Roberts High School “Bobcats”

Roberts High School Building

Roberts, Illinois

Roberts, Illinois’ 1st School

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The History of Roberts High School

The peaceful town of Roberts and its 387 residents are located on Il. Route 54 approximately 40 miles southwest of Kankakee. This places Roberts in northern Ford County. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad runs through the center of the town. Roberts was established in 1872. Roberts is likely named after Francis Alonzo Roberts, who surveyed the land the town is located on for the Gilman, Clinton, and Springfield Railroad line. Early area man of influence James Roberts may also have had a position in selecting the name of the town.

Roberts maintained its own high school through the 1948-49 school year. It is not known when the school system in Roberts was started. However, after the 1949 school year ended, the people of Roberts voted to consolidate their school system with its Route 54 neighbor to the northeast, Thawville. The Roberts-Thawville School District (also on this site) was born in the 1949-50 school year and served the towns proudly through the 1973-74 school year.

At that time, the Roberts-Thawville High School was deactivated and at first became part of the Ford Central School District in nearby Piper City (also since deactivated). Since then the towns of Roberts and Thawville have parted ways. The children of Roberts now attend nearby Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District.

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The high school building of Roberts no longer serves as a school. The actual school part of the building was torn down in the 1980s. The gymnasium was saved and restored by the townspeople. It now serves as a banquet hall for parties and dances. It is also used as an open gym on Sunday nights and a place for walking excercise during the week. The building was given a nice facelift with a new scoreboard, new roof, and air conditioning. Kudos to the Roberts citizens for taking care of a historical and useful building. The Paxton School in fact still uses the gym for freshman practices and some freshman basketball games.

Roberts High School Quick Facts

Year opened: unavailable

Year combined with Thawville: 1949

Year Roberts-Thawville HS closed: 1974

Roberts HS nickname: “the Bobcats”

Roberts HS colors: Green & White

Roberts HS Fight Song: unavailable

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Roberts High School Gymnasium

Now a Community Center

Roberts HS Baseball Jersey

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1946 District Champions Plaque

Athletics

Roberts High School definitely offered basketball during its time. The boys teams of 1931 and 1946 won IHSA District Championships. Unfortunately, we were unable to find accomplishments in any other sports that may have been offered by the school. We are assuming that track and baseball may have been offered to the boys and possibly cheerleading to the girls. If you have any further information regarding the athletic programs at Roberts High School, please follow the directions listed below.

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Boys Basketball

Several scores involving Roberts High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores as well as information on a few of the seasons are listed below.

1921-22 Ford County Tourney Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Watseka District Tournament

1st Rd lost to East Lynn 30-22

East Lynn lost to Watseka in title game

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1922-23 through 1927-28 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

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1928-29 24 – 5 Postseason scores needed Coach Henry Dutler

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1929-30 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Henry Dutler

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1930-31 34 – 2 Gilman District Champions Coach Henry Dutler

Ford County Tourney Champs

24 – 0 in “non-tournament” games

Gilman District Scores

1st Rd Beat Forrest 24-11

2nd Rd Beat Buckley 36-18

Semi-Final Beat Chatsworth 20-17

Title Game Beat Fairbury 23-9

Danville Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Rantoul 35-11

Rantoul beat Armstrong in title game

Rantoul lost in Elite 8 Round

Roberts High School District Champions of 1931

Submitted by Marlene Conner Wirth & Richard Long

Members of Team Pictured in Photo Above:

Left to Right: Mr Carmichael, principal, John Roberts, George Conner,

Cecil (“Zig”) Trimble, Eddie Dietterle, Gottlieb Hubner, Mr Dutler, coach

The team won the IHSA District Championship in 1931

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1931-32 Paxton District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Score Needed

Semi-Final Beat Arrowsmith 37-14

Title Game lost to Rantoul 30-13

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1932-33 Gibson City District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Rantoul 21-15

Rantoul beat Fisher in title game

Rantoul lost in Sectional

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

1st Rd Beat Melvin 27-26 (2 O/Ts)

2nd Rd lost to Rantoul 32-16

Rantoul beat Fisher in title game

Rantoul lost in Sectional

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1934-35 Paxton District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chatsworth 22-21

Chatsworth lost to Gibson City in 2nd Rd

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1935-36 Gibson City District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Sibley 33-16

2nd Rd lost to Gibson City 32-28

Gibson City beat Cropsey in title game

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1936-37 Colfax District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Strawn 30-19

Farmer City beat Strawn in title game

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

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1938-39 Gibson City Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Gibson City 27-22

Gibson City lost to Paxton in 2nd Rd

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1939-40 Roberts District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

Roberts scores needed.

Thawville beat Melvin in title game.

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1940-41 Gibson City Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Melvin 49-32

Melvin beat Forrest in title game.

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

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

1st Rd lost to Melvin 39-22

Strawn beat Loda in title game.

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

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

1st Rd Beat Melvin 24-22

Semi-Final lost to Sibley 26-23

Sibley beat Saybrook in title game

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1945-46 Roberts District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Saybrook 36-19

Semi-final Beat Sibley 24-22

Title Game Beat Melvin 30-24

Paxton Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Onarga Military 45-32

Onarga Military lost to Gibson City in semi-final

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1946-47 Sibley District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Melvin 44-17

Melvin lost to Saybrook in semi-final

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

1st Rd Beat Sibley 35-19

Semi-final lost to Buckley 34-29

Buckley lost to Saybrook in title game

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**1948-49 Sibley District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Thawville 48-35

**Semi-final lost to Buckley 56-45

Buckley beat Melvin in title game

**Final season and final game for Roberts High School. Consolidated with Thawville in the summer of 1949 to form Roberts-Thawville High School.

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Special Thank You

A very special thank you to Juanita Fritchley who took the time out of her day to allow us to photograph and literally live a piece of Roberts’ storied history. Her “helping hands” (see the plaque photo above) was a real treasure. Thank you Juanita and great job to the Roberts townspeople in keeping your gymnasium in such excellent and useful condition!!

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Seeking Your In-Put

If you have any further information you can offer regarding the town of Roberts and its high school please complete a School Submission or Guest Commentary Form. We are especially interested in photos of the championship teams. You can also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net

Gym Dedication Plaque – 1938