Roanoke (population 1,994) is located in upper-central Illinois in central Woodford County, about 20 miles east and a little north of Peoria. Illinois Routes 116 and 117 run concurrently through town. The At & St. Railroad travels through Roanoke, too. The West Branch of the Panther Creek flows through the town in a couple of areas.
The history of the town and its school are being sought. It is quite probable that Roanoke began a school for its children by the late 1800’s. A high school was likely in place by the early 1900’s, possibly even the late 1800’s. Roanoke High School served the town for about six decades on its own. It was in the mid-1950s that Roanoke and nearby rival Benson began consolidation talks. The effort to consolidate became a reality in 1956 with the creation of the Roanoke-Benson School District.
The high school for the newly created district was located in Roanoke. A new high school building was built in Roanoke to house the R-BHS students. The original Roanoke High School building served as a grade school for several years before being razed. Only the gym remains from those years when it was just Roanoke High School.
Roanoke High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800’s/early 1900’s
Year closed: 1956
Consolidated to: Roanoke-Benson High School
Roanoke HS team nickname: unavailable
RHS ream colors: unavailable
School Fight Song: unavailable
Roanoke-Benson High School Gym
Home of the Rockets
Roanoke-Benson HS Gym Inscription
Athletics
Roanoke High School competed in baseball, basketball, and track as a member of the Tri-County Conference. These sports are all recognized on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). Roanoke High School team nickname, colors, fight song, coach’s names and team records of the better baseball teams and some of the better basketball teams are all in need of updating.
Basketball
Roanoke High School truly excelled in boys’ basketball. A total of NINE District Championships were won at Roanoke High. Included in this was two undefeated regular seasons. Consistency was the rule.
Between 1916 and 1956, there were only four coaches at Roanoke High. Lawrence Cravens’ great 23-year run highlighted this 41-year period. All four Roanoke coaches listed on the IHSA website had winning records while at the school. The best of these seasons are listed below.
1916-17 13- 5 Coach Raymond D. Yeck
1917-18 15- 2 Coach Raymond D. Yeck
1918-19 14- 7 Coach Raymond D. Yeck
1919-20 15- 3 Coach Charles Thompson
1920-21 14- 8 Coach Charles Thompson
1921-22 14- 4 Coach Charles Thompson
1922-23 13- 5 Coach Charles Thompson
1923-24 11- 5 Coach Charles Thompson
1924-25 Coach Charles Thompson
1925-26 12- 6 Coach Charles Thompson
1926-27 15- 3 Coach Charles Thompson
1927-28 20- 4 District Champions Coach Charles Thompson
Woodford Co. Tourney Champs
1928-29 15- 8 Coach Charles Thompson
1929-30 17- 7 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1930-32 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1932-33 20- 4 Nice Record! Coach Lawrence Cravens
1933-34 24- 1 UNDEFEATED Regular SeasonCoach Lawrence Cravens
1934-35 18- 5 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1935-36 21- 3 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1936-37 District Champions Coach Lawrence Cravens
1937-38 District Champions Coach Lawrence Cravens
1938-39 District Champions Coach Lawrence Cravens
1939-40 District Champions Coach Lawrence Cravens
1940-41 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1941-42 District Champions Coach Lawrence Cravens
Beat Metamora 47-45 for title
1942-43 District Champions Coach Lawrence Cravens
1943-44 17- 7 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1944-47 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1947-48 16- 9 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1948-49 13-12 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1949-50 17- 9 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1950-52 Coach Lawrence Cravens
1952-53 19- 2 Nice Record Coach Dick Broers
1953-54 14-10 Coach Dick Broers
1954-55 28- 1 District Champions Coach Dick Broers
Undefeated Regular Season
1955-56 21- 7 District Champions Coach Dick Broers
Tri-County Conference Tourney Runner-Ups
School’s Final Season
Great Coaches
Coach Raymond D. Yeck – 1916-17 through 1918-19
Three Seasons
42 – 14 Overall
.750 Winning %
Coach Charles Thompson – 1919-20 through 1928-29
10 Total Seasons
136 – 58 Overall
.701 Winning %
One District Title
Coach Lawrence Cravens – 1929-30 through 1951-52
23 Total Seasons
370 – 58 Overall (#174 All-Time in IHSA HIstory)
.864 Winning %
Six District Titles
One Undefeated Regular Season
Coach Dick Broers – 1952-53 through 1955-56
Four Total Seasons
102 – 28 Overall Record
.785 Winning %
Two District Champions
One Undefeated Regular Season
Went on to coach at Roanoke-Benson for 28 more seasons!
Baseball
The boys’ baseball program at Roanoke High won a District title as well. Unfortunately the coach’s name and team record of this and other great RHS teams are not currently available
1941-42 District Champions
Boys’ Track & Field
Two Roanoke High School thinclads won medals at the IHSA State Track Meet. Their incredible accomplishments are listed below.
1915-16 ?? Hodel 1 Mile Run 3RD Place
1946-47 Gerald Sander 1 Mile Run 4TH Place
Need Some Help
If you have ANY information you can share regarding the many great successes of Roanoke High School, please send it to us to we can share with others. There had to be other great teams and great accomplishments that may be forgotten if not shared here. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net, or write to us at:
