Athletics
There was an abundance of trophies and titles won at Blue Mound. The Knights had excellent success in many sports.
They excelled especially in basketball. The school also offered track, cross country, and volleyball. The
successes listed on the IHSA web site (
www.ihsa.org) are listed below.
Boys Basketball
The Blue Mound Knights have an extensive basketball history with seasons recorded on the IHSA web site dating back to
the 1925-26 season. The Knights earned eight Regional titles and 5 District titles! In addition they produced
two 30 game-winning seasons and twenty 20-game winning seasons! The best seasons for the Knights follow
below.
The school's gymnasium, pictured above, was named the Dick McDonald Gymnasium in honor of their Hall
of Fame coach who led the Blue Mound-Boody kids for 19 years. See coach's credentials below!
1926-27 31 - 3 (great record)
Coach G. Gauman
1943-44 39 - 12 District Champions Coach Ben Wabuch
1950-51 20 - 9 District Champions Coach
Howard Brown
1951-52 23 - 5 (good record)
Coach Howard Brown
1953-54 21 - 6 (good record)
Coach Howard Brown
1954-55 20 - 6 (good record)
Coach Bob Miller
1955-56 25 - 4 District Champions Coach
Bob Miller
1958-59 24 - 3 (great record)
Coach Bob Miller
1959-60 28 - 2 Regional Champions Coach Bob Miller
1962-63 20 - 7 (good record) Coach
Bob Miller
1963-64 24 - 3 (great record) Coach
Bob Miller
1964-65 25 - 3 District Champions Coach
Bob Miller
1965-66 21 - 8 DIstrict Champions Coach
Dick McDonald
1969-70 23 - 4 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
1973-74 21 - 6 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
1974-75 24 - 2 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
1976-77 27 - 1 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
1977-78 26 - 1 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
1982-83 20 - 9 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
1983-84 26 - 2 Regional Champions Coach Dick McDonald
(SUPERB !!)
One of the best players to step foot onto the Blue Mound hardwood was a player by the name of Terry Coffman,
who played during the Bob Miller era. Coffman scored a school record 54 points in a
December 13, 1960 game against Mt. Auburn. Terry's incredible feat was actually accomplished in the Blue
Mound Grade School gym as the "new" gym near the high school was not completed until later in 1961.
Another nice player for Blue Mound was Dave Pistorius who brings these credentials:
* Named all-conference for the Meridian Conference.
* Led the Meridian in scoring at 27.0 ppg.
* Led Blue Mound
to a record of 24-2 in 1974-75
*Bill Younger - 1980 Decatur Herald & Review All-Area team with 19.9 points per game average.
Boys Cross Country
The Knights could hoof it too. Blue Mound X-Country boys qualified for the State Meet during three seasons, winning
two District titles.
1973-74 Qualified for State Meet
1977-78 District Champions / Qualified for State Meet
1978-79 District Champions / Qualified for State Meet
Individual Placer at State Meet
1977 Mike Jackson 15th Place
1978
21st Place
Girls Volleyball
The Lady Knights had great success of their own qualifying for the Volleyball Sweet Sixteen on three occassions.
We are looking for the team records and coaches names if possible.
1980-81 N.R.A. District / Sectional Champs
Coaches names unavailable
Sweet Sixteen Qualifier
1982-83 N.R.A. Regional / Sectional Champs
Sweet Sixteen Qualifier
1983-84 N.R.A. Regional / Sectional Champs
Sweet Sixteen Qualifier
Boys Track & Field
The boys track team had several athletes bring home State Meet medals. The Knight thinclads even won
a District title as a team during the 1975-76 season. The medal winners are listed below.
1931-32 Dean Trainer Javeline
3rd Place
1976-77
2 Mile Relay 3rd Place
1976-77 Mark Houser Triple Jump
6th Place
1977-78 Mike Jackson 880 Yard Run
STATE CHAMPION!!
David Scales
880 Yard Run 5th Place
1978-79 Mike Jackson 880 Yard Run STATE
CHAMPION!!
Mike Jackson
330 Yard L. H. 4th Place
1980-81 Steve Williams Triple Jump 5th Place
Girls Track & Field
One Lady Knight brought home some IHSA hardware as well.
1977-78 Rachel Tucker Discus 6th Place
Great Coaches
Two basketball coaches at Blue Mound High School enjoyed a great many seasons of success on the hardwood.
Coach Bob Miller - Boys Basketball
1954-55 - 1964-65
231 Wins - 63 losses
Also Coached at Mattoon H.S.
1 - Regional Championship
2 - District Championships
7 - 20+ game-winning seasons (11 years)
Career Record of 300 wins - 143 losses
Coach Dick McDonald - Boys Basketball 1965-66 - 1983-84
373 Wins - 193 losses (#172 ALL-TIME in IHSA History)
7 - Regional Championships
1 - District Championship
8 - 20+ game-winning seasons (19 years)
Administrators and Faculty
Gordon Eckols - From 1960 to 1990 taught at Blue Mound High School and served as building
principal from 1963 to 1990.
MEMORIES
From Bob Marshall (Class of 1956):
"I just discovered the "Knights"website. My family attended Blue Mound schools beginning with my parents in the
early 20s. I was last of five children to have been graduated in 1956 from Blue Mound Community Unit District 10.
I had attended country schools my first four years consolidating into Blue Mound,
Stonington,
Mount Aurburn,
Niantic-Harristown and
Boody when I was in the fifth grade. My first three years were at my local rural school, Salem, in Christian County, one-half
mile south of my rural family home.
My parents attended high school in the building in which I attended grade school. This building burned after I
left sometime in the late 50s early 60s.
My brother-in-law, Dr. Albert J. Kuhn, was one of the basketball team members that holds the record
for most high school games played. He attended 1940-44 and went on to becoming academic vice president at Ohio State.
John W. Robinson was high school principal and superintendent when I attended and I believe former
coach, industrial arts and history teacher Howard Brown. Robinson, later to become Macon County Superintendent.
This should be verified before dissimenation as should the rest of my information as memory often does not correctly reflect
reality!
The basketball team during my tenure, 1952-56 also had enviable records coached by Brown and
Miller. My classmates that played on these teams were Tom Little, Ron Tucker, Jimmy Powell, "Pokey" Logue
and Merle Holt. One of Miller's teams played Decatur High School (Super Sectional?) in
the state finals losing only by a very few points in a game that I remember as being so close that each team traded the lead
back and forth and it was only that the clock ran out that determined the winner, quite an achievement by such a small school
against a much larger one, typical of midwestern basketball.
Hope you get more information as consolidation has more or less made The Knights
non-existent. I would think pictures and records would be available of these early teams and their achievements.
I also understand extreme rebuilding is going to replace the old Blue Mound high school facility, according to a story in
the Decatur Herald in June."
More Information Needed
We are looking to fill in the question marks regarding the team records, coaches names, and other great accomplishments
at Blue Mound High School. We especially seek photos of the high school building and great teams. If you have
any information you would like to share regarding Blue Mound High School please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest
Commentary Form. You may also e-mail us at
eganann@sbcglobal.net or write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
