Blog

El Dara High School Building

Pike County Historical Society & Lisa Ruble

El Dara School Building (2000s)

Billie Browning and http://genealogytrails.com/ill/pike/schooleldara.html

Athletics

The El Dara High School boys definitely competed in basketball. It is likely that baseball and track were offered as well. We are interested in the school’s athletic nickname (“Eagles”?), uniform colors, and school spirit song. Season records, coaches’ names, and memories of El Dara High School are also being sought.

Boys Basketball

Though we do not have any season records or coaches’ names for the El Dara High basketball program, we did find one basketball score. A website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” lists a score from the IHSA tourney involving El Dara. The score that we located is printed below.

**Scores prior to the 1921-22 season were not available.

1921-22                Quincy District Tournament                 Coach’s name & record needed

                            1st Rd Lost to Payson 42-23

                            Payson lost in 2nd Rd.

Scores from 1922-23 through the closing of the school were unavailable.

Extra-Curricular Activities

It is likely that other activities such as band, chorus, plays, and graduations were held at the school. If you have this information please contact us via the means listed below.

Sincere Gratitude

Thank you to our good friend and long-time fan of the IHSGD website, Roberta VanBriesen, who conducted the research for this page.  Due to Roberta’s interest and dedcication to this cause, the legacy of El Dara HS will live on for years to come.  

Need Your Assistance

El Dara High School legacy should not be forgotten. Athletics and other extra-curricular activities at EDHS should be remembered and shared with others. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il.    60631     

Elburn HS Dedication Plaque & Sports Trophies

Submitted by Bruce Firchau (left click on photo for larger view)

Elburn is located on the intersection of Illinois Routes 38 and 47 west of St. Charles. It was first called Blackberry Station before changing to Elburn in 1885. Today, Elburn is a fast-growing community in a faster-growing Western Chicagoland area.

Before 1930, all students K-12 were housed in the same building, in which there were two, one before the other. The latter was located on the south end of First Street. In 1930, the newer Elburn High School was built, north of Elburn’s downtown district.

In 1948, when the state encouraged Unit school districts to form and eliminating the countryside schoolhouse, Community School District #302 was organized.  In 1958, the Kaneland High School was built and the former Elburn High School became the Elburn Elementary School. Students from Elburn, Kaneville, Maple Park and Sugar Grove were taken to the newer school. The school was used as an elementary school until 1984. Today, there is a newer state-of-the-art school (built in 1998) that serves the growing community. The Kaneland school district is in talks of building a couple more high schools. If the community continues to grow, there could be a newer high school OR an “Elburn High School” in the near future.

Kaneland High School is located outside of Maple Park on Keslinger Road. An informative page on the history of Elburn can be found at:  http://www.elburn.il.us/history/martinhistory.html .

Elburn High School “Quick Facts”:

Year opened:                 1890’s

Year deactivated:            1958, in favor of Kaneland High School

Building used for now:     Grade School until 1984, Elburn and Countryside Community Center today

School Colors:                Red & Black

Nickname:                      the “Trojans”

Fight Song:                     unavailable

Elburn HS Bleachers & Balcony – 2012

Courtesy of Bruce Firchau (left click on photo for larger view)

Elburn HS Gym From Balcony – 2012

Courtesy of Bruce Firchau (left click on photo for larger view)

Elburn H.S. Gym

Floor also used as a stage, seats are to the right (left click on photo for larger view)

Athletics

Elburn High School offered Basketball, Football, and probably Track and Baseball.

Boys Basketball

Elburn won five IHSA District Basketball Championships: This was a great accomplishment, especially in the 1920s when the District tournament included all schools from the area, regardless of their enrollment. Many scores involving Elburn HS playing in the IHSA Tournament were found on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” and are listed below as well.

Coach’s names and season records are needed for many of the seasons listed below, as well as the other seasons that are not listed.

1923-24                     District Champions                           Coach’s name & season record needed

(District scores needed)

Joliet Sectional Tourney. 

                                 1st Rd. – Beat Bloom Twnshp 18-16

                                 Semi-final – Lost to Batavia 14-12

                                 Batavia lost to Elgin in title game.

1924-25                     District Champions                           Coach’s name & season record needed

                                 (District scores needed)

                                 Joliet Sectional Tourney. 

                                 1st Rd. – Lost to Streator 27-16

Streator lost in semi-final to Elgin

1926-27                     District Champions                            Coach’s name & season record needed

                                 (District scores needed)

                                 Sterling Sectional Tourney. 

                                 1st Rd. – Lost to Moline 30-28 (O/T)

Moline lost in semi-final

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

    Qtr Final – Beat Maple Park  37-17

                                 Semi-final – lost to Sycamore 28-16

Sycamore won District title.

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

1st Rd. – Lost to Kirkland 20-15

Kirkland lost in 2nd Rd.

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

    Qtr Final – Beat Burlington 26-11

                                 Semi-final – lost to Hampshire 21-19

Hampshire lost title game

1936-37 through 1943-44 Coaches names, records, postseason scores needed.

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

1st Rd. – Lost to Mooseheart 44-39

Mooseheart won District title

1945-46                     Geneva District Tournament                    Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd. – Lost to Yoirkville 44-22

Yorkville won District title

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

1st Rd. – Lost to  Mooseheart 87-16

Mooseheart lost in semi-final.

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

1st Rd. – Lost to West Chicago 59-46

West Chicago lost in 2nd Rd.

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

 1st Rd. – Beat Batavia 42-38

                                 Semi-final – Lost to Geneva 72-46

Geneva lost title game

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

1st Rd. – Lost to Mooseheart 34-33 (O/T)

Mooseheart won District title.

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

 1st Rd. – Beat Oswego 59-36

                                 Semi-final – Lost to Mooseheart

Mooseheart won District title.

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

2nd Place in Tourney!

 1st Rd. – Beat Yorkville 37-33

                                 Semi-final – Beat Mooseheart 42-41

                                 Title Game – Lost to Oswego 57-55

1953-54                     District Champions                              Coach Nate DeLong

(Record & District scores needed)

Batavia Regional Tournament

                                 1st Rd. Lost to St. Charles 54-48 (O/T)

St. Charles lost in title game

1954-55   30 – 2          District Champions                              Coach Bill Ebenezer

                                 (District scores needed)

Aurora Regional Tournament

                                 1st Rd. – Beat Wheaton 64-62

                                 Semi-final – Beat Aurora West 80-51

                                 Title Game – Lost to Aurora East 69-68 (O/T)

**Regarding the final game versus Aurora East from 1955 Elburn HS team member Michael McWilliams:

“East got off to a fast start and led Elburn 20-13 at the end of the first quarter. Itr was a 36-29 lead for East at halftime. The game was tied 46-46 at the end of three quarters. East Aurora led 60-58 with five seconds to play and East missing a free throw. In a wild scramble for the loose missed free throw, Mel Lye (of Elburn) gained possession, and was fouled just as the horn sounded to end the game.

The Referees determined the the foul occurred just as time expired.  Mel (a sophomore) would get to shoot a 1 and 1 free throw, but there was no time left and the other players were not allowed to line-up for the free throw. Lye made his first attempt. This gave him the 1 bonus free throw to possibly tie the game. (More than a little pressure here, on my young friend)  He hit the second free throw (nothing but net on both) and the game was tied 60-60 at the end of regulation time.

Elburn led with 13 seconds left in overtime 68-67.  Ron Lye (Mel’s brother) had fouled out in the final minute of regulation time. Bob Carlson had replaced Ron Lye at that time, and had scored the opening basket in O.T. Elburn had possession with 19 seconds left in O.T. and had possession after a time out, following a missed East Aurora shot.

East tried to steal the inbound pass to Carlson, failed, and fouled Carlson with 13 seconds left to play.  The free throw missed, and East gained possession.  A pass from Dave Timok to Don Campbell gave Don a open shot from 15 feet in the corner, which he hit – for a 69-68 East lead with less than five seconds to play. No time to get the ball upcourt for a shot, East Aurora won the thriller 69-68.

Dave Timok scored 25 points in this game to led EA in scoring 21 of these points were free throws.  He was 21 of 24 from the foul line. The 21 free throws, and 24 attempts, are still East Aurora all time single game records.

Elburn starters were:  Bud Wise (Our season high-scorer)  Bud led our varsity in scoring his final three seasons. Ron Lye, Don Henderson, Mike McWilliams (all seniors), and sophomore – Mel Lye.

Bud Wise later became Mayor of Elburn.  Elburn, a expanding community, has honored Bud by naming a new street after him – Wise Street.  Bud still lives in Elburn, with his wife (also a Elburn High School, Class of ’55 grad, Marilyn. Don Henderson lives in Sycamore, after many years in Elburn. Mike McWilliams is located in Tulsa, OK. Ron and Mel Lye are both deceased, as is Bob Carlson.  Also, our great coaches Nate De Long coached  1952 and 1953, and Bill Ebeneezer 1951 and 1955 have passed on. Ebby was drafted into service (Korea) and missed two seasons.  Nate De Long replaced him while Ebby was gone. Both were great men and great leaders.”

1955-56  Coach’s name, record, & postseason scores needed.

1956-57   20 – 9                                                                      Coach Bill Ebenezer

(postseason scores needed)

1957-58   18 – 11                                                                    Coach Ron Johnson

(postseason scores needed)

Inside Elburn H.S.

IHSA Championships and trophies welcome you in

Elburn HS District Championship Trophy 1927

Submitted by Bruce Firchau (left click on photo for larger view)

Elburn HS 1924 Basketball, 1925 & 1927 Track

Submitted by Bruce Firchau (left click on photo for larger view)

Basketrball Memories

Regarding the 1953-54 and 1954-55 basketball teams, great ones at that, from 1957 alum Nels Howard:

“The 1953-54 basketball team was very good with a number of players who had played basketball together since they were little kids. Bill Ebenezer was the coach of that team (as well as the football team) and often made use of a “double pivot” lineup using two centers, each over 6’4″ (Robert “Rube” Stevenson and Mike McWilliams). They were both plenty tall for centers in those days. I don’t remember their final record.

But the next year, 1954-55, the basketball team under Coach Ebenezer was perhaps one of the best teams in Elburn’s history. They came close to becoming the legend that Hebron High School established a few years earlier when they won the state championship with a school population of just 98. — There were no class divisions in those days so small-town schools played big city schools for a single state title.

The Elburn ’54-’55 team ended up with a 30-2 record. They lost a game in mid-season to a local team (I think it was Somonauk) in a fluke loss but easily overpowered most of the schools they played. At one point, at the season’s end, Elburn was ranked 15th in the state by one of the major Chicago newspapers.

The starting five was Bud Wise (later a mayor of Elburn), Don Henderson, Mike McWilliams (“Rube” Stevenson had graduated) Ron Lye and his younger brother, sophomore, Mel Lye. Their games were often won by 20 and 30 point margins. As the season wore on, their games became magnets for everyone who lived in or near Elburn. When the regular season ended and the District games began, the town was empty on game nights.

The route to the “Sweet Sixteen” in Champaign-Urbana required winning the District, the Regional and The Sectional tournaments. I don’t remember if there were Super-Sectionals  then. All teams in the state were funneled down to one championship. — Remember, the entire Elburn High School only had 135 students in 1955. — But the team waltzed through the District games. Then, in the first game of the Regional tournament, played in the West Aurora gym, they defeated Wheaton high school. The next team they face was West Aurora and they outscored them by 31 points.

The final was against East Aurora with an enrollment  of  over  1300 at  the time. The game went back and forth for four quarters. As the buzzer sounded the end of the regular game, East Aurora appeared to have won by two points. The crowd got up and started to leave. But as the buzzer was sounding, a referee was waving his hands. Mel Lye had been fouled. He was just a sophomore but calmly stepped to the free-throw line and sank two perfect free throws. The crowd sat back down and the game went into overtime. The game ended in overtime with East Aurora winning by 1 point.  It didn’t end the way everyone in Elburn wanted it to, but it was probably the most exciting basketball game any of us ever saw before or since.”

Thanks for sharing that information and the memories, Nels!

Great Coach

Early his career Coach Ron Johnson guided the Elburn boys basketball team in his rookie season (1957-58).  This is significant because Coach Johnson went on to become the 10th all-time winningest coach in IHSA Basketball history with an overall record of 710 – 406.  Coach Johnson lists the schools he coached at from 1957 to 1998 as Elburn, Maple Park Kaneland, and St. Charles.

Football

The following accomplishments and better team records of the Elburn High School Trojan football program are listed below and were provided by our good friend Tom Sikorski..

1953  4-2-1   2nd place Rainbow conference

1954  6-1       Rainbow Conference Co-Champs       Coach Bill Ebeneezer

1955  3-2-1   2nd place Rainbow conference                 Coach Bill Ebeneezer

Seeking Further Information

If you have more Information about Elburn High School, including photos of the school, high school memories, and other great athletic teams you would like to share please e-mail this web site at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .  You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.    60631

We know that Ela-Vernon High School competed in boys basketball. Football, track, and baseball were offered as well, as the school was a member of the Northwest Suburban League during the 1930’s. School fight song, coach’s names, and team records of the many Ela-Vernon HS teams are needed.

—–

BOYS BASKETBALL

The boys basketball team of 1943-44 brought home the school’s only hardware from the IHSA State Tournament format. This team won a District Championship in a real competitive area for boys high school basketball. The school also won a lightweight division championship in the Northwest Surburban League in 1937-38. Team records and coaches’ names for these and other great Ela-Vernon HS teams is being sought.

1937-38            Northwest Suburban League

Lightweight Champs

1938-39                                                               Coach H.L. Wesner

1939-40                                                               Coach H.L. Wesner

1940-41                                                               Coach H.L. Wesner

  —–         

1943-44            Wauconda District Champions        Coach’s name & record needed

Early Round District Scores Needed

Title Game Beat Barrington 38-32

Libertyville Regional Qualifier

1st Rd lost to Maine Township H.S. 47-31

New Trier beat Libertyville in title game.

—–

FOOTBALL

The Ela-Vernon Bears played football, too. This fact is verified by Bill Erickson, Class of 1960. We are interested in coach’s names and season records of the Bears’ teams.

1959-60           Coach Norm Leamann

                       (JV Coach Bob Meyer)  

BASEBALL

The Bears were good on the diamonds along the North Shore region. Following sharing a conference title with Lake Forest in the spring of 1936, they won the next three titles as they closed out the decade as the head of the conference.

1936        Co-Northwest Suburban League Champs    coach unknown

1937        Northwest Suburban League Champs    coach unknown

1938        Northwest Suburban League Champs    coach unknown

1939        Northwest Suburban League Champs    coach unknown

—–

Other Sports and Extra-Curricular Activities

We need your assistance here.  If you have any further information on Ela-Vernon High School and the many activities that were offered there please contact us via the means listed below.

—–

Memories

*From Sue Dewitz Jenks:

“I was a student at Ela Vernon High School from 1963-1965.  The school fight song was the same as the Universtiy of Illinois.  I was pleasantly surprised as a freshman at U of I in Champaign-Urbana that I already knew the fight song with a few changes in the lyrics.”

*From Grant Bullock:

“Let’s not forget the Music Program at Ela Vernon, 1956, The Rhythm Kings with Roger Shortall, Grant Bullock, Don Berghorn and Gary Shortall.”

—–

To Add To This Page

You can contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.

“We were segregated, but against great odds, learning, life skills, and education took place in this building.” “Herman Shaw”

Unfortunately, with the 2015 renovation of the building, the mural has been taken down.

Edwardsville Lincoln High School Quick Facts

Year 2-year HS opened:             1912

Year 3-year HS offered:              1935

Year 4-year HS offered:              1940

Year closed:                                1951

Consolidated to:                           Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7

Ed. Lincoln HS team nickname:   “Trojans”

Ed. Lincoln HS team colors:        Blue & White

School Fight Song:                      unavailable

Athletics

As you can see in the mural above, the Edwardsville Lincoln High School “Trojans” competed in basketball as part of the athletic program.  Baseball and track may have been on order as well for the boys.  If you have any further information regarding this aspect of Lincoln High in Edwardsville please share it with us.

Memories & Facts

**From Nola Jones Williams:

“RE:  Lincoln School; 1210 N. Main St., Edwardsville, IL

They (Lincoln School teams) were basketball powerhouses.  I recently researched the Lincoln Trojans in the local paper, Edwardsville Intelligencer.

What I learned is that there was a high school team and a grade school team.  Sometimes their games also included a game with a team called “Edwardsville All-Stars”.  A 1951 newspaper article says that the Lincoln Trojans did not lose any games on the home court from 1946-1951!  They were awesome!

The list of schools played in basketball seems to be synonymous with “closed schools” in southern Illinois and St. Louis County.  The Lincoln Trojans played Pocahontas Indians, St. Jacobs, Mulberry Grove, E. St. Louis Lincoln Tigers, Lovejoy in Alton, Fillmore, Livingston, Festus Trojans, Milton Turner in Kirkwood, Kinloch, Sorento Greyhounds, Worden, Madison Dunbar Bears, St. Charles, Venice, Coffeen, Lovejoy (Brooklyn), and St. Paul (Highland).

There is much more.  I suggest that you look at Lincoln School Memories, follow what is happening over the next year, and look in local newspaper for information from the past 100 plus years.

I love what you have published!”

Extra-Curricular Activities

Other activities of interest may have included dances, plays, band, chorus, and various clubs.  If you have any information please contact us via the means listed below.

Famous Alum

Mannie Jackson, part owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, attended Edwardsville Lincoln before finishing his high school education at Edwardsville High.

Seeking Information

If you have any information regarding the former Edwardsville Lincoln High School please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us via real mail at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il.  60631 

Photo by Ryan Downey, Courtesy of Dennis Downey

As stated in the history section, we are certain that the Edgewood High School boys competed in basketball. It is likely that baseball and track were offered as well. We are in need of the school team nickname, uniform colors, fight song, coaches names, and season records. Photos and other information are welcome.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Edgewood High School boys competed in the IHSA State Tournament. The following scores from these tournament games were located on the web site found at the following address:   http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/

1933 District Tourney at Effingham

1st Rd lost to Iola 32-16

Iola lost to Effingham in 2nd Rd

1934 District Tourney at Effingham

1st Rd lost to Beecher City 28-11

Beecher City lost to Farina in 2nd

1935 District Tourney at Effingham  – https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1

1st Round:  Watson 22, Edgewood 21

Watson lost in 2nd Round

1936 District Tourney at Effingham –  https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1936dist

1st Round:  Dietrich 53, Edgewood 17

Dietrich lost in semi-final Round

1937 through 1940 – District Tourney, Season Records, and Coaches’ names needed.

1941 District Tourney at Patoka

1st Rd lost to Dix 23-21

Dix lost to Patoka in Semi-final

1942 – District scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1943 District Tourney at Watson

1st Rd Beat Mason 56-5

2nd Rd lost to Dietrich 45-30

Watson beat Strasburg in title game

1944 District Tourney at Edgewood

Early Rd Scores Needed

Toledo beat Cowden in title game

1945 District Tourney at Dietrich – https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1945dist

1st Round:  Watson 31, Edgewood 28

Watson lost in semi-final Round

1946 – District scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1947 District Tourney at Dietrich – https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1947dist

1st Round:  Edgewood 42, Sigel 33

2nd Round:  Effingham St. Anthony 38, Edgewood 25

Cowden beat Strasburg in Title Game

1948 District Tourney at Dietrich

1st Round:  Edgewood 64, Bible Grove 42

**2nd Round:  Stewardson 52, Edgewood 30

Strasburg beat Cowden in Title Game

**Last game for Edgewood High School, the school consolidated into the Effingham School District in the summer of 1948.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Other activities of interest may have included dances, plays, band, chorus, and various clubs.  If you have any information please contact us via the means listed below.

SEEKING INFORMATION

If you have any information regarding the former Edgewood High School

please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us via real mail at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

Easton High School

Now Illini Central Grade School

Athletics

Easton High School offered boys sports for many years and joined all other Illinois schools in the early 1970s by offering girls sports. The boys competed in basketball, track, and possibly baseball. The girls played basketball, volleyball, and track. Conference affiliation, great teams and coaches, all are items needed for this page.

We are told that many of the trophies and a great many pictures of Easton High School’s storied past are available for viewing at the Easton Fire Hall.

Girls Volleyball

The Lady netters of Easton High had a couple of seasons to remember.  The 1986-87 year was a magical one indeed. The girls volleyball team of that year finished SECOND in the IHSA Class “A” Volleyball Tournament. The girls made one other Sweet 16 appearance and won Regional Championships in three other seasons including 1988-89, the school’s last. Only the 1986-87 school year has information on it. Information is needed on the other great Easton teams and coaches as well.

1983-84               Regional Champions

1984-85               Regional Champions

1985-86               Regional Champions

                            Sectional Champions

                            Sweet 16 Finalists

1986-87  33 – 4    Team Finished SECOND in IHSA Class “A” Tournament!!  Coach Betty Cress

                            Regional Champions

                            Sectional Champions

                            Super-Sectional Champions

                            Elite 8 Quarter-Final Winner over Mendon Unity

                            Final 4 Semi-Final Winner over Breese Mater Dei

                            Class A Championship Finalist –

                            Lost to Stewardson-Strasburg 15-7, 15-6

1988-89              Regional Championship

                            School’s Last Season

The boys basketball team of Easton High School held there own for several seasons as well. The program produced nine District title teams with one of those teams moving on to win the Regional Championship also. There is very limited information available on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) regarding the many great seasons of Easton High basketball lore. We are looking for the team records and coaches names of hte better teams on EHS history.

Several basketball scores were located on a site titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores” which can be viewed at the following address:

https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/

1921-22               Mason City District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Athens 33-23

Athens beat Green Valley in title game.

1943-44               Easton District Champions             Coach’s name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

                            Title Game Beat San Jose 29-27 (O/T)

                            Athens Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Mason City

                            Semi-final lost to Springfield Cathedral 42-15

Cathedral beat Athens in title game

1944-45  32 – 2    District/Regional Champions         Coach Lyle Drake

                            Mason County Tourney Champs

                            West Central Conf. Champs

                            Greenview District Champions

                            1st Rd Beat Kilbourne 64-38

                            Semi-final Beat San Jose 39-32

                            Title Game Beat Greenview 32-30

                            Havana Regional Champions

                            1st Rd Beat Petersburg 55-29

                            Semi-final Beat Athens 34-28

                            Title Game Beat Springfield Feitshans 44-40

                            Pekin Sectional Tournament

                            Semi-final Rd lost to Peoria Central 47-38

PEORIA CENTRAL (47): Robertson 18, Weik 15, Blane 10, Koch 2, Bond 2

EASTON (38): Cunningham 15, Lynn 10, Clark 9, Herman 3, Hovey 1.

Peoria Central beat Bloomington in title game

Peoria Central lost in Elite 8 Rd.

Easton High School Basketball Team of 1944-45

Submitted by Phil Shadid / Courtesy of Gene Hermann, Bob Kuntzmann, & Ted Connolly

BACK ROW, L TO R: Paul Jockisch-mgr., Dean Pottorf, John McCoy, Marvin Huber, Dale Phelps, coach Lyle Drake. 

FRONT ROW, L TO R: Gerald Riegel, Don Hovey, Stanley Cunningham, Richard Lynn, Gene Hermann, Harold Clark.

             From our good friend Phil Shadid regarding the team of 1944-45:

The Hawks won the San Jose Holiday Tournament, the West Central Conference and the Mason County Tournament.  A loss to Ashland on Feb. 9, 1945, was their only blemish on the regular season.  They then won the District Tourney and beat Springfield Feitshans (44-40) to claim the Havana Regional.  In the Sectional at Pekin on March 06, they bowed out with a 47-38 loss to Peoria Central (1038 students).  Coach Drake’s boys led the Peoria team entering the fourth quarter, but a 11 point surge by the Lions cost Easton the game.

Coach Drake (also principal) was a graduate of Western State Teachers College (now Western Ill. Univ.) and had a Masters degree from the Univ. of Illinois.  He was in his eighth year as coach of the 86-student school.  His top players were: 6-3 Gene Hermann, 6-1 Stanley Cunningham, 6-foot Richard Lynn, 5-11 Donald Hovey, and Harold Clark.  First off the bench was Gerald Riegel.

The weekly newspaper, Mason County Democrat, ran this profile of the team just before the conclusion of the season: “Except for Cunningham, the others on the team came from farms in the Easton vicinity, and none had played basketball except in high school.  The were drilled in the only department of the game which counts: good shooting from any angle of the floor, combined with a fast break and tight defense. All of the players use one-handed shots for both long and short attempts, and take pride in their defense as well as offense.  The team as a whole has averaged 45 points per game, to their opponents 26.”

1954-55              IHSA District Champions                   Coach’s name & record needed

District Scores Needed

                           Havana Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Havana 71-55

Havana beat Springfield in title game

Havana lost in Sectional

1955-56              Chandlerville District Champions      Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Chandlerville 73-60

                           Title Game Beat Ashland

                           Havana Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Petersburg 73-66

Mason City beat Havana in title game

1956-57  23 – 2   Mason County Tourney Champs        Coach Ed Reeves.

Lost to Ashland during the regular season

and lost to them in the District tournament.

Easton HS won their conference, and the

Mason County Tournament, and kept the

“Green Duck” for the entire season!

Easton District Runner-Up

                           Semi-final Beat Greenview 64-48

Title Game lost to Ashland 83-67

1958-59              Easton District Champions            Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Greenview 68-61

                           Title Game Beat Bath Balyki 61-58

                           Havana Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Manito Forman 65-57

Mason City beat Athens in title game

1960-61              Greenview District Champions      Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Chandlerville 61-55

                           Title Game Beat Greenview 65-46

                           Havana Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Athens 53-46

Semi-final lost to Mason City 66-45

Mason City beat Manito Forman in title game

1961-62              Bath District Champions                Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Ashland 60-53

                           Title Game Beat Bath Balyki 43-38

                           Havana Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Pleasant Plains 43-40

Semi-final lost to Havana 58-39

Havana beat Athens in title game

1964-65              Easton District Champions            Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Ashland 109-67

                           Title Game Beat Greenview 47-34

                           Havana Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Petersburg 68-66

Semi-final lost to Mason City 67-64

Mason City beat Pleasant Plains in title game

1971-72  19 – 9                                                          Coach Hugh Friday

1972-73  22 – 2                                                          Coach Hugh Friday

1981-82  19 – 8                                                          Coach Doug Graven

1982-83  17 – 10                                                        Coach Doug Graven    

1983-84  18 – 10                                                             Coach Doug Graven

1988-89               School’s Final Year                       Coach’s name & record needed

**From our good friend Phil Shadid:

“Information regarding the MASON COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, which was held for 68 years, and ended in 1989:

EASTON: won 6 County Tourney championships and finished second 9 times!!”

Boys Track & Field

Two Easton High School tracksters made the trip to the IHSA State Finals brought home some hardware. One “kid”, a boy named Holl, won the Class “B” State Championship in the pole vault in 1925!! In 1986, Jerry Payne followed that up with an 8th Place finish in the 800 meter run.

1925B     Lyle Roll          Pole Vault             STATE CHAMPION!!

1986A     Jerry Payne     800 Meter Run       8TH Place

Theatre

The Illinois Theatre Festival is the largest, non-competitive high school theatre festival in the world. It was organized in 1976 by teachers from the Chicago suburbs. This festival is still going strong as they perform at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and Illinois State University every other January. Easton High school participated in this festival in 1978 and 1985.

Special Thanks

The photos on this page are courtesy of Jon, Jim, and Dan Wheat taken in January of 2006!

Need More Information

If you have any more information that will help make the Easton High School page complete, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

Easton Grade School Building

Submitted by Dorothy Fahs

Easton Grade School Building 1958

Submitted by Dorothy Fahs

Easton Grade School 5th Grade Team 1958-59

Submitted by Rich Lascelles