Belleville St. Henry High School

Athletics

We believe that Belleville St. Henry competed in the boys sports of basketball, baseball, track, and possibly football among others. Some sports according to "The Gleeman" Select editions archived online can be found at http://sthenrys8m.com We know the school acheived its greatest IHSA success (www.ihsa.org) in the Speech and Drama departments. St. Henry High School team fight song, team records, coach's names, and other accomplishments are items we are seeking.

Baseball

Baseball was a popular sport at the school. Despite the size of the school they took on any and all comers. Large schools include Belleville (East), Belleville (West), Belleville (Althoff), Mascoutah, Breese (Mater Dei), East St. Louis (Lincoln) etc. The squad was large enough to play JV games and also competed during the fall as well as during the spring.

   Year       Record            Coach
1949-50      10-2              Fr. Baldus
1966-67       4-9*              Mr. Patrick "Coach" Keefe
1967-68      ???               Mr. Patrick "Coach" Keefe

            Chartres Conference champions (spring season)

            Pitcher Ken Haselhorst had the following three game stretch (all victories for St. H)
                                     A no-hitter vs. Coulterville
                                     A five-hitter vs. Mascoutah
                                     A one-hitter vs. Alton (Marquette)
            During the fall season of this school year, the team went 9-2.

1968-69       5-5*               Mr. Patrick "Coach" Keefe
            Pitcher Louis Sundage threw a no-hitter vs. Coulterville (a 15-0 win).

1969-70      10-11*             Mr. Patrick "Coach" Keefe

1970-72 Mr. Patrick "Coach" Keefe

1972-73 Coach - Mr. Rick Keefe

*Indicates partial record.

Basketball

The Eagles had some real nice seasons, many under the leadership of long-time head coach Patrick Keefe. None may have been better than the winter of 1971-72. The hardwood court men finished that season as Chatres Conference Champs with a final record of 21 - 5! Former player on that team, Kevin Lloyd, had this to add about that magical season and his four years at St. Henry Prep:

"The school played in the Chatres Conference. Our colors were blue and white and Pat Keefe was head basketball and baseball coach through the 71-72 season. After that his brother Rick Keefe took over as head coach of both operations. Our best season in Basketball was by far the 71-72 season. We finished 21-5 and were conference champions and our star player John Strubberg was an ALL-State selection for Class 'A'. Also in the 73-74 season we were co-champs of the conference with Valmeyer and Don Rousseau and I were 1st team conference All-Stars."

1966-67 6-12 Coach - Mr. Patrick Keefe
1967-68 10-12 Coach - Mr. Patrick Keefe

1968-71 Coach - Mr. Patrick Keefe

1971-72 21-5 Chatres Conference Champs Coach - Mr. Patrick Keefe

1972-73 Coach - Mr. Rick Keefe

1973-74 Chatres Conference Co-Champs Coach - Mr. Rick Keefe

Soccer

1967-68 3-6-2

Other Extra-Curricular Activities

Speech Individual Events Competition

This is the sole claim to IHSA hardware made by St. Henry High School. Five individuals brought home medals in IHSA competition. In team competition St. Henry won a Regional title after placing EIGHTH in State Competition in 1981-82!!

1973-74 Kevin Lloyd Dram Duet 6TH Place

Don Rousseau Dram Duet 6TH Place

1974-75 ?? Crovetta Humor Duet 6TH Place

?? Fieser Humor Duet 6TH Place

1981-82 Team Finished EIGHTH in STATE Competition!!

Individual Medalist

Mark Puente Dram Interp 3RD Place
Orig Oratory 4TH Place

Final Team Standings

1) Wheaton (Central) 24

2) South Holland (Thornwood) 19

3) Downers Grove (South) 14
4) Pekin 9

                  5) Arlington Heights (Forest View)             8
                  5) Des Plaines (Maine West)                    8
                  5) Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)                  8
                  8) BELLEVILLE ST. HENRY HS               7
                  8) Richton Park (Rich South)                    7
                10) Peoria (Richwoods)                              6

1982-83 Regional Champions

**Michael L'Abbe tells us two of the speech/drama coaches at St. Henry's were Father Robert "Pop" Eimer, OMI, and Father Roger Schoenhofen, OMI.

Famous Alum

Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop Of Chicago - was a Belleville St. Henry Prep alum.

Memories & Stories of St. Henry

From Maurice (Micky) Lee (Class of 1966):

"Prior to the College and High School I heard anecdotally that the grounds themselves and the old, large red brick building we called “the A building” had been a horse race track whose centerfield was the lake. St. Louisans used do come out by horse drawn wagons for a day at the track. The A building had been a hotel for those who wished to stay for days on end. Another story was that the lake was created when that land had been either a quarry or a mine. If it had been a mine, I have no idea what was being mined. Coal comes to mind, but I really don’t know. What may have been the final nail on the HS Seminary’s coffin was the condemnation of the old A building. It was falling apart and dangerous. Some priests at their retirement home may have been there in ’84 when it closed.

So, the land had served as a mine, a horse track, and a Catholic Seminary. The grounds are beautiful."

Help Us If You Can

There is a ton of information we are missing. There are also many accomplishments which should be remembered and documented. If you have any information, including a photo of the high school building, please forward it to us via e-mail at eganann@sbcglobal.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il 60631