Hoyleton High School “Thunderbolts”

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Hoyleton Grade School Bldg 2007 – Former HS Bldg?
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http://genealogytrails.com/ill/washington/school_hoyleton.html

The History of Hoyleton High School

Hoyleton (population 520) is located in far south-central Illinois in the northwest corner of Wasington County.  Illinois Route 177 is the main roadway leading you to and from Hoyleton.  County Highway 24 also travels through town. Hoyleton is about 10 miles southwest of Centralia.

We are still researching the history of this progressive, small community and its former high school. Hoyleton does have a rich tradition.  One of the better operations in the area for children and people with special needs is the Hoyleton Youth and Family Services faclity, which has been operating in the town for over 100 years.  Check out www.hoyleton.org/locate.htm for information on this great organization.

Hoyleton is home to two K – 8 grade elementary schools.  They are the Hoyleton Consolidated Elementary School and Trinity Lutheran Elementary School. It is our belief that Hoyleton High School was begun in the early 1920s.  We know from research that Hoyleton High School boys basketball participated in an IHSA District Tournament in 1928. Our best guess is that Hoyleton High School likely served the town through the late 1940s, possibly into the 1950s.

Doug Bradley of Columbus, Indiana advised us that Hoyleton High School was a two year high school, at least according yearbooks he researched from the late 1940s. We do know that Hoyleton’s high school-aged children attend Nashville High School today.

Roberta VanBriesen tells us “The high school, a 2 year school, was located in the basement of the grade school.  The article said it closed in 1952.”

The fate of the Hoyleton High School building is a good one.  Shaun Renth tells us “Hoyleton’s former high school building, I believe, is the Hoyleton Youth and Family Services Facility today.”

Hoyleton High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                           late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                            1952

Consolidated to:                       Nashville High School

Hoyleton HS team nickname:    “Thunderbolts”

Hoyleton HS team colors:         Blue & White

Hoyleton HS Fight Song:          unavailable
AthleticsAs stated above, we are certain that Hoyleton High School boys competed in basketball.  It is likely that baseball and track were offered as well.  Hoyelton HS fight song, coach’s names, and team records are being sought.Boys Basketball

Some excellent research was completed by Doug Bradley of Columbus, Ind.  Doug found the following information while searching the internet.  He located Hoyleton High School yearbooks from 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1950.  Doug in turn summarized the information and sent it to us as follows:

“There may have been no nickname before 1947-48. October 29, 1947 basketball players Leroy Greiman, a sophomore, and Ronald Dykstra, a freshman, won a contest to choose the new nickname, “Thunderbolts”. School colors may have been Blue and White (1946, ’47, and ’50 yearbooks had blue and white covers).” We were also advised that the boys lost in the second round of the 1928 District Tournament in Greenville to Patoka 49 – 15.  They must have won their first round game however. Several results from the IHISA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores” and are copied below.

1920-21 – 1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

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1938-39      Carlyle District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Beckemeyer 27-16

2nd Rd lost to Patoka 45-30

Mulberry Grove beat Trenton in title game.

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1939-40   Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1940-41      Patoka District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Vernon 41-23

2nd Rd lost to Keyesport 38-36

Patoka beat Odin in title game.

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1941-42   Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1942-43      Beckemeyer District Tournament    Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Vernon 46-25

Patoka beat Trenton in title game.

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1943-44   Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1944-45      Odin District Tournament    Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Odin 53-28

Patoka beat Odin in title game.

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1945-46     17-17    Beckemeyer District Tournament  Coach Norman W. Beck

Sparta Junior Tournament Class B champs.

District Tourney Results

1st Rd Beat Breese 38-31

Semi-Final lost to Carlyle St. Mary’s 81-45

St. Mary’s beat Beckemeyer in title game.

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1946-47       3-16     Coach Norman W. Beck

District Scores Unavailable

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1947-48      Breese District Tournament   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Carlyle St. Mary’s 101-7

Breese beat Odin in title game.

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1948-49        Breese District Tournament     Coach J.C. Deaton

1st Rd lost to Breese St. Dominic 71-19

Breese beat Trenton in title game.

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1949-50       9-10     Breese District Tournament  Coach J.C. Deaton

1st Rd lost to New Baden 39-30

Breese beat Odin in title game.

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1950-51      Trenton District Tournament   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Breese St, Dominic 51-42

New Baden beat Ashley in title game.

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1951-52    Breese District Tournament  Coach’s name & record needed.

**1st Rd lost to New Baden 56-40

**Last high school varsity basketball game for the Hoyleton Thunderbolts.

 

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Other Activities

Dances, plays, band, chorus, clubs, all were likely a part of the high school experience in Hoyleton.

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Notable People From Hoyleton

Hoyleton is the hometown of former S.F. Giants pitcher Kirk Rueter, who just retired last year (2006) with over 130 victories in the majors.

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If You Have Any Information…

…you would like to share regarding the Hoyleton High School successes we urge you to share them with us.  The hard work and dedication of those who made the school work and succeed should not be forgotten.  You can e-mail information (especially a photo of the HS building) to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.com .

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