Cullom Community High School "Ramblers"

Cullom HS Building 2012

Now Utilized as Part of Cullom Tri-Point High School

Cullom Community High School - Early 1900s

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

The History of Cullom High School

Cullom (population 563) is located in upper-eastern Illinois about 20 miles east of Pontiac. This places Cullom in the east-central portion of Livingston County. The main roadway taking you to and from Cullom is Illinois Route 116. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad owns tracks that travel through Cullom. A branch of the North Fork of the Vermillion River flows through the east side of town as well.

The history of Cullom is in need of research. We understand that Cullom began an educational system for its students in 1857 at a private home in Sullivan Township, which is where Cullom is located in the county. A high school curriculum was established by the late 1800's as a two-year extension of the grade school. The first high school, called Sullivan Township High School, existed for one year only from 1916-17, but was declared invalid because taxes were not paid and teachers were not compensated for their services. However, eight people did graduate that year.

The Cullom Community High School district was formed in 1929 and operated until its closure in 1968 when it merged with Kempton-Cabery and the Emington Community school district to form the Tri-Point school district.

Gerald Buckler provided us with information he obtained from a 1961 Cullom High School yearbook. This year book lists graduates of Cullom High School beginning in 1900. This would indicate that the Cullom school district began offering some sort of high school curriculum at least by the year 1898. Number of students listed as graduating, by year of graduation, are also found in the yearbook. The numbers are as follows:

1900-2; 1901-4; 1902-5; 1903-4; 1904-0; 1905-4; 1906-4; 1907-6; 1908-7; 1909-8.(which included Bessie Donahue who went on after college to become the choral music teacher in Cullom and area country schools and teaching private piano lessons for many, many years.) 1910-0; 1911-1; 1912-2; 1913-3; 1914-0; 1915-9.(which included graduate Hazel Haag Magee who after college taught for years in the Cullom Grade School); 1916-4; 1917-8; 1918-11; 1919-4; 1920-6; 1921-2; 1922-7; 1923-9; 1924-16; 1925-13; 1926-14; 1927-14; 1928-10; 1929-8; 1930-9; 1931-23; 1932-23; 1933-20; 1934-24; 1935-20; 1936-30; 1937-16; 1938-28;

1939-21; 1940-27.

Gerald tells us that "classes pretty much ran between 15 and 25 thru the rest of the 1961 Yearbook Record. No one was listed as killed or missing in WWI. Wilmer Aellig, Class of 1941 was the only one listed as killed in action during WWII."

Our good fan Scott Gleeson provided some excellent research and found that the consolidation effort took place prior to the start of the school year of 1968. Scott goes on to tell us that:

"In the first yearbook of Tri-Point HS, a saying sticks out that states "in unity there is strength." In unity, the Tri-Point School District has lasted through the years even to today. Basketball games and volleyball games are sensational at Tri-Point as it is a small-town atmosphere at its best. The gym is small and the fans sit nearly on top of you as you play. I really enjoy the small town atmosphere and the great pride and emotion this atmosphere brings to athletics that comes from each community involved."

Cullom Tri-Point High School Facility - 2012

The high school for the Tri-Point District was located in Cullom. Royal Duncan tells us that the Tri-Point school District continues to utilize the Cullom High School building today. Additions were made to the original Cullom High School building in 1935 and 1956. The Tri-Point District is still going strong.

Cullom High School Quick Facts

First school opened: 1857

Two-year HS classes began: 1898

Year opened as Sullivan Township. HS: 1916

Formation of Cullom Community HS: 1929

Year closed: 1968

Consolidated to: Tri-Point School District (Cullom)

Cullom HS team nickname: the "Ramblers"

Team colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: "Cullom Loyalty"

Provided by Gerald Buckler

When our dear Cullom High boys fall in line,

We're going to win again another time

For C.C.H.S. standards and its name

Its honor and true sportsmanship

We'll win the game.

So let us fight, fight, fight for every gain

And put our school right in the Hall of Fame

We'll do our best when put to every test,

Yes our Best!!!

RAH! RAH! RAH!

Seeking a Yearbook

I am trying to obtain either a 1990 or 1989 yearbook from Tri-Point High School. I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I'm wondering if you might be able to help?

KrisanneL@aol.com

Athletics

We know there was boys' basketball and football in the Cullom Rambler program. We are confident track and baseball were offered. The Ramblers competed in the Vermillion Valley Conference, and was one of the founding members of the organization that originally featured schools eastern Livingston County.

Cullom Ramblers Basketball Team of 1952-53

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Boys Basketball

One thing is for certain, Cullom High School had a great measure of success in their area for boys basketball. A total of EIGHT Distirct titles were won at Cullom High. Five were won in the 1940's, three in the 1950's! There had to be some great team records and great coaches who made this possible; however, we do not have this information at this time.

The photo to your right is of the Cullom Ramblers of 1952-53. This team had an overall record of 20-11, won the Vermilion Valley Conference Tourney, District title, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Regional. Members of the team as pictured to the right include:

Back Row: R. Casper - manager, D. Landis, J. Deany, G. Buckler, S. Long, R. Ashman, J. Dutton, Coach Ferri

Front Row: W. Lauterbach, G. Gray, G. Hamilton - mascot, R. Corkill, S. McCulloh

1939-40                  District Champions
1940-41                  District Champions
1944-45                  District Champions
1945-46                  District Champions
1948-49                  District Champions

1952-53 20 - 11 District Champions Coach Bob Ferri

VVC Tourney Champs

Regional Semi-Finalist

1953-54 District Champions

1955-56 District Champions

1956-57 District Champions

VVC Champions

1958-59 VVC Champions

Cullom HS Ramblers 9 - 0 Football Team of 1949-50

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Football

Some of the better Cullom High football seasons are listed below. Thanks to Tom Sikorski for providing the 1958-1966 records.

Gerald Buckler offered us the information on the incredible run of Coach Kelly Cox' gridiron warriors of 1948-49 and 1949-50. Consecutive undefeated seasons and a cummulative record of 17-0-1 provided one of the highlights of the Cullom High School football program.

Members of the 1949 squad, pictured above and to your right, are listed in the following order:

Third Row: Gerald Gray, Roger Magee, Paul Jehle, Duane Flessner, Milton Bauerle, DeVere Redenius, Donald Deany, Gerhardt Dohman, RIchard Landis, John Haag, Spencer Sanquist, Raymond Farney

Second Row: Coach Kelly Cox, Arthur Whaley, Arthur Gassler, Lloyd Schramm, Donals Kemp, Joseph Ginter, Robert Ashman, Donald Johnson, Durl Anderson, Gerald Buckler, John Flessner, Mr. Roll

First Row: Paul Gray, Harold Wickham, James Harms, Thomas Gray, John Long, Gerald Kroll, Ronald Koerner, John Lehman, Gordon Stahl, Donald Magee, George Rewerts.

1944 Undefeated, Untied Season

1948 8-0-1 Undefeated Season Coach Kelly Cox

1949 9-0 Undefeated, Untied Season Coach Kelly Cox

1958 6-2 2nd place (tie) VV Conference Coach James Pearson

1959 4-2-2 3rd place VV Conference Coach James Pearson

1960 5-3 Coach Fred Johnson

1961 3-3-2 Coach Fred Johnson

1966 4-4 Coach John Reeser

Last team as Cullom was 1967 - in 1968 first year known as Tri-Point.

**Royal Duncan tells us that Cullom also had a football team as early as 1920. They were known as the Cullom Independents!

Baseball

As early as 1898 the boys of Cullom High School paticipated in the sport of baseball. Even after Cullom High School merged to form Tri-Point High School the folks of Cullom continued to participate in baseball by forming a team known as the Cullom Prairie Dogs. This information came to us from former Cullom resident Royal Duncan.

If you have any futher information about the Cullom baseball progam please forward it to us for inclusion on this site.

Track & Field

The Cullom boys competed in track as well. In fact, the boys of 1936 won the Vermilion Valley Conference Track Meet!

1936 VVC Meet Champions

Cullom HS All-Girl Orchestra of 1951-52

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Extra-Curricular Activities

Cullom High School had many more activities to offer other than boys sports. Pictured to your right is what may very well be Illinois high school's first ever "All-Girl Orchestra".

Members of the orchestra included:

Back Row: Mrs. Dowse, Donna Wrede, Marlene Hahn, Betty Clark, Marilyn Vollmer, June Magee, Sharon Saathoff

Front Row: Donna Haren, Marlene Stahl, Joann Magee, Sandra Haag, Sarah Whaley, Rita Weller, Velma Nettlingham

Our good firiend and big fan of Cullom High School history, Gerald Buckler, had this information to offer about the CHS All-Girls Orchestra, who made an impact throughout the state:

"Attached is a picture and names of what I remember to be The FIRST ALL-GIRL'S ORCHESTRA in the State of Illinois High Schools. They played at several schools in the State of Illinois and also played at the Palmer House in Chicago. They played a lot of the old standards from the big band era. Mrs. Dowse, the director, also directed the High School Band and taught chemistry. She was a great innovator and way ahead of her time. This was the 1951-52 School Year."

If You Have ANY Information...

...regarding the basketball, and any other success, at Cullom High School, especially a photo of the original high school building, please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via USPS at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631