Equality High School "Cardinals"

Equality Grade School Building 2010

Submitted by James Horaz

Original Steps Leading to Equality HS Bldg 2010

Now "Cardinal Park" (Submitted by James Horaz)

The History of Equality High School

Equality (population 721) is located in far southeastern Illinois in west-central Gallatin County on Illinois Route 13. A town of note for location purposes would be Carbondale, about 40 miles west of Equality. The Saline River runs by the town and was the major reason for the towns location. The L & N Railroad also runs through the city. Equality is about 11 miles west of the Indiana border.

The town has a rich and storied history. According to the Gallatin High School web site (http://www.lth6.k12.il.us/schools/gallatin/communities.htm), the French first established a type of fort where present day Equality stands in 1735. The town was named Saline Lick until 1827 when it was renamed Equality. Equality served as the Gallatin County seat from 1827-1848.

The educational history of Equality is nearly as storied and rich. The first school, the Gallatin County Academy, opened in 1836; however, it closed in 1844. It is believed that some sort of schooling was available for the Equality children from the mid-1800's through at least 1987. In 1987, the towns of Equality, Ridgeway, and Shawneetown consolidated their school districts to form the Gallatin County School District with all grades located in an educational "complex" in nearby Junction.

Original Equality High School Sidewalk & Steps

Submitted by James Horaz (2010)

There is a school listed on the internet in Equality called the Equality Christian Center for grades K-12. However, we believe the school is now closed. The original Equality HS building has been razed. The school grounds are now called Cardinal Park with a bandstand sitting on the school's former foundation (see photo to the right).

Equality High School Quick Facts

Year first school opened: 1836

Year public schools opened: mid to late 1800s

Year high school closed: 1987

Consolidated to: Gallatin County School District (Junction)

School nickname: the "Cardinals"

School colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

The Equality High School athletes definitely competed in boys' basketball and boys' track. It is thought they also competed in baseball for boys. The girls may have competed in basketball, softball, volleyball, and track. There is, however, no mention of the Equality girls athletic success on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org).

Boys' Basketball

The Equality boys only had four seasons of winning IHSA hardware in their history. However, one of those seasons would prove to be magical for the townspeople of Equality. The Equality High School boys basketball team of 1933-34 finished in 3rd place in the Illinois State Basketball Tournament. This was accomplished in the old one-class basketball system in Illinois. The teams that Equality played in the final 16 are listed below. Note the size of the towns compared to Equality. What another near incredible accomplishment by a small school that probably 99% of the Illinois High School basketball fans do not know about. Great Job Equality boys of 1934!!!!

1930-31 District Champions

1933-34 36- 2 Team Placed Third In IHSA State Tournament! Coach Dolph Stanley

1933-34 Tournament Final Scores / Opponents

Sweet 16 Round

Equality 21 - Marion 20

Elite 8 Round

Equality 33 - Chicago Marshall 17

Semi-Final Round

Equality 20 - Harvey Thornton 30

Third Place Game

Equality 38 - Moline 26

1963-64 District Champions

1965-66 District Champions

1986-87 Final Season Coach Chuck Doty

Boys' Track

Boys Track is the only other sport listed on the IHSA web site for the Equality athletes. One athlete, Bob Pitchers, took full advantage of his "big chance" at the Illinois State Track Meet. Bob Pitchers was the Illinois State Champion in the 1 Mile Run in 1953!!

1952-53 Bob Pitchers 1 Mile Run STATE CHAMPION !!

Great Coach

*Dolph Stanley - Coached Equality to their only state appearance in 1933-34 and went on to coach with continued successes at Mt. Pulaski, Taylorville, Rockford Auburn, Rockford Boylan, and Rockford Keith Country Day. His career record in over 50 years of coaching is 705-313! He was the only coach in IHSA history to bring five different teams to the State tournament:

Equality, 1934; Mt. Pulaski, 1936; Taylorville, 1940 & 1944; Rockford Auburn, 1962-63-64-68; and Rockford Boylan 1971.

MORE ON COACH DOLPH STANLEY:

**Coach Stanley's 705 wins places him ELEVENTH All-Time for most wins in IHSA history. Coach Stanley may have been Illinois' all-time leader when he retired as he has been surpassed by several coaches in recent years.

**Coach Stanley, as stated above, is the ONLY coach to lead five different schools to the IHSA State basketball finals.

**Coach Stanley is the ONLY coach to lead three different schools to the Final Four of the State Tourney.

Need Your Help

There are a lot of holes to fill regarding the history of the Equality athletic program and school accomplishments in general. Girls' athletics and the better records and successes of the boys teams are not even touched upon. And what was the school fight song? If you have any information you can share, ESPECIALLY a photo of the old school building and great teams, you can forward them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Equality Grade School Building East Side 2010

Submitted by James Horaz