Lomax High School “Panthers”

Lomax School Building 1911 – 1974

http://www.hendersoncolibrary.com/schools/?school=30

Lomax School 1911 – 1974

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http://www.hendersoncolibrary.com/schools/?school=30

The History of Lomax High School

Lomax (population 477) is located in far western Illinois in the southwestern corner of Henderson County. Illinois Route 96 is the main roadway to and from Lomax. County Road 630E also takes you into town. Lomax sits about one mile east of the Mississippi River. The Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad also travels through Lomax. This information was located on www.mapquest.com .

A short history of the village of Lomax is found at http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/henderson/communities_henderson.html . It states:

“The village of Lomax was laid out by Robert Lomax in 1882. A railroad station and businesses were located here many years before the town was platted. Lomax was the home of an early airplane factory (circa 1910) and later had a modern tomato canning factory.”

We know that Lomax supported a high school through some excellent research by Roberta Van Briesen. Roberta discovered a 1923 newpaper article on the internet describing a high school basketball game between Lomax and Fountain Green. This will be printed below in the “athletics” section.

Our only guess is that Lomax began offering high school courses for the children of the town in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Cynthia Scott advises that Lomax High School was a three-year program. Lomax likely stopped offering high school courses in the mid-1940s, possibly even earlier. Once the high school program at Lomax ended the kids began attending Dallas City High School.

Lomax Grade School continued in operation through the 1961-62 school year when the Lomax School District consolidated with the Dallas City School District to form Dallas City Unit District #336. Dallas City High School closed in 2001. Research by Jake Tenhouse reveals that the kids of Lomax today attend high school at Carthage Illini West.

We are interested in obtaining more information about Lomax High School. If you can assist please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

Lomax High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s/early 1900s

Year closed: mid to late 1940s

Consolidated to: Dallas City High School

Kids now attend: Carthage Illini West High School

Lomax HS nickname: “Panthers”

Team colors: Blue & White

School fight song: unavailable

ATHLETICS

We know that Lomax High School boys competed in basketball. It is possible other sports such as baseball and track were offered. We are in need of the school’s team mascot, the team uniform colors, and the fight song. We are also searching for photos and season records, including coach’s names, of the Lomax teams.

BASKETBALL

Roberta Van Briesen found the following 1923 newspaper article at the web address of http://hancock.ilgenweb.net/1923clips.html . This is currently the extent of the information we have regarding the Lomax High School boys basketball program.

“The Fountain Green High School Basket Ball team defeated the Lomax High School Basket Ball team in an out-door game at Fountain Green on November 7th, with a score of 5 to 8.

Fay Yetter and Ivan Latherow played forwards on the Fountain Green squad. These boys were supported by Harlan Lenix as center and with John Larson and Fred Shipman as guards. During the last half Russell Shipman and Melvin Latherow guarded the Lomax forwards. And it was no easy job to guard Robert Pence of Lomax. Pence made all of the points for Lomax.

Fay Yetter was the star player on the Fountain Green squad, making two goals in each half.

The game was a very clean game and was refereed by George Hoover of Lomax. Only two fouls were called; one a personal foul on Russell Shipman of Fountain Green and one a technical foul on Clifford Pence of Lomax.

The second game between these teams will probably be played at Lomax in the near future.”

Though we do not currently have any season records or coaches’ names for the Lomax High School basketball program, we did locate some scores involving Lomax in the IHSA State Tournament on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are reprinted below.

1933-34 Roseville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Roseville 41-18

Roseville lost to Keithsburg in the 2nd Rd

Keithsburg lost to Media in the title game

MEMORIES & FACTS

**From Cynthia Sutton:

“The school mascot was the Lomax Panthers, the colors were blue & white. The high school was a 3 year program that ended well before 1950. Lomax kids graduated from Dallas City High School after the high school program ended. The school had baseball, track and basketball teams. In 1961-62, the Lomax Elementary School was consolidated with Dallas City, becoming Dallas City Community Unit #336. I believe Genevieve Rockel was the last principal at Lomax.”

SINCERE GRATITUDE

Thank you to Roberta Van Briesen for her continued support of the Glory Days website. Her relentless research made the development of this page possible.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING LOMAX HIGH SCHOOL?

If you have any additional information you can share regarding Lomax High School please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net, or write to us via the postal service to the below listed address.

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva. Av.

Chicago, Il. 60631