Valier High School “Bluebirds”

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Valier High School
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Valier, Illinois
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The History of Valier High School

Valier (population 662) is located along Il. Route 148 at Park Street Road in eastern Franklin County. This places Valier in the southern tip of Illinois about 25 miles northeast of Carbondale.  The A, T & SF Railroad runs north and south through the west side of town. The east side of town is surrounded by two branches of Andy Creek.

Valier was established in 1905 and named after Albert and William Valier who owned the land on which the village was platted.

J.C. Stoffel (Class of 1943) provided the following facts about the organization of Valier High School:

Valier High School was organized for the 1925-26 school year:

1926-27 – This is the first school year to hold classes in the new high school building.

1927-28 – VHS became certified as a 4-year high school

1928-29 – First graduating class – 11 students

1965-66 – Last graduating class –   8 students

1928-29 thru 1941-42 classes – Average enrollment – 120.21

1942-43 thru 1965-66 classes – Average enrollment –  60.46

During 38 years of operation   – Average enrollment –   82.47

The school existed for 38 years until talks of merging with nearby Sesser High School began in the early 1960s.  These talks became a reality in 1966 when Valier High School and Sesser High School merged to create what is now known as Sesser-Valier High School.

The Valier High School building was taken down in the late 1970s. The Valier Grade School building is still standing and is now used as a community center.

Valier High School Quick Facts

Year opened:               1925

Year closed:                1966

School building:           demolished – late 1970s

School nickname:        “Blue Birds”

School colors:             Blue & White

School Fight Song:      unavailable
Athletics

The Valier High School “Blue Birds” competed in basketball, track, football, and baseball.  When researching the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) it is obvious about one thing, the Valier boys could handle the “rock”. More information is needed regarding the football and baseball. One Valier athlete did bring home a medal from the Illinois State Track Meet.

The 1960 yearbook from Valier High School talks of the team competing in the Little Egyptian Conference.  Member schools included Valier, Sesser, Crab Orchard, Woodlawn, Dahlgren, Royalton, Bluford, Waltonville, and Ina.    The accomplishments of VHS listed by the IHSA are shown below.

Boys Basketball

The Valier High School Blue Birds were truly some of the mightiest of the “mites”.  The Valier boys brought home an incredible 10 District Championships, 6 coming in the 1940s!  We are hopeful someone will provide team records and coaches names.

Basketball was a beloved sport in the town of Valier and surrounding area. The records and results weren’t always great (however most of the time they were), but the town and farm families always supported their Bluebird teams. In the days before TVs, computers, and other current luxuries, Valier High School basketball was THE entertainment during the season.

Several scores involving Valier High School in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below as well.

1922-1933  Postseason scores, records, and coach’s names needed.

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

1st Rd Beat Waltonville 39-20

                               Semi-final lost to Benton 33-15

Benton beat Christopher in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Macedonia 36-29

Macedonia lost to West Frankfort in 2nd Rd

West Frankfort lost to Christopher in title game

1935-36                  Valier District Champions               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Ewing 53-16

                               Semi-final Beat Ina 27-21

                               Title Game Beat Sesser 18-14

                               Benton Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Benton 29-10

Benton beat Johnson City in title game

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

1st Rd lost to West Frankfort 38-21

West Frankfort lost to Herrin in semi-final

Herrin beat Johnson City in title game

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

1938-39                  IHSA District Champions                 Coach Howard E. Moorman

                               Season Record Needed

                               District Scores

                               District Scores Needed

                               IHSA Regional Qulaifier

                               Regional Scores Needed

   

1939-40                  IHSA District Champions                 Coach Howard E. Moorman

                               Season Record Needed

                               District Scores

                               District Scores Needed

                               IHSA Regional Qulaifier

                               Regional Scores Needed

1940-41          Postseason scores & record needed          Coach Howard E. Moorman

1941-42          Postseason scores & record needed          Coach Howard E. Moorman

   

1942-43                  IHSA District Champions                  Coach James B. Hutton

                               Season Record Needed

                               District Scores

                               District Scores Needed

                               Carbondale Regional Tournament

                               1st Rd lost to Herrin 39-32

Herrin lost to Murphysboro in title game

   

1943-44          Postseason scores & record needed          Coach James B. Hutton

    

1944-45                  Crab Orchard District Champions   Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Information Needed

Semi-final Beat Royalton 36-24

                               Title Game Beat Crab Orchard

                               West Frankfort Regional Tournament

                               1st Rd lost to Zeigler 70-38

Zeigler lost to Benton in semi-final

Benton lost to West Frankfort in title game

1945-46  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1946-47    10 – 14   Marion District Champions              Coach John Miller

1st Rd Score Needed

                               Semifinal Beat Creal Springs 56-43

                               Title Game Beat Crab Orchard 56-43

                               Johnson City Regional Tournament

                               1st Rd lost to West Frankfort 100-34

West Frankfort beat Zeigler in title game

1947-48    12 – 15   Creal Springs District Champions   Coach John Miller

                               Semi-Final Beat Crab Orchard 38-36

                               Title Game Beat Goreville 54-24

                               Benton Regional Tournament

                               1st Rd lost to Zeigler 39-24

Zeigler lost to Benton in semi-final

Benton lost to West Frankfort in title game

1948-49                  Valier District Champions                 Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Waltonville 76-33

                               Title Game Beat Thompsonville 48-42

                               Johnson City Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Zeigler 42-34

Zeigler lost to Benton in semi-final

Benton lost to Johnson City in title game

1949-50                  Thompsonville District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Crab Orchard 38-35

Crab Orchard beat Waltonville in title game

1950-51                  Thompsonville District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to lost to Shawneetown 75-48

Shawneetown lost to Equality in semi-final

Equality lost to Crab Orchard in title game

1951-52                  Thompsonville District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed

                               1st Rd Beat Ridgway 53-51 (O/T)

                               Semi-final lost to Thompsonville 65-41

Thompsonville beat Equalityin title game

1952-53  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

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

1955-56  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1956-57  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.  

**1957-58    24 – 7  Waltonville District Champions        Coach Ralph Harkins

                               Season Record Needed

                               Early Rd District Scores Needed

                               Title Game Beat Woodlawn 50-47

                               West Frankfort Regional Tournament

                               1st Rd Beat Sesser 53-46

                               Semi-final lost to Benton 82-51

Benton lost to West Frankfort in title game

Valier High Schol Basketball Team 1957-58
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IHSA Record Book 1987
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Ted Farmer #2 All-time – Points Scored One Quareter

**Senior year for All-Star performer Ted Farmer (#51 in photo above). Ted finished his career after the 1957-58 season with 2,410 career points which at that time placed him 5th all-time in IHSA history. His career average while playing varsity for four years at Valier High School was an impressive 24.2 points per game, often battling double team assignments to score his points. This total is still among the best in Illinois High School Association history, currently ranking as the 10th best in career average (2014 stats). Ted received a full scholarship to Southern Illinois University for his abilities. For more information regarding Ted Farmer please scroll down toward the bottom of this page. Bob Vincellini was a sharp shooting, highly skilled ball-handling guard for the Bluebirds this season as well. In 2015 Ted Farmer will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame for his efforts as a basketball player at Valier High School.

1958-59                  Waltonville District Tournament           Coach Ralph Harkins

1st Rd lost to Bluford 51-50 (O/T)

Bluford lost to Ashley in semi-final

Ashley lost title game to Waltonville

1959-60                  Waltonville District Champions        Coach Ralph Harkins

                                     Season Record Needed

                               1st Rd Beat Thompsonville 56-50

                               Semi-final Beat Waltonville 64-50

                               Title Game Beat Woodlawn 61-59

                               West Frankfort Regional Tournament

                               1st Rd lost to Zeigler 58-41

Zeigler lost to West Frankfort in semi-final

West Frankfort beat Johnson City in title game

Valier Boys Basketball – 1960
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Game Time, Whoop!

1960-61  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1961-62                  Waltonville District Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Waltonville 65-53

Waltonville lost to Ashley in title game

1962-63                  Waltonville District Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Woodlawn 79-34

Woodlawn lost to Waltonville in title game

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

1964-65  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

*1965-66  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

*Final season as Valier High School. Consolidated with Sesser High School in the summer of 1966 to form the Sesser-Valier School District.
Boys Track & Field

A gentlemen with the last name of REA faired well at the State Track Meet, bringing home a 5th place medal in 1936.  Coach’s names, as we know them, are listed below as well.

1935-36    Rea        1-Mile Run                      5th Place

1939-42    Coach Howard E. Moorman

1943-44    Coach James B. Hutton

1957-60    Coach Ralph Harkins

Football 

Valier High School boys did compete on the grid iron.  J.C. Stoffel (Class of 1943) tells us that 6-man football was started at the school in the fall of 1939.

1939-42    Coach Howard E. Moorman

1943-44    Coach James B. Hutton

Great Coach

Like all small schools Valier’s faculty had to perform many tasks to make the school run.  None was any more important than that of Coach.  Coach Ralph Harkins filled these shoes well.  He coached not only some of the Championship basketball teams but also coached baseball, track, and even 8 – man football during the short time it was offered at the school.

Great Alumni / Athlete

Ted Farmer (Class of 1958):

A great basketball player and track athlete during the mid to late 1950s at Valier High School. In fact, Ted was one of the best basketball players in the state during that time period. His accomplishments are still rated as among the best in IHSA history today.

Upon graduating from Valier High School Ted accepted a full athletic scholarship offer from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He had made plans to play three of the major sports offered at the school which included football, basketball, and track. In his freshmen year Ted incurred a major knee injury and a broken jaw, during football season. Though he would play football at SIU his sophomore and junior years. the knee injury prevented him from ever playing basketball again.

Ted did, however, continue to excel in track & field at SIU. He was a top flight discus thrower and earned varsity letters all four years there. Ted set records for throwing the discus at SIU’s stadium, the overall school record, and the conference record. In addition, he won the Illinois state title!

Ted continued throwing the discus while serving in the United States Air Force. He won the USAF World-wide Championship there as well. Due to Ted’s military and community service, and his successes in business, he later would receive Sesser-Valier School District’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 2015 Ted Farmer will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a player for the Valier High School Blue Birds. A well-earned honor for Ted and Valier High School.

Seeking Your In-put

The Valier High School Blue Birds should never be forgotten.  We are seeking your in-put to insure it is not.  Information, photos, data, are all items that will help make the Valier Blue Birds fly on forever.  You can e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.  60631   


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