Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

Page 31 text:

tf-ooiball The P. C. H. S. football team of 1945 was built from an earnest group of boys excellently coached by C. C. Galbreath. Many of the men were very light in weight (the back field average only one hundred thirty pounds), and that was a decided disadvantage. However, in spite of the fact that they did not win many games, the football team deserves much praise for the fighting spirt they showed throughout the season. In the opening game of the year Paxton won a decisive victory from Gilman. They defeated Drummer in their third game of the season, and tied 13-13 with Milford in their seventh. This years lettermen were “Vince” Graham, Carl Martin, co-captains; Jack McCabe, “Joe” Rasmussen, Larry Blue, Eddie Dickey, Bill Harrington, Neil Piper, Myron Hawk, Bob Cottrell, Bud Merrimac, Howard Rhodes, “Hap” Wheeler, Don Smith, and Dick Smith. THE SCORES Gilman 0 .. Rantoul 12 Gibson 12 .. Watseka 12 Paxton 18 Paxton 6 Paxton 20 Paxton 6 St. Patrick 12 Rantoul 47 ... Milford 13 ... Gibson 33 .... Paxton 6 Paxton 0 Paxton 13 Paxton 6

Page 30 text:

 Jnaok In 1945 P. C. H. S. had twenty-four boys out for track. They worked hard and entered in two meets—a triangular one in Rantoul and the Wauseca League meet also held at Rantoul. In the triangular meet John Doty won the high jump, placed fourth in the discus throw, and third in the 440 yard dash. “Hap” Wheeler tied for third in pole vault. Bud Merrimac was fourth in the 100 yard dash and Jack Kenney made third in the mile. Although we didn’t win the Wauseca League meet we did have several who placed: John Doty won the high jump. Jack Kenney placed second in the mile; Bud Merrimac third in the 220 yard dash; Bob Cottrell fourth in the hurdles and fourth in the broad jump. “Hap” Wheeler tied for third in the pole vault and Jack McCabe placed third in the half mile. The six boys mentioned in the preceding paragraph received letters as a result of their hard work and determination.

Page 32 text:

QaAhetbcdl Success was the key-note of the 1945-46 basketball season as can easily be proved by the record of seventeen wins out of twenty-two starts. This is exceptional when the size of the team is considered, as only one of the squad was taller than six feet. But, by the law of compensation, we had an excellent coach who knew how to make use of speed and an effective press defense. To all, the unrelenting determination of the team was most evident and certainly reaped benefits. Four of our games were won in the last four minutes and two, in the last minute. In our only overtime, with Gilman, the boys tallied six points in less than thirty seconds. In our first game of the season, we surprised Buckley by defeating them twenty-eight points. Meeting Gibson for the first tilt, we easily whizzed past them. Our two games immediately following the Holidays, with Milford and Watseka, were really thrilling events as both were decided by a bare one point. After a crushing defeat at the hands of Melvin, we brought home the Ford County Tournament trophy the following week. The Regional was held at Paxton and the entire event was high-lighted by upsets. First was the defeat of Urbana by Gibson. Next, Paxton defeated Rantoul. Urbana was the favorite and Rantoul was to be runner-up- Rantoul had previously defeated us in two regular season games so Coach Galbreath’s boys gave everything they had toward winning the game. The Champaign News Gazette said, “Paxton beat Rantoul in as fine a basketball game as one would care to watch. The Eagles fought every inch of the way, but Paxton, plying its speed to advantage, wore them down with a semi-press and a revolving offense for drives down the free throw lane and a .400 percentage in basket shooting.” However, after defeating Gibson three times, we were not able to repeat this story in the championship game. The senior lettermen for the year are “Maurie” Adams, “Vince” Graham, Captain “Kenny” Watkins, and “Hap” Wheeler. The under-classmen to receive letters are Bob Cottrell, “Bud” Merrimac, Jack McCabe, “Elzie” Nuss, and “Howie” Rhodes. So to Coach Galbreath and his boys we say, “Thanks for the super performances.”