Newman High School "Redskins"

Newman Township High School - Built in 1913

Newman, Illinois

"Township High School"

Newman HS Building - Click to Enlarge

Newman School Bell - Class of 1914 (At Newman GS)

Gettysburg Address on the Side

The History of Newman High School

Newman (population 956) is located in eastern Illinois in northeastern Douglas County. Newman is about 25 miles southeast (as the crow flies) of Urbana on U.S. Route 36. The Brushy Fork River runs through Newman as does a line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

The history of the town of Newman and its educational system is in need of further research. It is probable that Newman started a school system in the late 1800s. It is a fact that sports were offered at the school since at least 1913. That is the first year the record of the Newman football team is listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). One of the more long-standing faculty members of the school was a Principal named J.H. Trinkle who served the school from 1911 to 1948! In fact, the Newman High School football field was named after him, Trinkle Field. (Thank you to Becki Swanter Heusel)

Newman High School existed through the 1993-94 school year. The Newman school system was annexed to the Hume-Shiloh School District (6 miles to the east) in 1994. (Thank you to Dan Wyatt, a member of the class of 1994, for this bit of information on the school's closing.)

The Newman High School building stood on the north side of town, a reminder of the town's historic past for several years. After sitting idle since its closing, the school began to fall into a state of disrepair. It was decided the cost of fixing the structure was not feasible. In November and December of 2006 the once grand Newman High School building was demolished. Let us hope the memories of this school live on for eternity.

Newman High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed: 1994

Consolidated to: Hume Shiloh School District

School nickname: the "Redskins"

School colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: "Newman Loyalty"

University of Illinois Fight Song Tune

We're loyal to you, Newman High.

We're Red and we're White, Newman High

We'll back you to stand,

"Gainst the best in the land,

For we know you have sand, Newman High!

Rah Rah!

So crack out that ball, Newman High

We're backing you all, Newman High

Our team is our fame protector,

On boys, for we expect a

Victory from you Newman High!

Newman HS "New Addition"

Click to Enlarge

Newman High School Rear View - Gymnasium

Click to Enlarge

Newman HS Gym Entrance

Redskin Mascot

Athletics

Newman High School's Redskins had many successful seasons in several sports over the years. As stated above, the most extensive listing for the school is under the sport of football. Records are available for NHS from 1913 through 1992 in football. There were also titles won in the sports of boys track, girls track, baseball and boys basketball. It is believed the school offered girls basketball and is a fact the girls competed in volleyball. The Redskins were known for their competitive nature. Their best seasons are listed below.

Boys Basketball

The Newman High School Redskins had some real nice boys basketball success during their existence. Sadly the records of the IHSA title winners are not listed. The best season as far as post season success occurred in the 1955-56 season. That year the Redskins won both their District and Regional to reach the round of the final 64! The team's record and coach's name are not available. The 'Skins did have two great seasons toward the end of their time in 1989 and 1990. These two seasons saw back to back victory totals of 22 wins. We are very interested in the records of the other teams listed and even of those that might not be listed. If you have this information please forward it to us via e-mail.

1944-45 District Champions

1949-50 District Champions

1955-56 District / Regional Champions!!

1956-57 District Champions

1957-58 District Champions

1987-88 15 - 11 Coach Brad Hatfill

1988-89 22 - 2 Great Record! Coach Brad Hatfill

1989-90 24 - 4 Great Record! Coach Brad Hatfill

Former Newman Football / Baseball Field

High School in Background

Football

As stated above, the Newman High School Redskins have a very extensive record of their football seasons dating back to 1913 on the IHSA web site. The Redskins made the IHSA Class 1A playoffs on three occasions. The team of 1975-76 made it to the second round (and I believe final 8!) of the playoffs. The best of the Newman HS football seasons are listed below.

1913-14 11 - 0 Coach Harrison McCown

1954-55 6 - 3 Coach Tony Innis

1955-56 5 - 3 Coach Tony Innis

1956-57 6 - 2 - 1 Coach Don Vandersnick

1960-61 7 - 1 - 1 Coach Jack Hall

1961-62 6 - 1 - 2 Coach Jack Hall

1962-63 6 - 3 Coach Ray Adams

1969-70 5 - 1 - 2 Coach Dick Hood

1970-71 5 - 2 - 1 Coach Dick Hood

1973-74 6 - 3 Coach Bill Crum

1975-76 9 - 2 Class 1A Qualifier Coach Bill Crum

Elite 8 Finalist

1976-77 7 - 3 Class 1A Qualifier Coach Bill Crum

1981-82 8 - 1 Class 1A Qualifier Coach Terry Reed

1983-84 6 - 2 Coach Terry Reed

Boys Baseball

The boys baseball team of Newman High also won some IHSA hardware. Three consecutive seasons had some definitive success for the Redskin hardballers. The seasons of 1987 - 89 brought home winning records and, most importantly, two Regional titles. These seasons are listed below.

1986-87 Regional Champions

1987-88 14 - 7 Nice Record Coach Brad Hatfill

1988-89 12 - 5 Regional Champions Coach Brad Hatfill

Boys Track

Four Newman Redskin boys brought home a total of 6 medals from the State Track Meet. In addition the boys team of 1938-39 won the District Meet for their area. The excellent accomplishments are listed below.

1906-07 J. Hance 880 Yard Run 3rd Place

J. Hance 1 Mile Run 3rd Place

1907-08 J. Hance 1 Mile Run 3rd Place

1930-31 Hollowell Pole Vault 5th Place

1931-32 Long Pole Vault 4th Place

1938-39 Team Won the District Championship

1985-86 Mike Underwood 100 Meter Dash 4th Place

Girls Track

The Newman Lady Redskins also also had great success on the oval track. In fact, the Lady Redskins of 1987-88 finished 8th in the Class A State Track Meet. This was accomplished behind Tiffany Fry's State Championship performance in the Shot Put and Shelly Minnott's State Championship in the High Jump. Tiffinay Fry actually accomplished a rare feat in Illinois track & field history. Tiffany medaled in her event, the Shot Put, all four years of high school!! The medal-winning performances of the Newman Lady Tracksters are listed below.

1983-84 Jodi Alexander High Jump 8th Place

1984-85 Tiffany Fry Shot Put 5th Place

1985-86 Tiffany Fry Shot Put 6th Place

1986-87 Tiffany Fry Shot Put 4th Place

Shelly Minnott High Jump 3rd Place

1987-88 Team Finished 8th Overall at the State Meet!!

Individual Medalists

Tiffany Fry Shot Put State Champion!

Shelly Minnott High Jump State Champion!

Final Team Standings

1.) Maple Park Kaneland 41

2.) Chicago Luther South 36

3.) Carlinville 28

3.) Stanford Olympia 28

5.) Georgetown Ridge Farm 25

6.) Toulon 24

6.) Madison 24

8.) NEWMAN HIGH SCHOOL 20

8.) Genoa-Kingston 20

10.) Gardner-South Wilmington 18

Newman High School

Side Angle View

Girls Volleyball

Volleyball is the only other sport listed on the IHSA web site for the Lady Redskins. Only three seasons are listed with no mention of winning IHSA hardware. The best of the three seasons is listed below.

1987-88 15 - 16 Coach Deb Darby

Memories

From Wendy Carmien, Class of 1989:

"We had our very own Chief Redskin perform at halftime of varsity games, much like Chief Illiniwek performs at the Illini games. Steve Underwood portrayed Chief Redskin during most of the '80s. We had a blast when our basketball team won those 22 games in '89; that is one of my best HS memories. We beat arch rival Chrisman to win the conference championship and everyone in the gym started chanting EOC EOC (East Okaw Conference.) I am a second generation Newman Grad, my mom was class of '64. Thanks for the great website and trip down memory lane!"

Need Some Assistance

More information is needed to make the Newman High School Redskins' page a more interesting and informative page. A photo of the school, the school fight song, girls and boys basketball and baseball / softball records are all needed. If you have this information and ANY other information regarding the town of Newman and its former High School you can e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631