wrote “The Spook Who Sits by the Door” and “Bagdad Blues.”
—Lorenzo Martin–former EHS teacher and newspaper editor/publisher.
—Fred Farmer–first African-American Army paratrooper & aviation instructor for helicopters.
—Maj. Robert H. Lawrence (USAF)–1st African-American astronaut and officer. Received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Ohio State, but lost his life in a test flight crash in 1967.
—Sgt. Donald L. Minter (US Army)–Retired Master Sergeant and was the senior ROTC instructor at Englewood.
—Dr. Walter R. Benson–chemist, pharmacist, retired Director of Drug Chemistry for the Food & Drug Administration.
—Dr. Jewel Plummer–cell physiologist at California State University/Fullerton and President Emerita at the school.
—Warren “Pete” Miller, Jr.–engineer and university professor, was Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy under President Barack Obama, and former Los Alamos National Laboratory senior administrator.
—Walter “Roger” Brown–former Englewood basketball player who played professionally in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers & Detroit Pistons as well as the hometown Chicago Bulls, plus with three teams in the former ABA following his college days at Kansas.
—Napolean Montgomery–coach of the 1996-97 boys’ basketball team at Englewood, and was named to the University of Nevada Hall of Fame in 1992,
—Dr. Henry A. Hardwick–first African-American cadet chosen to the City of Chicago’s Cadet Corps, and served as manager of the State of Illinois Labor Statistics bureau.
—Rudolph A. James–realtor, co-founded Ebony Real Estate in Chicago.
—Larry Hudgens–entrepreneur, CEO & president of Riteway Construction Company, also served as a mentor to Chicago Public Schools.
—Sheila Jefferson-Warfield–CEO of Educational Computing, Inc.
—Darwin Yarborough–financial advisor for Waddell & Reed Financial Services
—The Barrett Sisters (Delores Barrett Campbell, Billie Barrett Greenbey, Rodesa Barrett Porter)–members of the internationally-known gospel group, “Sweet Sisters of Zion”
—Gwendolyn Brooks–Poet Laureate of Illinois and writer, was first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
—Oscar Brown, Jr.–singer-songwriter, also a poet and playwright.
–Etta LaConstance Davis–international vocalist and activist, served as local school council president for EHS.
—Lorraine Hansberry–playwright and essayist that wrote “Raisin in the Sun.”
—Jeanette K. Wilson Childress–minister, educator, and guidance counselor.
—Queen Esther Richardson Crawford–served on National Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board. Also served as manager of the Bureau of Quality Control for the Office of the Inspector General.
—Gloria J. Gibson Randolph–educator, administrator, and ordained deacon. Founded GGG (Giving God the Glory) Ministries and co-founded R.A.Y. (Reclaim A Youth).
—Orietha Phillips Benton–Eductor and reading specialist.
—Dr. Stephen H. Brown–former EHS principal as well as district and assistant superintendent.
—Edna Alberta Dixon Bryant–served as educator for the Chicago Board of Education for 31 years.
—Dr. Madie Davis Canamore–educator, consultant, writer for computer information services.
—Nadine Dillahunty-Dillanado–award-winning educator, taught at EHS, and was Miss Englewood in 1968-69.
—Dr. Brady J. Fletcher–professional and government educator that served as supervisor in various organizations related to education, research, and governement.
—Hattie Green–served EHS for 37 years as school treasurer and payroll clerk.
—Richard Hunt–sculptor and educator, taught at Illinois-Chicago, Yale, and Northwestern.
—Elaine Ann Hunter–educator and assistant principal at Coleman Elementary School in Chicago.
—Dr. Paulette Webb Kidd–served as assistant principal at EHS, and was student advocate.
—Dr. Sarah Kidd-Burton–educator and compliance monitor for special education students.
—Sherye Garmony Miller–educator and adminstrator
—Charles Mingo–served as principal at Chicago schools.
—Nathaniel Richards–educator & counselor, served on Advisory Board for the City Colleges of Chicago.
—Audrey Hoyle Cooper Stanton–educator and administrator.
—Dr. Hazel B. Steward–served as a principal and was a regional education officer for Chicago Public Schools.
—Mark Upchurch–Served 38 years as English teacher at EHS, was department chairman, and was a delegate on the Chicago Teachers’ Union.
—Rudolph A. James, received GED from EHS in after serving in World War II..was owner and founder of Ebony Real Estate at 79th and Ashland.
Other famous alumni who are not in the Englewood Hall of Fame include:
–Archibald Motley: 1914 EHS graduate, known for his paintings in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920’s;
–Sherry Brewer-Bronfman, an actress who starred along side Richard Roundtree in the 1971 movie “Shaft” and was once married to Edgar Bronfman Jr., whose family was in charge of Seagrams and Vivendi Universal;
–Dr. George Carruthers, a developer of the space exploration telescope; and,
–Dr. John A Trimble, engineering professor and two-time Fullbright Award winner.
MEMORIES
from Joe Barrett (class of 1955):
“I was reading online about Englewood High School, and wanted to add a note about the Englewood Cross-Country Team that won the Chicago City Championship seven years in a row from roughly 1948 to 1955. I ran on the team in 1953 and 1954.
“I attended Englewood from January 1951 and graduated in January 1955. President Obama’s mother-in-law, Marian Shields, was in our class. In my freshmen year, I took Latin and Robert Lawrence (see Famous Alumni above) was in my class, even though he was already a senior.”
from Annette Vaughn Nunnally (class of 1958, from 2/20/2018):
“I was looking for information for our 60th year Englewood class reunion and ran across your web site. I was very impressed to see information and history relative to Englewood. I was also happy to see the old school, which is a unique piece of architecture, resembling a castle. Our school was (I think) the only school that had stained glass windows (until they were destroyed). I particularly remember the “gallery” where you needed high-powered binoculars to see the stage.
“I was also impressed with your list of famous people who were listed in (Englewood’s) hall of fame, as well as those not listed. I went to school with George Carruthers and Madie Davis. We are preparing for our 60th year reunion (class of ’58) in September of this year. We are hopeful that we will be able to reach more of our classmates because we are hearing of deaths frequently. The sad part of having reunions this long is that you see old friends aging (some better than others). But we are always happy to get together and talk over old times and do the old dances.
“We have a number of people from our class who are not on (the) list. I don’t know too much about their accomplishments, but they have made great strides during an era when opportunities were limited for black. One of those people is Frank Mingo, brother of Charles, who created his own ad agency and was a big name in New York. Frank graduated in August 1957. At that time, we had half-year graduates that were lumped into one. Lesile Spires (’58) owned his own visiting nurse service, which is now closed due to the death of his wife. He is also an accountant and a member of our committee. Diane Slaughter was the first in our class to receive a PhD (at age 30). Donald Myrick played saxophone with Earth, Wind, and Fire. That sax solo on “Reasons” is him, and unfortunately he died some years ago.
“Precious Luster is part of the Luster Hair Products family and is an executive. Mr. Bunton (choir director) had a lot of famous accomplishments, which I can’t remember, but he did a lot of church choirs and was pretty famous in his field. Also, Edward K. Leak, of the funeral family graduated in 1946 or 1947 with the Barrett Sisters. He invited me to one of their class reunions and I was surprised that blacks were in the school that early. I should not have been surprised since my uncle and all of my older cousins went there also.
“Anyway, I enjoyed your website and if you need more info on Englewoodites of the past, I may be able to get some of my committee members to help me in the memory department.”
from June Miller (dated 2/9/2021):
“Thank you for commemorating the achievements of graduates of Englewood High School!
I would like to add that Warren “Pete” Miller is a former Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy under former President Obama and the former Los Alamos National Laboratory senior administrator (e.g. Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology; Director of Science and Technology Base Program; Associate Laboratory Director for Research and Education; Associate Laboratory Director At-Large; Deputy Laboratory Director for Energy, Research, and Technology; Associate Laboratory Director for Physics and Mathematics; Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Programs; and Deputy Associate Laboratory Directory for Nuclear Programs, etc.).
It is wonderful how Englewood High School has supported so many students to achieve their dreams!”
SPECIAL THANKS….
to Harold Lee Rush for allowing us to use a couple of photos that are on this page, and well as information that we have been able to find out about Englewood High School. He has a website that caters to the EHS alumni and gives a great deal of information about the school’s history: http://eagles.whgbetc.com/.
Also, kudos to Tom Sikorski and Robert Pruter for the information they have compiled on EHS.
OUR WORK MAY HAVE JUST STARTED…
but we have so much to do in telling the most accurate story about the history of Englewood High School for generations to come. If you have more information about the school, whether it be for athletics, academics, the school hall of fame, or others, please contact us. Our email address is dr.veeman@gmail.com or send it thru the mail to us at:
Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 North Neva
Chicago, IL 60631
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