The history of the towns of Roberts and Thawville can be viewed on their individual pages contained on this site. The High Schools of the two towns consolidated after the 1949 school year ended to form the Roberts-Thawville School District. The high school for the District was located in Roberts with the grade school located in Thawville.
Richard Long, a former teacher at the Roberts-Thawville and Ford Central high schools, tells us that in the early 1970’s, consolidation talks arose between Piper City and Roberts-Thawville schools. In 1974, this effort became a reality, resulting in the creation of the Ford Central School District. The high school for the Ford Central District was located in Piper City.
In 1992 the Ford Central School District was disolved by the state and the students from Piper City were annexed into the Tri-Point School District (Cullom), the Thawville students into the Iroquois West District (Gilman) and the Roberts students into the Paxton-Buckley-Loda District (Paxton).
An interesting fact of Roberts-Thawville HS was sent to us by Richard T. Long regarding R-THS Superintendent Fred Crouch:
“J. Fred Crouch served as the Superintendent and High School Principal of Roberts-Thawville District all 25 years of its existance. I don’t know if this a record or not, but think it is well worth including. He came from the southern Illinois town of Sessor to teach in Thawville. He also served as Superintendent of the Ford Central District for its first three years.”
Roberts – Thawville High SchoolQuick Facts
Year opened: 1949
Year closed: 1974
School nickname: the “Leprechauns”
School colors: Green & White
School Fight Song: “Hail to Thee Old R-T High School”
Sung to the tune “Wave the Flag”
Words provided by Sandra Kay, Class of 1960
Hail to thee old R-T High School We hail thy colors true To these colors we’ll be always Loyal and true blue
(you! rah! rah!)
Ne’er oh ne’er shall we forget, The best school in the land Dear old Roberts Thawville High School For you we’ll take our stand.
Roberts-Thawville Gymnasium – Westside View
Roberts-Thawville HS Sweaters
Athletics
It is known that Roberts-Thawville High School competed in basketball during its hey day. In fact, the boys’ team brought home 4 District titles in the 1950’s and 2 more District titles in the early 1960’s. There was no other accomplishments listed for any other sport at the school on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). It is thought the school offered track, baseball, and possibly football. If you have any information you can share regarding this topic, please follow the directions below.
Boys’ Basketball
The boys’ basketball team at R-THS had some incredibly great seasons. In one three-year run, the team AVERAGED 27 wins and 4 losses each year! This was during a four-year reign as District Champs from 1954-57. The team was coached from 1954-61 by Ernie Warren, who ended his time at Roberts-Thawville with a record of 161-59.
Roberts-Thawville High School Monogram
Another fact regarding the history of Roberts-Thawville High School is that Coach Jim Matta began his teaching and coaching career at R-THS in 1960. Coach Matta began raising his family while at R-THS until he eventually moved on to Hoopeston-East Lynn High School to continue his career. One of his children, Thad, is currently the Head Basketball Coach at Ohio State University.
The better teams and IHSA successes of R-THS are listed below.
1953-54 9-17 District Champions Coach Ernie Warren
1954-55 28- 4 District Champions Coach Ernie Warren
1955-56 26- 4 District Champions Coach Ernie Warren
1956-57 27- 4 District Champions Coach Ernie Warren
1957-58 17- 7 (good record) Coach Ernie Warren
1958-59 19- 7 (good record) Coach Ernie Warren
1959-60 16- 9 District Champions Coach Ernie Warren
1960-61 19- 7 DIstrict Champions Coach Ernie Warren
1966-67 22- 4 (good record) Coach James Matta
1970-71 20- 6 (good record) Coach Leonard McKean
1971-72 19- 6 (good record) Coach Leonard McKean
Great Coach
Ernie Warren – Boys’ Basketball 1953-54 through 1960-61
Record 161 – 59 (eight seasons)
Six District Championships
Three consecutive 25+ games-won seasons (1956-58)
Team of 1964-65 – Record 16 – 9
Head Coach James Matta
District Champions – 1960-61
Head Coach Ernie Warren
Leprechauns of 1969-70 – Record 18 – 8
Head Coach Leonard McKean
More Roberts High School Academic and Athletic Records
An excellent document was sent to us by Richard & Carol Long. This is an thorough and well-documented account of some of the R-THS High School records in sports and academics.
ROBERTS–THAWVILLE SUCCESSES 1949 – 1974
9 – National Merit scholars
75 – State scholars
3 – Vermiliion Valley Basketball Tourney championships
5 – Conference track championships
2 – R-T Baseball championship trophies
12 – State music sweepstakes awards
1 – Class D state music championship
1 – State Agriculture Mechanics Championships (FFA)
3 – National FFA 10th place finishes – AG MECH TEAM
TOP CLASS HONORS
YEAR VALEDICTORIAN SALUTATORIAN
1950 Eugenie Jones Donna Havener
1951 Roma Underwood Wanda Hoover
1952 Wanda Hicks Ruth Holy
1953 Donna Jennings Robert Shambrook
1954 Audrey Eshleman Joyce Hildenbrand
1955 Jeanette Dodd Carol Reed
1956 Leola Hoppler Lee McNeil
1957 Carol Bertram Tomola Dodd
1958 Ruth Giese Gynell Zick
1959 Judy Dodd Shirley Yana
1960 George Veatch Donna Lee & Dawn Veatch
1961 Alan Evans Martha Black & Mary Kietzman
1962 Ella Jo Crouch Gloria Sturm
1963 Roger David Gail Cook
1964 William Veatch Sharon Bennett
1965 LaVonne Lee David Turner
1966 Carolyn Crouch Alan Sans & Terry Zivney
1967 Michael Weber Allen Harvey
1968 Robert Veatch Thomas Schwarz
1969 Marsha Niles John Rulison
1970 Stephen Flessner Sara Crouch
1971 Mary Rock Becky Sans
1972 Stephen Rock Naomi Crouch
1973 Colleen Rock Lucinda Rulison
1974 Lynn Saxma Joyce Stamm
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENTS
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS
Allan Evans
William Little
William Veatch
Terry Zivney
Robert Veatch
JAMES SCHOLARS (U of I)
Allen Evans
William Veatch
James Veatch
LaVonne Lee
Robert Garrelts
David Turner
John Rulison
Michael Weber
Stephen Flessner
Lynn Allen
PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS (SIU)
Carolyn Crouch
Alan Sans
Betty Roetzel
Marsha Niles
Karen Flessner
Cheryl Fuoss
Naomi Crouch
ADVANCED DEGREES – PH D’S
Allan Evans Robert Currie
George Veatch LaVonne Lee
James Veatch Gregory Steigman
William Veatch Harry Danforth
Jerry Natterstad
ADVANCED DEGREES – MEDICAL DOCTORS
Robert Currie
LaVonne Lee
Gregory Steigman
PAST ATHLETIC RECORDS
BOYS BASKETBALL
Vermillion Valley Conference Champions
1955, 1957, 1967 (Tied with Forrest-Strawn-Wing)
Vermillion Valley Conference Tourney Champions
1961, 1970, 1971
District Champions
1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961
Individual scoring record
Ray Johnson
Game high – 44 points (1972)
Season average – 32 (1972)
Team scoring record
1972 – 105 points
Team with best record
1955 – 28 won – 4 lost
SEASONAL WON – LOSS RECORD
YEAR Record COACH
1949-50 11- 9 Buckner (25-17)
1950-51 14- 9 “
1951-52 13- 7 Blakeley (22-19)
1952-53 9-12 “
1953-54 9-17 Warren (161-59)
1954-55 28- 4 “
1955-56 26- 4 “
1956-57 27- 5 “
1957-58 17- 7 “
1958-59 19- 7 “
1959-60 16-10 “
1960-61 19- 8 “
1961-62 6-15 Matta (80-65)
1962-63 6-15 “
1963-64 15-10 “
1964-65 16- 9 “
1965-66 15-12 “
1966-67 22- 4 “
1967-68 6-17 McKean (77-93)
1968-69 6-18 “
1969-70 18- 8 “
1970-71 20- 6 “
1971-72 19- 6 “
1972-73 6-17 “
1973-74 2-21 “
Overall Record 365- 253
ACCUMULATIVE RECORD AGAINST RIVALS
R-T 29 21 Chatsworth
R-T 33 30 Melvin-Sibley
R-T 14 16 F-S-W
R-T 41 12 Piper City
VERMILLION VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNEY
1966 CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONS
BASEBALL
Vermillion Valley Conference championship – 1972
Vermillion Valley Conference tourney champs – 1970
Team scoring record
20 runs – 1972
Pitching record
Randy Higgins – 8 won – 0 lost – 1972
CROSS COUNTRY
Individual record – boys
Mark Gordon – 2.5 M – 14:14 (1973)
Individual record – girls
Beth A Kietzman – 1.7M – 11:10 (1973)
TRACK & FIELD
(Prior to 1974 Season)
Vermillion Valley Conference meet champions
1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971
Individual Records
100 – yd dash – D. Perkinson – 10.1 (1967)
220 – yd dash – D. Perkinson – 22.6 (1967)
440 – yd dash – R. Manahan – 53.6 (1963)
880 – yd dash – W. Manahan – 2:06.1 (1960)
1 Mile run – L. Flessner – 4:47.1 (1963)
2– mile run – W. Kaeding – 11:26.5 (1971)
70 – yd high hurdles – R. Little – 9.4 (1964)
120 – yd high hurdles-15.5
W. Manahan (1960) & E. Stiegman (1970-71)
120 – yd low hurdles – E. Stiegman -14.4 (1971)
180 – yd low hurdles – E Stiegman – 21.6 (1971)
V. 440 – yd relay – 48.8 (1972)
K. Warlow, Jon Harris, R. Sans, D. Smith
F.S. 440- yd relay – 49.2 (1971)
Jeff Bristle, Tom Rock, R. Sans, D. Smith
F. 440- yd relay – 50.5 (1970)
Jeff Bristle, Tom Rock, R. Sans, D. Smith
V. 880 – yd relay – 1:39.3 (1965)
Jerry Sturm, D. Perkinson, E. Houtzel, D. Zick
F.S. 880 – yd relay – 1:42.3
Jerry Sturm, L. Hall, R. Hanna, D. Zick (1963)
Jeff Bristle, Tom Rock, K. Warlow, D. Smith (1971)
V. 1 mile relay – 3:46.0 – (1971)
M. Jordan, Tom Rock, R. Sans, M. Tammen
F.S. 1 mile relay – 4:04.5 – (1970)
Tom Rock, T. Fritchley, W. Kaeding, R. Sans
Shot put – Gene Weber – 47’ 8″- (1960)
Discus throw – Gene Weber – 144’ 6″ – (1960)
High Jump – A. Sans – 6’ 2″ – (1966)
Pole vault – L. Trees – 12’ – (1969)
Long jump – Morris Tammen – 21’ (1971)
SINCERE GRATITUDE
Thank you to Richard & Carol Long for their excellent contributions to the R-THS page!!
Roberts-Thawville Elementary School
Thawville, Illinois
Need Your Help
If you have any further information regarding Roberts – Thawville High School, especially a photo of the school, teams, or coaches, please complete a School Submission Form or Guest Commentary Form. You can write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or via postal mail at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
IHSA Music Multiple State Champions – 2022 Recognition
The Illinois High School Association hereby recognizes the musical accomplishments of Roberts-Thawville High School for the years 1960-1974. From its 1960 Area Sweepstakes victory to its 1974 Class D State Championship, the Music Department of Roberts-Thawville High School dominated the State of Illinois Class D Music Sweepstakes Contest winning 14 of 15 Area Sweepstakes and winning 12 Class D State Championships. The combination of a committed administration, superior directors, supporting communities and dedicated student-musicians created and maintained a tradition of performance excellence which stands alone in the annals of Illinois Class D State Music competitions.
From Sandra Kay:
“Our high school received the above recognition in February, 2022. This is the culmination of years of historical research by alum, Steve Rock. This honor recognizes the award-winning achievements of the Roberts-Thawville Music Department in State competition over the years. Thank you to Steve Rock for digitalizing the music recorded at competitions and for his work related to former music teachers and for the magnificent display of all plaques on our stage. We were honored to share this event with Mr. Richard Alderman, former band instructor, and his family.”
