Tamms Community High School Eagles

Tamms High School

Photo Courtesy of Howard Thomas

The History of Tamms Community High School

Tamms, Illinois (population 724) is located in the southern-most county in Illinois, Alexander County, and is located about ten miles northwest of Mounds and 25 miles northwest of Cairo. The Chicago and Eastern Railroad ran through the towns. Tamms was plotted in the 1900's and located in a swamp-like area with the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers between it. The area was once economically important, but the recent years have been dampered with major floods of the two rivers. The region is also near the Cache Wetlands and the Shawnee and Egyptian Forests.

In 1924, the community voted to build Tamms Community High School. In 1953, that building was destroyed by a fire, but was shortly rebuilt.

The name of the school was changed to Alexander County Central School after it was integrated sometime after 1953, and this was a point of time when many towns in Southern Illinois has segregated schools (see DuQuoin Lincoln also on this site). The school served the people of Tamms and the surrounding area until 1963 when a consolidation effort with the Elco and Olive Branch school districts. This area also reflects interest in Egyptian history, as Cairo is the capital of Egypt. The new consolidated school in Tamms is called the Egyptian School, possibly as a reflection on the area's roots.

Tamms Community High Schol "Quick Facts":

Year opened: 1924
Year building destroyed by fire: 1953, shortly rebuilt
Year school building integrated: sometime after 1953
Year of consolidation effort: 1963
School nickname: the "Eagles"
School colors: Blue & Gold
School song: N/A

Athletics

Aside from Boys Basketball, we know that Tamms offered Baseball. Information is welcome regarding these sports.

Tamms High School Gymnasium

Photo Courtesy of Howard Thomas

Tamms Alexander County Central High School

Basketball Team of 1956-57 District/Regional Champs

Back row: Bill Powless, Johnny Smith, Richard Rodgers, Charles Vaughn, Gary Poole, and Jerry Miller.

Front row: Coach Scottie Lynch, George James, Jim DeJarnett, David Newell, Kenny Webb, and Joe DeJarnett.

Note: Charles Vaughn, later to be known as "Chico," went on to play for Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and for the NBA

Boys Basketball

Tamms Comm. High School had many great basketball teams, two of them which won District Championships in 1957 and 1958 according to the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). Tamms did win both districts and regionals in basketball making the sectional twice during Charles Vaughn's career, actually reaching the sectional championship game. Tamms missed the "Sweet Sixteen" round by a whisker, losing an overtime battle to Herrin.

1956-57 District / Regional Champions Coach Scottie Lynch
1957-58 District / Regional Champions Coach Scottie Lynch

Tamms's claim to fame in the Illinois High School Basketball world is that they had the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,358 points. His name is Charles "Chico" Vaughn, a 1958 graduate. He scored 377 points as a freshman in 1954-55, 844 points as a sophomore in 1955-56, 1,085 points as a junior in 1956-57 and 1,052 points as a senior in 1957-58. He sits 198 points ahead of second place (Andy Kaufmann of Jacksonville). His point total as a junior is sixth-best in Illinois and his senior point total is ninth-best in Illinois.

On December 11, 1956 "Chico" Vaughn scored 46 points in the second half of a game against arch-rival Thebes, which is fourth best in state history. His 30 points in the fourth quarter of that game is also fourth best in state history. In 105 games played in his four years, 100 of those were games he scored ten points or higher! Ninety-two of those games were consecutive efforts dating from January 18, 1955 to March 13, 1958. On four occasions Vaughn scored over 50 points in a game. The December 11th game saw him score 67 points, going 23-41 from the field and 21-26 from the charity stripe. He scored 53 points in a January 8, 1957 game against Karnak (18 field goals, 17 free-throws), 51 points in a February 15, 1957 game against Thebes (24 field goals, three free-throws) and 50 points in a January 14, 1958 game against Ullin (20 field goals, 10 free throws).

Vaughn was also an excellent free-throw shooter. In the February 17, 1956 game against Thebes, Vaughn made 22 free-throws, fifteenth-best in state history. He also made 21 free-throws in his December 11th game against Thebes as well.

His scoring average of 32 PPG is also best in Illinois, as well as his 2,583 field goals and 1,134 free-throw attempts.

Famous Alumni

Charles Vaughn ('58):
Illinois High School's all-time career scorer played collegiately at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and played for the Hawks, Detroit Pistons and the Pittsburgh/Minnesota Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He was an ABA all-star with the 1967-68 Piper team.

Seeking More Information

More information is being sought about Tamms High School; use the Guest Commentary Form to sumbit. Corrections are welcome as well. If you have more Information about THS, including photos of the school, nickname, other great basketball and other sports athletes and other great teams and high school memories you would like to share please use the Guest Commentary Form or e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You may also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL 60631