Rankin Township High School Rangers

Rankin High School Building

Submitted by Vern Hofer

Rankin Water Tower

Submitted by Vern Hofer

The History of Rankin High School

Rankin (population 617) is located in far east-central Illinois. The town was platted in the northwestern corner of Vermilion County and is situated in Butler Township. Bloomington sits just 50 miles west of Rankin and Champaign is 30 miles southwest of town. The Illinois Routes of 49 and 9 intersect at Rankin. The Pigeon Creek flows through Rankin. The Norfolk & Western Railroad travels through Rankin as well.

The history of the town of Rankin and its former high school are in need of research. We know through a photo (view below) provided by Vern Hofer that the town of Rankin was established in 1872. It is probable that Rankin High School was established in the late 1800s, maybe as late as the early 1900s.

Rankin HS Building 1902 / Now a Private Residence

http://www.rosenboomrealty.com/detail.php?prop_id=15388

Rankin HS Building / Built in 1902

http://www.rosenboomrealty.com/detail.php?prop_id=15388

Rankin High School served the community for over eight decades. The 1980s brought with them consolidation talks between the school districts of Rankin, Wellington, and nearby Hoopeston-East Lynn. The effort was finalized in the mid to late 1980s, probably 1986, with the creation of the Hoopeston Area School District. The high school for the district remained in Hoopeston.

Rankin Township High School Inscription - 2009

Rankin HS Front - Built in 1902

The original Rankin High School building, constructed in 1902, still stands today and was remodeled into a private residence. Photos of the school can be viewed at http://www.rosenboomrealty.com/detail.php?prop_id=15388 .

The second Rankin High School building has been razed in July of 2009.

Rankin High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1980s, possibly 1986

Consolidated to: Hoopeston Area School District

Rankin HS team nickname: the "Rangers"

RHS team colors: Maroon & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Rankin HS Classroom - Original Building - 2009

Rankin HS Hallway - Original Building - 2009

Rankin HS Stage - Original Building - 2009

Rankin High School Rangers Emblem

Courtesy of Vern Hofer

Athletics

It is a fact that baseball, basketball, cross country, and track were offered for the boys of the Rankin (www.ihsa.org). The girls likely competed in basketball, track, volleyball, and softball. School fight song, coach's names, and team records are all items we are searching for.

Boys Basketball

Three District Championships were the hi-lights of the Rankin High School boys basketball program. All of the titles were won in the mid-1940s to mid-1950s. Unfortunately team records and coach's names of these and other great RHS teams are not currently available.

1945-46                   District Champions
1950-51                   District Champions
1956-57                   District Champions

Notable Roundball Athlete

Bob Shepard - Was one of the leaders for Rankin on the court during the late 1930s and early 1940s, eventually garnering All-State honorable mention honors in 1940-41.

Boys Cross Country

One male harrier earned a position among the elite runners in the State of Illinois by finishing in the top-twenty at the IHSA State Class A Cross County Meet!

1981-82A Shawn Young 19th Place!!

Boys Track & Field

Three male thinclads won a total of four individual medals at the IHSA Class A State Track Meet.

1968-69       William Cornelius        Long Jump         3RD Place
1969-70       Phil Mikalik                   2 Mile Run           5TH Place
1983-84       Billy Stewart                 Long Jump         5TH Place
                                                        Triple Jump        8TH Place

Girls Athletics

The ladies are not mentioned on the IHSA website. If you have any information on the Lady Rankin High athletes or the other sports offered to the boys please write to us so we may add the appropriate information to this page.

Theatre

The Illinois Theatre Festival is the largest, non-competetive high school theatre festival in the world. It was organized in 1976 by teachers from the Chicago suburbs. This festival is still going strong as they perform at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and Illinois State University every other January. Rankin High school participated in this festival from 1977-78.

Rankin High School Information Needed

We need your help here. Only limited information was found on the IHSA web site regarding Rankin High School. If you have any information regarding Rankin and its school system please submit a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form, or write us a note at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Rankin Centennial Celebration 1972