Benld Township High School

Benld High School Building

Benld, Illinois

The History of Benld Township High School

Benld (population 1,541) is located in southwestern Illinois about 20 miles northeast of Alton. It is situated in the southeastern corner of Macoupin County. Illinois Route 138 intersects with Illinois Route 4 on the west side of the town. A branch of the Cahokia Creek flows through the center of town. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad lays tracks through town as well.

The history of the town of Benld and its unique name are in need of research. We understand that Benld was named after Ben L Dorsey whose family settled and owned a number of coal mines in the community when it was first settled. The following history information of Benld was copied from an Illinois House Resolution from 2004 congratulating Benld on its 100th Anniversary:

" ...In 1835 brothers Elias M. and Ben L Dorsey received a land grant of at least 13,000 acres; Ben deeded his portion to Elias; Elias fathered 13 children; one named Benjamin L. Dorsey II after his uncle; Elias deeded 1,000 acres of land to each of the 13 children; Benjamin L. Dorsey II was deeded the ground south of the Northwestern Railroad and east of what is now known as Illinois Route 4; and

....In 1886, coal was discovered on their property; the Dorsey family continued to carry on coal transactions; one of the most active in the coal business was Benjamin L. Dorsey, Jr., who was an heir to Ben L. Dorsey II; Mrs. Ethel Clarkson, grandchild gave the ground in honor of her grandfather; thus the town received its unusual name of Benld; Ben comes from his first name, L. from his middle initial, and D from the first letter of his last name; and

....In 1904 Benld became a village and has grown to be a city; Benld will celebrate its centennial from September 04 to September 06, 2004;" .

The history of its former high school is in need of research. We do know that Benld had a high school for their children which was probably established in the late 1800s to early 1900s. According a web page on the Gillespie High School website (http://www.gillespie.macoupin.k12.il.us/) the towns of Gillespie (located 1 mile north of Benld) and Benld agreed to merge their districts "in the early 1960s". Benld High School was closed and the children of Benld began attending Gillespie High School for their secondary school education.

The above pictured building served as the junior high and 9th grade attendance center from the merger until 1993. From 1993 until 2002 it was used as a part of the Benld Elementary School. The building was demolished in 2002 to make way for the new Benld Elementary School building.

Benld Township High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s/early 1900s

Year closed: 1961

Consolidated to: Gillespie High School

Benld Township HS team nickname: the "Indians"

BTHS team colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: "We're Loyal to You Benld High"

We're loyal to you Benld High

We're blue and white, Benld High

We'll back you to stand

'Gainst the best in the land

For we know you have sand, Benld High

Rah! Rah!

So crack out the ball, Benld High

We're backing you all, Benld High

Our team is our fame protector:

On! Boys for we expect a

Victory from you Benld High!

Athletics

The boys sports of baseball, basketball, and track all earned a measure of success in IHSA competition (www.ihsa.org). Football was also offered at Benld High. School team records, and coach's names are all items we are searching for. Benld was a member of the South Central Conference from 1935-1960.

Boys Baseball

The Benld High School diamond men earned a total of three District titles. All three titles came in back to back to back seasons in the mid 1940s. Unfortunately this is currently the only information on Benld High School baseball success that we have available.

1944-45                  District Champions
1945-46                  District Champions
1946-47                  District Champions

Benld Basketball Team - 1949-50

Photo submitted by Donald Audi

Boys Basketball

Basketball was the main sport at Benld High School in the 1940s and 1950s. A total of four Regional titles and six District titles were cause for many an exciting winter night in Benld. Again, unfortunately, team records and coach's names of these and other great Benld High basketball teams are not currently available.

The team of 1949-50 is pictured to the right. Members of this team included:

from left to right: Darwin Griva, Donald Audi, Jack Tarter, Sam Anderson, Jack Contratto, Coach Adolph "Chief" Tenikat, Bernie Verna, Jim Tillis, Danny Polonius, Steve Maizel and Bob Kepler

1918-19 Macoupin County Tourney Champs Coach Wm. E. Rutherford

1935-36 Macoupin County Tourney Champs Coach Glenn Hastings

1936-37 Regional Champions

Beat Hillsboro 20 - 17 in title game

1938-39                Macoupin County Tourney Champs   Coach John Rosetti
1941-42                Regional Champions
1945-46                Regional Champions
1947-48                District Champions
1948-49                District Champions

1949-50 25 - 6 District Champions Coach Adolph "Chief" Tenikat

(Beat Shipman 71-45 for title)

Regional Champions

South Central Conference Champs

Macoupin County Tourney Champs

Lost in Sectional Final to Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon won State Championship

1950-51 District Champions

1st Rd.- Benld 93 Brighton 48
Championship- Benld 62 Shipman 33

1951-52 District Champions

Championship- Benld 69 Brighton 57

1953-54 District Champions

**The Benld boys played all comers. Check out this information from our good friend Mark Jurenga:

All-time series vs. Collinsville: Collinsville won 8-2
*Collinsville is #2 in IHSA history in wins with 1,939 after the 2006-2007 season.
Benld victories:
12/7/1940 Benld 29 Collinsville 22 (At Benld)
12/14/1943 Benld 29 Collinsville 25 (At Collinsville)

Boys Track & Field

The Benld thinclads also got into the IHSA competition winning business with three District titles of its own! All three titles came in back to back to back seasons in the early 1940s! In addition FIVE individuals and one relay team won medals at the IHSA State Meet.

1927-28 ?? Novotny 120 Yard Hurdles 5TH Place

1935-36 ?? Gorino Discus 4TH Place
1938-39 Louis Grabner Javelin 4TH Place

1940-41 Team Won the District Championship

Individual State Medalists

John Lukachik Shot Put 5TH Place
RELAY TEAMS 880 Yard Relay 3TH Place

1941-42 Team Won the DIstrict Championship

Individual State Medalist

Mike Balen Shot Put 3RD Place

1942-43 Team Won the District Championship

1950 South Central Conference Champs

Courtesy of Darwin Griva

Boys Football

Benld Township High School's Indians competed in football as well. We don't have all of the season records, but the photo to the right was sent to us by Darwin Griva. It is a photo of the South Central Conference Champions of 1950-51. The team was coached by future Illinois Hall of Famer Adolph "Chief" Tenikat. Coach went on to coach at Gillespie High School. This team finished the season at 6 - 1 - 2 with the loss coming in the first game of the season. All-Conference members from this team included Econe, Keppler, Verna, Anderson, and Griva. Econe was also named to the First Team Little All-State Team and Keppler earned Fourth Team Little All-State Honors!

1945 5-3-1 South Central Conference Champs Coach Adolph Tennikat

1946 8-1 South Central Conference Champs Coach Adolph Tennikat

1947 5-4 2nd place South Central Conference Coach Adolph Tennikat

1949 5-4 2nd place South Central Conference Coach Adolph Tennikat

1950 6-1-2 South Central Conference Champs Coach Adolph Tennikat

1960 4-3-1 Last team, 3rd place South Central Conference. Coach Auggie Dicenso

Last game was a 21-0 win over Gillespie, the school they would consolidate with the next year.

If You Have Information to Share...

...regarding the many successes and accomplishments of Benld Township High School please write to us at the address provided. We are especially anxious to share photos of the old high school building and great teams, coaches, and other accomplishments of BTHS. Photos and information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631