Lee Center is located in the center of Lee County (fittingly) in Northern Illinois. A nearby city of note is Franklin Grove, located nine miles to the north on Whitney Road. Dixon is located 11 miles to the northwest. This is an unincorporated community with Inlet Road being the main drag through town. It’s population is around 100 and located just off of U.S. Route 30.
The origins of the Lee Center school can be traced back to the days of the Lee Center Academy, founded in 1847, just one year after the town’s founding itself. It operated under that capacity unti 1859 when it became a graded school district. Over the years, the school had underwent many changes for the better.
Little by little the village lost support of it’s school system. In 1957, the high school was consolidated with the nearby Franklin Grove High School to form the Franklin Center school district. Franklin Center High School consolidated with Ashton in 2004, and Lee Center teenagers attend Ashton-Franklin Center High School in Ashton, located 14 miles to the north-north-east.
The building is still standing, behind the small trees you see in the picture. The two posts you see in the picture were each dedicated by the classes of 1948. It is now used as a private home.
Lee Center High School offered Basketball, and may have offered a track or baseball program for a short time. We would like to add many more items about the Lee Center High School athletic program including uniform colors and fight song. If you have a photo of a sports team from LCHS we would like to add that as well. Season records, coaches’ names, and other items are all being sought.
——————-
BOYS BASKETBALL
. LCHS won four athletic championships on the state level. All four were in Boys Basketball. Coach’s names and team records are needed. Postseason IHSA basketball scores were found on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.”
1933-34 Sterling District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Lost to Tampico 54-12
Tampico lost in 2nd Rd.
—–
1934-35 Dixon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Lost to Ohio 40-9
Ohio lost in 2nd Rd.
1935-36 Walnut District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Lost to Walnut 31-12
Walnut lost in 2nd Rd.
—–
1936-37 Dixon Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
1st Rd. – Beat Rock Falls 17-15
Semi-final – lost to Sterling 38-17
Sterling won Regional title
—–
1937-38 Franklin Grove District Champions! Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-Final Beat Leaf River 18-16
Title Game – Beat Byron 39-22
Oregon Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Stillman Valley 48-28.
Polo beat Mt. Morris in title game.
——
1938-39 Post season scores, records, & coach’s name needed.
——
1939-40 Byron District Champions! Coach Herbert Blodgett
Title Game Beat Leaf River 40-25
Oregon Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Polo 28-27
Semi-Final lost to Mt. Morris 14-11
Oregon beat Mt. Morris in title game.
——
1940-41 Byron District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Steward 60-17
Semi-Final lost to Leaf River 36-20.
Byron beat Leaf River in title game.
—-
1941-42 Byron District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Byron 29-27.
Byron beat Stillman Valley in title game.
—–
1942-43 Sterling Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Sterling 47-27
Sterling lost in semi-final round
——
1943-44 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Harmon 49-25
Semi-Final lost to Franklin Grove 34-30.
Lee beat Franklin Grove in title game.
—–
1944-45 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. – Beat West Brooklyn 66-18
Semi-final – Lost to Steward 41-26
Steward beat Lee in title game.
—–
1945-46 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. – Lost to West Brooklyn 30-26
West Brooklyn lost in semi-final round.
Steward beat Franklin Grove in title game.
WEST BROOKLYN (30): E. Gehant 10, J. Gehant 10, Sheridan 5, Ege 4, Hinkle 1.
LEE CENTER (26): B. Conibear 13, R. Delhotel 5, Ly. Delhotel 4, Le. Delhotel 2, Sondergrath 2.
—–
1946-47 Franklin Grove District Champions! Coach Glenn Davenport
Season record needed
District Tourney
Semi-final – Beat West Brooklyn
Title Game – Beat Steward 36-30
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Sterling 47-38
Sterling lost in semi-final round.
Rock Falls beat Dixon in title game.
——
1947-48 Franklin Grove District Champions! Coach Glenn Davenport
Season record needed
District Tourney
Semi-final – Beat Compton 69-24
Title Game – Beat Steward 42-41
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Amboy 65-48
Amboy lost in semi-final round.
—–
1948-49 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Team Placed 2nd in District Tourney
Semi-final – Beat Compton 60-43
Title Game – Lost to Steward 30-26
—–
1949-50 Dixon Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Rock Falls 74-20
Rock Falls lost in title game
—–
1950-51 Sterling Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Sterling 94-15
Sterling won Regional Tourney
—–
1951-52 Dixon Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Amboy 58-43
Amboy lost in semi-final round.
—–
1952-53 Sterling Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Sterling Newman 68-42
Newman lost in semi-final round.
—–
1953-54 Dixon Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Dixon 112-51
Dixon lost in title game.
—–
1954-55 Rock Falls Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Lee Center did not compete in District
Regional Tourney
1st Rd. – Lost to Sterling 72-36
Sterling won Regional title.
—–
1955-56 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
—–
Lee Center participated in the Green River Valley Conference against foes from the towns of Paw Paw, Compton, Kings, Steward, Lee, and Rollo.
Information on two of Lee Center High School’s District Championship teams was provided to us by Brian Hoxsey:
“In 1946-47 head coach Glenn Davenport led the Bulldogs to a district championship. Lee Center defeated Steward 36-30 in the district title game, and then dropped a 47-38 decision to Sterling in the regionals.
Davenport also led Lee Center to another District title the next season (1947-48).”
———————————
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
It is very likely that other activities were offered at Lee Center High School besides sports. Band, choir, FFA, FHA, and other clubs and activities were probably a part of the student life at LCHS. Please contact us via the means listed below if you have information on these and other activities at Lee Center HS.
Noteable Alumni
A.J. Streetor, an alum of the original Academy, ran for Governor of Illinois in 1880 for the Greenback Party.
Seeking More InformationMore information is being sought about Lee Center High School; use the Guest Commentary Form to sumbit. Corrections are welcome as well. If you have more Information about LCHS, including photos of the school, nickname, consolidation date and other great teams and high school memories you would like to share please use the Guest Commentary Form or you may also write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL 60631
