The History of Cullom High School Cullom (population 563) is located in upper-eastern Illinois about 20 miles east of Pontiac. This places Cullom in the east-central portion of Livingston County. The main roadway taking you to and from Cullom is Illinois Route 116. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad owns tracks that travel through Cullom. A branch of the North Fork of the Vermillion River flows through the east side of town as well. The history of Cullom is in need of research. We understand that Cullom began an educational system for its students in 1857 at a private home in Sullivan Township, which is where Cullom is located in the county. A high school curriculum was established by the late 1800’s as a two-year extension of the grade school. The first high school, called Sullivan Township High School, existed for one year only from 1916-17, but was declared invalid because taxes were not paid and teachers were not compensated for their services. However, eight people did graduate that year. The Cullom Community High School district was formed in 1929 and operated until its closure in 1968 when it merged with Kempton-Cabery and the Emington Community school district to form the Tri-Point school district.
Gerald Buckler provided us with information he obtained from a 1961 Cullom High School yearbook. This year book lists graduates of Cullom High School beginning in 1900. This would indicate that the Cullom school district began offering some sort of high school curriculum at least by the year 1898. Number of students listed as graduating, by year of graduation, are also found in the yearbook. The numbers are as follows: 1900-2; 1901-4; 1902-5; 1903-4; 1904-0; 1905-4; 1906-4; 1907-6; 1908-7; 1909-8.(which included Bessie Donahue who went on after college to become the choral music teacher in Cullom and area country schools and teaching private piano lessons for many, many years.) 1910-0; 1911-1; 1912-2; 1913-3; 1914-0; 1915-9.(which included graduate Hazel Haag Magee who after college taught for years in the Cullom Grade School); 1916-4; 1917-8; 1918-11; 1919-4; 1920-6; 1921-2; 1922-7; 1923-9; 1924-16; 1925-13; 1926-14; 1927-14; 1928-10; 1929-8; 1930-9; 1931-23; 1932-23; 1933-20; 1934-24; 1935-20; 1936-30; 1937-16; 1938-28; 1939-21; 1940-27. Gerald tells us that “classes pretty much ran between 15 and 25 thru the rest of the 1961 Yearbook Record. No one was listed as killed or missing in WWI. Wilmer Aellig, Class of 1941 was the only one listed as killed in action during WWII.” Our good fan Scott Gleeson provided some excellent research and found that the consolidation effort took place prior to the start of the school year of 1968. Scott goes on to tell us that: “In the first yearbook of Tri-Point HS, a saying sticks out that states “in unity there is strength.” In unity, the Tri-Point School District has lasted through the years even to today. Basketball games and volleyball games are sensational at Tri-Point as it is a small-town atmosphere at its best. The gym is small and the fans sit nearly on top of you as you play. I really enjoy the small town atmosphere and the great pride and emotion this atmosphere brings to athletics that comes from each community involved.”
The high school for the Tri-Point District was located in Cullom. Royal Duncan tells us that the Tri-Point school District continues to utilize the Cullom High School building today. Additions were made to the original Cullom High School building in 1935 and 1956. The Tri-Point District is still going strong. Cullom High School Quick Facts First school opened: 1857 Two-year HS classes began: 1898 Year opened as Sullivan Township. HS: 1916 Formation of Cullom Community HS: 1929 Year closed: 1968 Consolidated to: Tri-Point School District (Cullom) Cullom HS team nickname: “Ramblers” Team colors: Blue & White School Fight Song: “Cullom Loyalty” Provided by Gerald Buckler When our dear Cullom High boys fall in line, We’re going to win again another time For C.C.H.S. standards and its name Its honor and true sportsmanship We’ll win the game. So let us fight, fight, fight for every gain And put our school right in the Hall of Fame We’ll do our best when put to every test, Yes our Best!!! RAH! RAH! RAH!
Seeking a Yearbook I am trying to obtain either a 1990 or 1989 yearbook from Tri-Point High School. I’m sorry for the intrusion, but I’m wondering if you might be able to help? Athletics We know there was boys’ basketball and football in the Cullom Rambler program. We are confident track and baseball were offered. The Ramblers competed in the Vermillion Valley Conference, and was one of the founding members of the organization that originally featured schools eastern Livingston County.
Boys Basketball One thing is for certain, Cullom High School had a great measure of success in their area for boys basketball. A total of EIGHT Distirct titles were won at Cullom High. Five were won in the 1940’s, three in the 1950’s! There had to be some great team records and great coaches who made this possible; however, we do not have this information at this time. Several scores involving Cullom HS in the IHSA Tournament were located on a site titled Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores“. These games are listed below. The photo to your right is of the Cullom Ramblers of 1952-53. This team had an overall record of 20-11, won the Vermilion Valley Conference Tourney, District title, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Regional. Members of the team as pictured to the right include: Back Row: R. Casper – manager, D. Landis, J. Deany, G. Buckler, S. Long, R. Ashman, J. Dutton, Coach Ferri Front Row: W. Lauterbach, G. Gray, G. Hamilton – mascot, R. Corkill, S. McCulloh 1922-23 through 1933-34 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s names needed. —- 1933-34 Dwight District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to Gardner 59-18 Gardner lost to Dwight in 2nd Rd Dwight beat Mazon for title. —- 1934-35 Dwight District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Mazon 19-18 2nd Rd Beat Chenoa 32-17 3rd Rd Beat Morris 39-23 Semi-final Beat Odell 34-27 Title Game lost to Gardner 24-14 —- 1935-36 Kempton District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed Semi-final Beat Cabery 25-15 Title Game lost to Reddick 22-16 —- 1936-37 3 – 17 Kempton District Tournament Coach J.E. Elbert. 1st Rd lost to Chenoa 25-24 —- 1937-38 Cullom Hosted District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed (Cullom scores needed) Braidwood beat Kempton for title —- 1938-39 11 – 16 IHSA District Tournament Coach A.C. Williamson 1st Rd Beat Kempton 26-24 Semi-final lost to Cabery 27-16 —- 1939-40 26 – 4 IHSA District Champions Coach A.C. Williamson 1st Rd Beat Strawn 27-22 Semi-final Beat Forrest 39-17 Title Game Beat Chatsworth 2819 Dwight Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Gardner-South Wilmington 33-27 —- 1st Rd Beat Piper City 32-5 Semi-final Beat Odell 41-17 Title Game Beat Braidwood 34-30 IHSA Regional Runner-Up 1st Rd Beat Pontiac 43-39 Semi-final Beat Wilmington 39-31 Title Game lost to Braidwood 24-23 (Top two from Regional went to Sectional) Joliet Sectional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Sheldon 39-36 (2 O/Ts) Sheldon lost to Waterman in title game **FROM ERICH MURPHY: “AC Williamson mentioned as a coach at Cullom High School is the same Aubra Williamson who became a hall of fame coach at Pontiac in the 1940s, ’50s and into the ’60s. The AC Williamson Award for the Pontiac Holiday Tournament is named for him.” —- 1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1944-45 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Needed Dwight Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Saunemin 34-26 Saunemin lost to Gardner in semi-final Gardner lost to Coal City in title game —- 1945-46 Cullom District Champions Coach’s name & record needed (early round scores needed) Title Game Beat Kempton 40-30 Dwight Regional Runner-Up 1st Rd Beat Dwight 54-32 Semi-final Beat Saunemin 39-38 (O/T) Title Game lost to Pontiac 53-35 —- 1946-47 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1947-48 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1st Rd Beat Saunemin 36-33 Semi-final Beat Odell St. Paul 48-47 (O/T) Title Game Beat Kempton 42-41 Dwight Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Dwight 46-35 Semi-final lost to Forrest 74-36 Forrest beat Coal City in title game —- 1949-50 23 – 4 Piper City District Runner-Up Coach Kelly Cox 1st Rd Beat Mazon 54-32 Semi-final Beat Kempton 65-27 Title Game lost to Odell St. Paul 54-34 —- 1950-51 Chatsworth District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Mazon 47-24 Semi-final Beat Piper City 53-47 Title Game lost to Odell St. Paul 61-58 (O/T) —- 1951-52 Chatsworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Odell 60-52 (O/T) Odell beat Saunemin in title game —- 1952-53 20 – 11 IHSA District Champions Coach Bob Ferri VVC Tourney Champs District Scores Needed Gardner Regional Semi-Finalist 1st Rd Beat Coal City 62-52 Semi-final lost to Pontiac 85-46 Pontiac beat Braidwood in title game —- 1953-54 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Needed Pontiac Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Coal City 56050 Coal City lost to Pontiac in semi-final Pontiac beat Braidwood for title —- 1954-55 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1955-56 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District & Regional Scores Needed —- VVC Champions District Scores Needed Mazon Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Mazon 54-51 Mazon lost to Pontiac in semi-final Pontiac beat Coal City for title 1957-58 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- 1958-59 Chatsworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed VVC Champions District Tournament Scores 1st Rd Beat Saunemin 78-59 Semi-final lost to Reddick 67-59 Reddick lost to Kempton in title game —- 1959-60 Cullom District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Piper City 83-53 Semi-final Beat Kempton 76-73 Title Game lost to Odell St. Paul 59-56 —- 1960-61 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- 1961-62 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- 1962-63 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- 1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- 1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- 1965-66 10 – 12 IHSA District Tournament Coach James Workman 1st Rd lost to Saunemin 86-65 —- 1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed —- **1967-68 Odell District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Mazon 54-40 Mazon beat Reddick in title game **Final season as Cullom High School. Became Cullom Tri-Point High School in the Fall of 1968. |
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