Mason City High School Huskies

Mason City High School

Burned Down in 1963 - Photo Courtesy of June Mahan

The History of Mason City High School

Mason City (population 2,558) is located central Illinois in southeast Mason County. Illinois Route 10 is the main road through town while Illinois Route 29 passes just to the west of town. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad passes east and west through town and actually branches off to the north as well. A nearby town of note might by Lincoln, which sits about 20 miles east and a little south of Mason City.

HIstory of the Mason City school system was sent to us by June Mahan, Class of 1966. She obtained the following information from a booklet titled:

"A HISTORY OF MASON CITY ILLINOIS SCHOOLS"

Mason City’s first public school was established in 1858 in an upper room of the town’s second commercial store building. The first building built exclusively as a school was erected in 1860. During this period there were several private or “select” schools in operation. The first building on the West Side School block was built in 1868. It was a three-story brick building, constructed for $20,000. A fire destroyed the building in 1888, and a new building was built known as the High School although both grade and high school classes were held there for years.

The first building on the East Side School block was built in 1882 for $7000. This building was also destroyed by fire in 1890. The building we knew as the East Side Grade School was then erected. A note of interest: all of these buildings were built of bricks made in Mason City.

As our enrollment grew, the need for more school facilities was felt. An addition was built in 1917 consisting of a gymnasium, large assembly hall, offices and classrooms connected to the West Side School by an archway. NOTE: THIS IS THE BUILDING THAT IS PICTURED ABOVE AND DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1963 (JM).

March 5, 1963 was a day we all remember – our High School was almost completely destroyed by fire. A stunned community reacted to this disaster as only a small community can. Townspeople and faculty helped with moving what was salvageable. Our churches generously offered their facilities for classroom and study space. For one and a half years students experienced the “campus” style of life going from one church to another for classes. September 8, 1964 the first students entered our new High School.

Mason City Schools - HS Built in 1964 on the Left

Courtesy of Frank Hutchison (Class of 1978)

We have had many students represent M.C.H.S. at State track meets, music contests, drama and art contests, but nothing has ever matched the impact of our 1978 Huskie basketball team appearing in the Elite Eight tournament at Champaign-Urbana in March 1978. Those of us fortunate to be present for the appearance and those watching on TV were very proud to be from this community!

In 1988 the referendum to consolidate was brought before the three school districts of Easton, San Jose and Mason City. This issue passed and the Illini Central Unit District was formed. The doors closed on Mason City High School, which graduated 3,103 students in its 110 year existence. Opening are new doors to a new and bright future for our children and grandchildren with many opportunities available for their advancement in this rapidly changing society."

The Illini Central School District was subsequently formed, ending the solo run for the three towns.

The high school for Illini Central is located in Mason City, the largest of the three towns. It is not known at this time if the original Mason City High School is still standing. We are hopeful for this information and a photo of the school building if anyone has it.

The Mason City High School alumni are quite an active group. There is a "Facebook" page created for Mason City High. Here is some more information from the page creator:

"My name is Jim Morgan, I lived in Mason City and graduated from MCHS in 1978. Last summer I started a Facebook page for the former Huskies and others who have lived in (and still live in) Mason City to get reaquainted. We have tons of pictures on our page......the address is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mason-City-High-School-Mason-City-IL/106989199180?ref=nf "

Mason City High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1879

Year current bldg. erected: 1965

Year closed: 1989

Consolidated to: Illini Central School District

Mason City HS nickname: the "Huskies" (1947 - 1989)

the "Cornhuskers" (? - 1946)

School colors: Navy Blue & White

School Fight Song: “BOOSTING THE OLD HIGH SCHOOL”

JOYOUS! AND EVER LOYAL, LET US BOOST OUR DEAR OLD HIGH

LET EVERY VOICE RING, LET EVERY HEART SING,

THERE’S NO TIME TO GRIEVE OR SIGH;

IT’S EVER ONWARD, OUR COURSE PURSUING

MAY DEFEAT NE’ER HER ARDOR COOL—

BUT, UNITED WE WILL BOOST FOR HER, OUR OLD HIGH SCHOOL!

(Courtesy of June Mahan and the 1950 Huskie Yearbook)

Mason City High School Mascot

Courtesy of June Mahan

1977-78 Huskie Boys' Basketball Team

State Class A Elite Eight Qualifiers

Athletics

The Mason City High School Huskies and Lady Huskies enjoyed many great seasons of success in several different sports. We are seeking the conference affiliation and rival schools of Mason City High. The teams of each sport as listed on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) are listed below.

Boys' Basketball

The most well-covered sport on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) for Mason City High School. The Huskies have a history in basketball dating back to the 1914-15 season! How about this for a resume':

1 - Elite 8 Appearance

2 - Sweet 16 Appearances

2 - Sectional Titles

1 - Super Sectional Title

17 - Regional Titles!

3 - District Titles

Recorded Overall Record: 911 - 431

A 52-year winning % of .679!!!

The many great seasons of hoops at Mason City High School are listed below.

1914-15 0- 2

1921-22 13- 8 Coach Leon Myers

1922-23 District Champions

1925-26 District Champions

1927-28 19- 6 District Champions Coach Axelson

Mason County Tourney Runners-Up

1929-30 Coach E.D. Sweeney

1930-31 Mason Co. Tourney Champs

1935-36 Coach John Wasilewski

1940-41 Coach Tom Galbreath

1947-48 16-11 Coach Vern Corbin

1948-49 18-10 Coach Vern Corbin

1949-50 13-13 Coach Vern Corbin

1950-51 26- 3 Regional Champions Coach Vern Corbin

Mason City Huskies of 1950-51

Chuck Conrady- Bob Leininger- Pee Wee Dowel - Russ Lockenour - Joe David Wagoner

1951-52 21- 6 Regional Champions Coach Vern Corbin

1953-54 18-10 Regional Champions Coach Vern Corbin

Robert Adams (MHS '55) tells us Coach Corbin played basketball and football for the Huskies prior to becoming a coach.

The 1953-54 Huskies

Regional Champions

1954-55 18- 7 Coach Joe Adam

1955-56 24- 4 Regional Champions Coach Joe Adam

1957-58 25- 5 Regional Champions Coach Martin Chilovich

1958-59 21- 7 Regional Champions Coach Martin Chilovich

Mason County Tourney Champs

1959-60 24- 3 Mason Co. Tourney Champs Coach Martin Chilovich

1960-61 22- 7 Regional Champions Coach Martin Chilovich

Mason County Tourney Champs

1961-62 20- 4 Mason Co. Tourney Champs Coach Martin Chilovich

The Huskies of 1962-63

The Last of FIVE STRAIGHT County Champions

1962-63 16- 9 Mason Co. Tourney Champs Coach Martin Chilovich

1963-64 17- 8 Coach Bob Ortegel

1964-65 20- 6 Regional Champions Coach Mel Roustio

1965-66 23- 4 Regional Champions Coach Mel Roustio

1966-67 19- 5 Coach Mel Roustio

1968-69 17- 8 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1969-70 28- 1 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Sullivan

Undefeated Regular Season!

1970-71 16- 8 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1971-72 19- 8 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1972-73 22- 8 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Sullivan

1973-74 25- 3 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Sullivan

1974-75 18- 8 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1975-76 19- 8 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Sullivan

1976-77 20- 5 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Sullivan

1977-78 23- 6 IHSA Class"A" Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Jerry Sullivan

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Super-Sectional Champions

Beat Hoopeston-East Lynn 60-56

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost to Nashville 69-56

(Nashville eventually State Champs)

1979-80 14-14 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Sullivan

1981-82 12-12 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1982-83 19- 6 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1983-84 23- 3 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1984-85 29- 2 IHSA Class "A" Sweet 16 Qualifier Coach Jerry Sullivan

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Super-Sectional Runner-up

Lost to Hoopeston-East Lynn 65-60

1985-86 21- 6 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1986-87 19- 6 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1987-88 18- 7 Coach Jerry Sullivan

1988-89 17- 7 (School's Final Season) Coach Jerry Sullivan

**From our good friend Phil Shadid:

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

MASON CITY HIGH SCHOOL won 24 championships and finished second 11 times. The Huskies were in the championship game 35 of the 68 years this tournament was held!!"

**Mason City High School's top finishes in the Macomb-Western Holiday Basketball Tournament as researched by Mark Jurenga:

1950
Champ- Mason City 55 Griggsville 46
1952
3rd Place- Carthage 47 Mason City 43
1954
Champ- Mason City 81 Havana 78
Mason City put up 31 pts in 4th quarter after trailing 51-38 going into 4th.
1984
3rd Place- Mason City 79 East Peoria 70
1985
Consolation Champ- Mason City 73 Bushnell-Prairie City 43
1987
3rd Place- Pittsfield 72 Mason City 61

All-Tournament
1984- Brad Benders
1985- David Berberet

Truly an incredible history by the Mason City Huskies!!

Girls' Basketball

The Lady Huskies had a nice stretch in the mid-to-late 1980's. The girls won a total of three Regional Titles! Unfortunately, team records and coaches' names of these and other great Lady Huskie teams are not available.

1983-84 Regional Champions

1985-86 Regional Champions

1987-88 Regional Champions

Boys' Cross Country

The Mason City High School Huskie harriers had some state competition success as well. The boys won a Regional title in their last season as a solo school. Roger Rivera also won three consecutive medals at the State Meet!

1985-86 Roger Rivera 18TH Place

1986-87 Roger Rivera 5TH Place

1987-88 Roger Rivera 7TH Place

1988-89 Team Won Regional Championship!

Girls' Volleyball

The Mason City Lady Huskies made the school proud to the very end. The girls won back-to-back Regional titles in the last two seasons of the school's existence! The better records are listed below. It includes 11 of its 14 seasons with winning records, the last 9 in a row!

1975-76 12- 6 Coach Pam Walsh

1978-79 15- 5 Coach Pam Walsh

1980-81 10- 8 Coach Pam Walsh

1981-82 10- 8 Coach Pam Walsh

1982-83 11- 8 Coach Pam Walsh

1983-84 11- 7 Coach Pam Walsh

1984-85 17- 6 Coach Pam Walsh

1985-86 18- 7 Coach Pam Walsh

1986-87 14-10 Coach Pam Walsh

1987-88 22- 6 Regional Champions Coach Pam Walsh

1988-89 Regional Champions coach unknown

Mason City HS Baseball Trophy

1954 Abe Lincoln Conference Champions

Baseball

Mason City High also had baseball teams. The program can be traced back to when the sport was played in the summertime of 1961. In one game that season, Mason City defeated Lewistown 10-6.

On May 1, 1965, the Huskies played an epic game against Lincoln. In that game, Mason City defeated the Railers by the final score of 36-25! Mason City pounded out 27 hits to Lincoln's 23 in the game that will go down in Illinois High School Baseball history as having the most runs by both teams in one game.

MCHS alum Robert Adams added this about the Mason City baseball program:

"Mason City baseball dominated in the early years in the area and was being played in the 40's and maybe before. I have one of the baseball trophies won in the 50's. Consolidation forced a lot of old trophies to be thrown out. It was very sad.

Mason City had some very high caliber baseball teams and players. Two of my classmates had chances to make the "big time." Delbert Snyder batted left handed, threw right handed. Ken Bracey is still scouting in the Major Leagues for the San Diego Padres after a brief stint scouting for Milwaukee.

My brother (half-brother) Robert Leininger had chance to go to Cardinals farm club, Bob batted right handed and left handed, pitched played infield and outfield, and was a big hitter. Bob was extremely fast and I am sure Bob either set some records in track or won a lot of races. Bob chose to go to college."

We are sure there are many more great Mason City Baseball teams, drop us a line if you have more information.

Boys' Track & Field

The Mason City Huskies have won medals dating back as early as 1904! A total of 13 Medals have been won by the Huskies in boys track. These medal-winning accomplishments are listed below.

1903-04 ?? Stevenson Long Jump 2ND Place

1907-08 ?? Jones 880 Yard Run 2ND Place

1979-80A Manuel Rivera 3200 Meter Run 5Th Place

Kent Benken Shot Put 7TH Place

1980-81A Kent Benken Shot Put 4TH Place

Discus 5TH Place

Manuel Rivera 3200 Meter Run 8TH Place

1981-82A Manuel Rivera 3200 Meter Run 3RD Place

1600 Meter Run 4TH Place

1985-86A Roger Rivera 3200 Meter Run 6TH Place

1986-87A Roger Rivera 3200 Meter Run 7TH Place

1987-88A Roger Rivera 3200 Meter Run 4TH Place

1600 Meter Run 5TH Place

Girls' Track & Field

The Lady Huskie tracksters brought home six medals of their own. Keeping the competitive edge to the end, all six medals were won the school's last three years of existence! Five of the six were won by speedster Neta Crow, and we'll bet she was part of the Relay Team that won the sixth as well.

1986-87A Neta Crow 100 Meter Dash 7TH Place

1987-88A Neta Crow 200 Meter Dash 5TH Place

100 Meter Dash 7TH Place

1988-89A Relay Team 800 Meter Medley 4TH Place

Neta Crow 100 Meter Dash 6TH Place

200 Meter Dash 8TH Place

Boys Wrestling

The Mason City athletic program included wrestling as well. One grappler brought home a medal from the state tournament to prove it!

1974-75A Jim Newell 112 Lbs. Weight Class 3RD Place

Mason City High School Football - 1931

Courtesy of June Mahan

Football

Football may have had a short life span at Mason City HIgh, but it is a fact that it was offered at the school at least in the 1930's. The photo to your right is of the gridiron heroes of 1931. If you have any further information on Mason City High School football, please contact us and let us share it with others. Team records and coach's names are being sought.

Speech Sweepstakes

The English Department was not to be outdone completely. The kids won a District Title of their own in the Speech Sweepstakes competition!

1953-54 Team Won District Championship

Individual State Medalist

Phyllis Skaggs Verse 4TH Place

Music

From Jean Dennison (Class of 1965):

"Mason City High School had a very good music program - Bud Morris did the band and Janice Timm instructed vocal music while I was there. There were 2 musical ensembles while I was in school; the "Mellowtones" - an all-girl octet, and the "Harminotes", an all-girl sextet. The Mellowtones were generally for the younger classmen. I sang in the Mellowtones my freshman year, and the Harminotes my last 3 years of High School. Also, on several occasions I would sing the National Anthem with the band for the home basketball games."

Great Coaches

*Jerry Sullivan - Boys Basketball 1967-68 through 1988-89

405 - 171 Overall .703 Winning %

#140 All-Time in Wins in IHSA History

19 - .500 or better seasons (of 22 total seasons)

10 - Regional Titles

9 - 20+ Games-won seasons

2 - Sectional Titles

2 - Sweet 16 Appearances

1 - Super-Sectional Title

1 - Elite 8 Appearance

*Pam Walsh - Girls Volleyball 1975-76 through 1987-88 (possibly 1988-89)

156 - 105 Overall .598 Winning %

11 - seasons of .500 or better (13 total seasons)

8 - consecutinve winning seasons

1 - Regional Title (possibly two)

1 - 20+ games-won season

*Martin Chilovich - Boys Basketball 1956-57 through 1962-63

139 - 52 Overall .728 Winning %

6 - Seasons of .500 or better (7 total seasons)

5 - Consectuive 20+games won seasons

3 - Regional Titles

*Vern Corbin - Boys Basketball 1946-47 through 1953-54

137 - 85 Overall .617 Winning %

6 - Seasons of .500 or better (8 total seasons)

3 - Regional Titles

2 - 20+ games-won seasons

*Mel Rousito - Boys Basketball 1964-65 through 1966-67

62 - 15 Overall .805 Winning %

3 - Seasons of .500 or better (all 3)

2 - Regional Titles

2 - 20+ games-won seasons

*Joe Adam - Boys Basketball 1954-55 and 1955-56

42 - 11 Overall .792 winning %

2 - Seasons of .500 or better

1 - Regional Title

1 - 20+ games-won season

Great Students

Gordon Miller Buehrig was born in 1904 in Mason City, Illinois. His claim to fame was as an automobile designer, and was the chief design engineer for the Cord and later Ford. For more on Gordon Check out http://www.mason-city.com/gordon_buehrig.htm

Also one of the Donovans graduated from Mason City commanded one of the nations first Nuclear submarines

The" Pineapple Kid" Jay Geddings - Known for his herosim, throwing hand grenades and holding off the enemy

The Grade School

Mason City Grade School was a great part of Mason City School lore. The Rexall Drug Store hangout, the school patrol "team," boys softball, all and more were a part of the Mason City Grade School experience. The Grade School newspaper was known as the "Chatterbox".

Members of the patrol team pictured below to the right include:

Teacher Adam Hibbs, Gene McMann, (?) Furkins, Dick Leamon, Merle Seward, Jim See, Robert Martin, Jack Jones, Bill Culler, Bill McCreery, Paul Biedenharn, John Skaggs, Harry Lockenour, Ken Bracey, (?) Hawley, Delbert Snyder, Oscar Adams (Hat sailor), (?) Murray, (?) McKenna, Bill Arnold, Gene Lagier, (?) Buberet, and Carol Lowe.

Grade School Patrol

Adam Hibbs teacher

Rexall Drug Store owned by Julia Pratt and Virgini

Bob Vaughn- Merle Seward-Wes Marcum- Hank Losey John Booth's truck in background

Mason City Grade School Softball

Members of the Mason City Grade School "Rockets" softball team pictured above include:

Dick Leamon, Darrel Behrends, Wilber Renken, ?/ Ken Bracey, Ray Tisdale, Robert Vaughn, Phylis Tisdale, Robert Martin, John Skaggs, Junior Dye, Chub Snyder, and Jim Wooldridge

SPECIAL THANKS

To June Mahan and Robert Adams for the many photos and great information they shared with us regarding Mason City and its former "solo" school system!!

Seeking More Information

We are hopeful a Mason City High School fan will forward a photo of MCHS building to us. We are looking for any information to accent the information already on this page. There is NO information that is too trivial for this site. You can e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

World Senior Softball Champions

Robert Adams, Mason City HS Class of 1955, sent us this photo of his team and his gold medal won at the 2010 World Softball Championships for Seniors. Robert's team won the 70+ age group. Upon graduation from Mason City HS Robert served in the military as part of the DMZ Police in Korea, for which we thank him. Nice job Robert, congratulations on being a World Champion!

Gold Medal - World Champs Softball 70+

Courtesy of Robert Adams

World Champs 70+ Softball Tourney 2010

Submitted by Robert Adams