Decatur Tribune Sports' Editor, Tom McNamara is a tournament historian/committee member to the prestigious boys' basketball classic, which I coordinate and is annually hosted by the Decatur Public School District. This year's Decatur/Team Soy Capital Turkey Tourney finds my hometown team, East St. Louis as a new entry. Perhaps, Mr. McNamara is seeking a stroyline when he requests that I generate a list of East St. Louis high school's all-time top five (5) athletes.
Before I make such a list I wish to offer a quick East St. Louis, Illinois high school history lesson. The 2012, school year begins with the East St. Louis 'Flyers' as the 'only' high school representing that city. I witnessed Central Catholic (Boys') high school close and give way to Assumption Catholic Boys' high school, which mirrored (all-girls) St. Teresa Catholic high school. East St. Louis Lincoln high school was once the all-Negro high school in East St. Louis before the integration of schools in 1954.
Unlike St. Louis, Missouri, East St. Louis never benefitted from corporate investments into the cultural life of that 'blue collar' city. In time factories closed or left, political corruption and crime became negative centerpieces while the city's population declined as 'White' flight was followed by 'Black' flight into contiguous communities. The current population requries but one high school, however the constant staple of East St. Louis was and remains the talented and proud athletes; and now my lists.
East St. Louis high school (ONLY) athletes: Kellen Winslow, Missouri/San Diego Chargers (NFL Hall-of-Fame); Dawn Harper, six IHSA hurdles titles & 2008 Olympic Gold Medal; Bryan Cox, (football WIU) Super Bowl Title with Patriots; Hank Bauer 14 years MLB, seven World Series Titles w/ Yankees and Bob Turley, MLB pitcher/Cy Young Award (1958). Other East St. Louis high schools: Jackie Joyner-Kerse, Lincoln high school /UCLA (need I say more); brother, Al Joyner Lincoln high school / Olympic Gold Medalist, triple jump; Eric Wright, Assumption high school/Missouri football, All-Pro S.F. 49ers, LaPhonso Ellis, Lincoln high school/Notre Dame, fifth over-all NBA pick 1992 and Cuonzo Martin, Lincoln high school/Purdue.
I could add 'my' era East Side High list, which would include: Bob Benton(football) University of Mississippi/NFL, Frank Rigney Iowa/Canadian football, Don Choate (baseball pitcher) St. Louis Cardinals/S.F. Giants, Billy Altenberger basketball all-stater/Illinois (father of Doug/Illinois basketball), Rickie Brooks (football) Purdue and his brother, Donnie Brooks (football) Purdue. There were many outstanding coaches at East St. Louis high school but three should be named: Wirt Downing (football), Louis 'Pick' Dehner Basketball/baseball and Bob Shannahan (football).
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