Roberts-Thawville High School “Leprechauns”

Roberts-Thawville High School
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Roberts, Illinois
Superintendent Fred Crouch 1949 – 1974
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R-THS’ ONLY Superindendent

The History of Roberts – Thawville High School

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 School Quick 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
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Roberts-Thawville HS Sweaters
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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
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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
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Head Coach James Matta
District Champions – 1960-61
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Head Coach Ernie Warren
Leprechauns of 1969-70 – Record 18 – 8
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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
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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.”

 
 

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