Odell High School “Rams” & “RamGals”

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Odell High School 1909 – 1987
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Odell, Illinois

The History of Odell High School

Odell (population 1,014) is located in upper eastern Illinois in north central Livingston County. One of Odell’s “claims to fame” is its one-time busiest street, the historic Route 66. Today, it is Interstate Highway 55 which runs by the west side of town. Odell sits almost directly between Pontiac and Dwight (about eight miles from each). The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad also runs alongside Historic Highway 66.

Odell was formed in 1867, though it was unofficially occupied since 1854. It was then that its namesake, William Odell, and another man, Henry Gardner, owned the land that the village was sitting on. Mr. Gardner and S.S. Morgan platted the town around what was then known as the Chicago & Alton Railroad.

Schooling in Odell traces its roots back as early as 1857 in Pleasant Ridge Township, then the first public school was built in 1858. High School classes were not offered until 1866 when two years of post-eighth grade classes were offered. The first class of four-year graduates did not begin until after a “new” building was erected in 1882. This building stood tall until 1904 when it was torn down to make way for a “more modern” structure. This school building lasted a mere four years until it burned down in 1908.

A new building was finished in 1909. An agricultural shop was added to the facilities in 1952 and a gym was added to the school in 1957. The buildings served the educational needs of the Odell students for nearly 80 years. Declining enrollment and financial issues took their toll. In 1987, the town’s residents decided to close the doors of Odell High.

The high school-aged students now attend either Pontiac or Dwight High Schools. Odell Grade School still educates the Pre-K thru 8th grade students in town. The high school building was demolished soon after the school’s deactivation. All that remains of Odell High is the gymnasium and ag shop building, which are either connected or are a short walk from the grade school building (see building at bottom of page).

Odell High School Quick Facts

Year 2-year high school offered: 1866

Year 4-year high school offered: 1882

Year 1st HS building built:         1882

Year 2nd HS building built:        1904

Year final HS building built:        1909

Year ag building built:                1952

Year gymnasium added:            1957

Year High School closed:           1987 (school building demolished)

School nickname:                      the “Rams” & “RamGals”

School colors:                           Green & White (Gold trim added in 1972 to honor closing of St. Paul HS)

School Fight Song:                    “Odell Fight Song”

                                                         (Special thank you to Rita Clark

                                                          for providing the words to this song

                                                          From a 1958 Odell HS yearbook.)

To Odell Hi the school we love, we sing our song of praise,

            To all her many victories won, and high her banners raise.

            We’ll glorify our Alma Mater work for her with zest and show

            To all the world around, that Odell Hi is best.

            So let’s join in a cheer, while we’re all gathered here 

            Cheer for OCHS.  

            We are ready to fight, for the green and white

            Of dear OCHS.

            For her honor and fame, and her glorious name

            She will stand every test

            So let’s cheer, cheer, the gang’s all here

            We’re all out for OCHS.

From Joe Foley, Odell HS class of 1977:

“I attended Odell High School from 1973-1977.  At that time our fight song was a variation of ” On Wisconsin” that we sang as “On Odell”.”

ON ODELL, ON ODELL
FIGHT RIGHT PAST THAT LINE
PASS THE BALL STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE BOYS
BASKET SURE THIS TIME

             RAH! RAH! RAH!

ON ODELL, ON ODELL
FIGHT RIGHT FOR HER FAME
FIGHT FELLOWS FIGHT
AND WE WILL WIN THIS GAME

             RAH! RAH! RAH!
RAH! RAH! RAH!
YEA ODELL!
Odell High School 1882 – 1904
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Odell’s First Public HS Building

Athletics

The Odell High School Rams had many great seasons of success. The boys competed in basketball, baseball, track, and golf. The girls competed in volleyball, basketball, softball, and track. The best seasons of the sports we were able to research on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) are listed below.

Boys Basketball

The Odell High School hardwood court men had some real nice seasons. The teams of 1952 and 1967 won District titles. Coach Dick Laity led the teams of the 1970’s to some very successful seasons as well. Records and coach’s names of the District Championship teams and other great Odell HS teams are not available. Several scores involving Odell High School participating in the annual IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores” and are reprinted below.

1925-26             Livingston Co. Tourney Champs           Coach J.E. Lukens

                     

1931-32             Pontiac District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Cornell 34-24

                          2nd Rd Beat Kempton 31-16

                          Semi-Final lost to Fairbury 39-22

Fairbury beat Dwight in title game

1932-33             Dwight District Tourney                             Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Cornell 23-14

Pontiac beat Morris in title game

1933-34             Dwight District Tourney                             Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chatsworth 21-18

Dwight beat Mazon in title game

1934-35             Dwight District Tourney                             Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Dwight 21-19

                          2nd Rd Beat Forrest 25-23

                          Semi-Final lost to Cullom 34-27

Gardner beat Cullom in title game

1935-36             Dwight Regional Tourney                          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Dwight 31-17

Dwight beat Reddick in title game

1936-37             Dwight Regional Tourney                          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Dwight 34-24

Dwight beat Fairbury in title game

1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1938-39  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

1940-41              Piper City District Runner-Up                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Cabery 24-17

                           2nd Rd Beat Kempton 29-26

                           Semi-Final lost to Cullom 41-15

                           Cullom beat Braidwood in title game

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              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Forrest 62-12

Cullom beat Odell St. Paul in title game

1945-46              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chatsworth 52-24

Cullom beat Kempton in title game

1946-47              Piper City District Tourney                        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Piper City 55-35

Kempton beat Piper City in title game

1947-48              Forrest District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Piper City 44-35

Forrest beat Kempton in title game

1948-49              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chatsworth 57-50

Cullom beat Kempton in title game

1949-50              Piper City District Tourney                        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Saunemin 58-49

Odell St. Paul beat Cullom in title game

1950-51              Chatsworth District Tourney                     Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Saunemin 62-34

                           Semi-Final lost to

Kempton beat Piper City in title game

1951-52              Chatsworth District Champions            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Chatsworth 62-43

                           Semi-Final Beat Cullom 60-52 (O/T)

                           Title Game Beat Saunemin 69-55

                           Gardner Regional Tourney

                           1st Rd lost to Gardner 46-44

Forrest beat Braidwood in title game

1952-53              Chatsworth District Runner-Up             Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Reddick 53-45

                           Semi-Final Beat Saunemin 51-48

                           Title Game lost to Cullom 50-43

1953-54  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1954-55  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1955-56              Chatsworth District Tourney                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Saunemin 70-54

Odell St. Paul beat Saunemin in title game

1956-57              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Piper City 45-35

                           Semi-Final lost to Cullom 63-61

Cullom beat Saunemin in title game

1957-58              Odell District Tourney                               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Saunemin 50-48

                           Semi-Final lost to Reddick 61-51

Reddick beat Odell St. Paul in title game

1958-59              Chatsworth District Tourney                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Kempton 56-35

Kempton beat Reddick in title game

1959-60              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Kempton 62-47

Odell St. Paul beat Cullom in title game

1960-61              Odell District Tourney                               Coach’s name & record needed

Odell score needed

Odell St. Paul beat Braidwood in title game

1961-62  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1962-63              Chatsworth District Tourney                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chatsworth 78-71

Reddick beat Odell St. Paul in title game

1963-64  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1964-65              Odell District Tourney                               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Kempton-Cabery 75-69

                            Semi-Final lost to Reddick 83-68

Odell St. Paul beat Reddick in title game

1965-66              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Odell St. Paul 

                           Semi-Final lost to Braidwood 91-57

Braidwood beat Saunemin in title game

                                                              

1966-67              Odell District Champions                      Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Kempton-Cabery 77-59

                           Semi-Final Beat Reddick 65-52

                           Title Game Beat Braidwood 68-57

                           Pontiac Regional Tourney

1st Rd Beat Herscher 70-53

                           Semi-Final lost to Pontiac 73-72

Dwight beat Pontiac in title game

1967-68              Odell District Tourney                               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Reddick 70-55

Mazon beat Reddick in title game

1968-69              Odell District Runner-Up                        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Cornell 72-62

                           Semi-Final Beat Cullom Tri=Point 70-60

                           Title Game lost to Reddick 92-74

1969-70              Cullom District Tourney                            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Reddick 58-56

Reddick beat Cornell in title game

1970-71              Mazon District Runner-up                      Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Mazon 69-49

                           Semi-Final Beat Cornell 59-52

                           Title Game lost to Reddick 56-42

1971-72   15- 9   Clifton Class A Regional Tourney             Coach Dick Laity

1st Rd lost to Reddick 74-68

Dwight beat Herscher in title game

1972-73              Clifton Class A Regional Tourney             Coach Dick Laity

1st Rd lost to Reddick 52-48

Clifton Central beat Reddick RUCE in title game

                                           

1973-74              Clifton Class A Regional Tourney             Coach Dick Laity

1st Rd lost to Herscher 66-57

Dwight beat Reddick RUCE in title game

                                             

1974-75   23- 4   Clifton Class A Regional Runner-Up    Coach Dick Laity

1st Rd Beat Reddick RUCE 75-40

                           Semi-Final Beat Saunemin 64-60

Title Game lost to Dwight 60-40

1975-76              Dwight Class A Regional Tourney            Coach Dick Laity

 1st Rd Beat Coal City 72-65 

                           Semi-Final lost to Wilmington 62-56

Dwight beat Wilmington in title game

1976-77              Dwight Class A Regional Tourney            Coach Dick Laity

 1st Rd Beat Dwight 62-51 

                           2nd Rd lost to Lockport Borromeo 64-59

Reed-Custer beat Gardner-South Wilmington in title game

1977-78   14-11  Gardner Class A Regional Tourney         Coach Dick Laity

 1st Rd Beat Wilmington 58-44 

                           Semi-Final lost to Dwight 68-64

Dwight beat Gardner-South Wilmington in title game

1978-79   21- 5   Gardner Class A Regional Tourney         Coach Dick Laity

 1st Rd Beat Reed-Custer 84-55 

                           Semi-Final lost to Dwight 61-56

Dwight beat Gardner-South Wilmington in title game

1979-80              Gilman Class A Regional Tourney           Coach Dick Laity

 1st Rd Beat Cullom Tri-Point 76-50 

                           Semi-Final lost to Piper City Ford Central 56-52

Chatsworth beat Ford Central in title game

1980-81              Dwight Class A Regional Tourney           Coach Dick Laity

1st Rd lost to Dwight 82-59

Coal City beat Dwight in title game

1981-82              Clifton Class A Regional Tourney            Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Gridley 57-51

Bloomington C.C. beat Wapella in title game

1982-83              Wenona Class A Regional Tourney         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Streator Woodland 53-51

Ottawa Marquette beat Marseilles in title game

1983-84              Streator Class A Regional Tourney          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Ottawa Marquette 79-62

Ottawa Marquette beat Streator Woodland in title game

1984-85              Gilman Class A Regional Tourney           Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Wenona 52-50 

                           Semi-Final lost to Ottawa Marquette 94-53

Ottawa Marquette beat Seneca in title game

1985-86              Streator Class A Regional Runner-Up  Coach Jerry Farber

                           1st Rd Beat Seneca 68-66 (O/T)

                           Semi-Final Beat Cornell 53-44

                           Title Game lost to Ottawa Marquette 77-61

1986-87              Marseilles Class A Regional Tourney       Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Marseilles 58-51

                           *Semi-Final lost to Ottawa Marquette 60-45

Ottawa Marquette beat Streator Woodland in title game

*Final boys basketball game for Odell High School, HS closed in the summer of 1987.

Girls Basketball

The RamGals won consecutive Regional Championships in the early 1980’s. Coaches’ names and team records of these teams are needed.

1980-81             Regional Champions              Coach David Woodward

The Odell HS RamGals – Regional Champs 1980-81
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Submitted by Connie Abry

Front row L to R: Rhonda Bustle, Veronica O’Donnell, Deb Stadel, Donna Johnson, Connie Abry

Back row L to R: Susie Branz, Robin LaBorence, Suz Rygh, Coach Dave Woodward, Robin Tucker, Mary Ribordy, Donna Rygh, Joyce Branz.

1981-82             Regional Champions                     Coach David Woodward

1982-83             Regional Runner-up                          Coach David Woodward

1983-84             Regional Runner-up                          Coach Bruce Weldy

Girls Volleyball

The 1979-80 RamGals won a Regional Title for the school. Class of 1980 graduate Pat Ehler helped us with the information on this great team.

1979-80    11 – 6     Regional Champions             Coach Kathy McPeek

                             Dight Tourney Runner-up

Softball, Boys Golf, Baseball, Track

All of these sports were offered at one time by the athletic department of Odell High School. If you have any information on any of these sports, please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

Great Coach

*Coach Dick Laity              Eight Seasons Recorded 

                                          1971-72 through 1978-79

                                          Overall Record 121-83

                                          Two seasons with 20 wins or more 

MEMORIES

             

**From Bill Spriggs:

“My name is Bill Spriggs. I and my partner were referees of some repute later on but thanks to old friends Dick Laity and Jerry Farber we were hired when we weren’t so good and the fans and staff at Odell High School were so fair and good to us. They and the entire Odell community will always be fondly remembered. Rick Preston was my wonderful partner and we worked the 1988 state title game for class A boys basketball. We still talk about our times at Odell and all the wonderful small schools that took a chance on two rookies trying to catch our dream to work in Champagne. Many thanks to all the Odell’s in Illinois that took a chance on us.”

                     

Remember the RAMS & RAMGALS!

If you have any information regarding the Odell High School Rams & RamGals and their many accomplishments, please share it with us so we can share it with others. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.. You can wrte to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

Odell High School (2005)
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Gymnasium and Ag Shop


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