Nostalgia for Southern Illinois Big Leaguers Revisited
Sports editor Merle Jones recalls readers’ memories of local men who reached the majors. Notes highlight Herrin yet others born in Kentucky and Oklahoma, detailing dedications, family ties, and players like Veach, Chapman, and Byrd Lynn, plus reader tips on potential omissions and regional roots.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herrin
John Jock’ Williams
SSU
Itchy’ Jones
John Jock
Michigan
Veach
Bob
Chapman- Veach Park
Herrin Merchants
St. Louis Wabadas
Wabadas
Grover Loudermilk
Muddy’ Ruel
Charley Hollacher
Cubs
Raz Storme
Red’ Evans
White Sox
Luther
Red’ Harvel
Oklahoma City
Evans
Byrd Lynn
Brookport
Byrd
Ray Schalk
Black Sox
Bush
Register
Unionville
Merle
Dusty’ Cooke
Dam
Norris City
Dusty” Cooke
Yankees
Jon
Ray Starr
Sandoval
Starr
Oklahoma
Baylis
Jacksonville
Quincy
SIU
Ed Dirks
Tom Timmerman
Breese
Detroit
S.I.U
Dirks
Larry Stahl
San Diego
Freeburg
The
Stahl
Belleville
Metro-East
F. G. Pruett
Internal Revenue Service
du Quoin
Bobby Edwards
Jack Richardson
Central City
Athletics
Pruett
Bob Hardy
Murphysboro
John Charles
Buster” Lucas
Glen Carbon
Collinsvile
Edwardsville
Dude” Wilson
Marion
Roland Wilson
Wilsons
Southern Illinois
Clyde Reid
Anna
Clyde
Anna State Hospital
Joe Grace
Reed Or Reid
Ilinois
Tony Stevens
Ed Brandon
S. 12Th St
Cardinals
Brandon
Darrell
Red Sox
Chester
Mike Girrup
Little Pittsburg
Williamson County
Mike
Jones
Pittsburg-Paulton
Chester Reader
Girrup
Hirsch Wins All Major Races at Williamsport Speedway
Jim Hirsch of Evansville Indiana swept the super modified program at Williamsport County Speedway Friday night winning the heat, trophy dash and feature while Cliff Cochrum and Larry Miller finished second and third in the feature. Bob Melvin of Logan overtook Jim Eaves on the last lap to win the modified stock feature. Gene Henson and Bill Millikan, fastest qualifiers, did not start due to mechanical problems. Hobby car heat was won by Bob Davis and a figure eight by Danny Campbell. Promoter Dick Poe announced the figure eight will run again next week.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jim Hirsch
Evansville
Ind
Williamson County Speedway
Marion
Hirsch
Benton Raceway
Cliff Cochrum
Benton
Larry Miller
Oolictic
Bob Melvin
Logan
Jim Eaves
Lick Creek
Eaves
Gene Henson
Bill Millikan
Bob Davis
Danny Campbell
Eddie Stearn
Boskydell
Dennis Irvin
Harrisburg
Miller
Gene Coomes
Lowell Talbert
Cisne
Cockrum
Henson
Charles Stearns
Cambria
Gary Beattie
John Powell
Fairfield
Millikan
Melvin
B. Murphy
Frank Kmucha
Oroville
Richard Rogers
Anna
Ron Weekly
Simpson
Murphy
Ron Cameron
Kmucha
Gene Gurley
Dick Poe
Jackson County 4H Teams Head to State Festival
Three Jackson County 4H clubs advance to the Ili nois Sports Festival at Memorial Park Springfield on Monday and Tuesday. Murphysboro Chatterboxes, Little Muddy Elkville, and Open Class Women qualify from county and district play through girls and boys leagues.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jackson County
Memorial Park
Springfield
Murphysboro Chatterboxes
Little Muddy Club
Elkville
Murphy Chatterboxes
Chatterboxes
Lady Bugs
Scoobie Doobers
Eager Beavers
Murphysboro
Randolph
Washington
Nettie Boyer
Beulah McLaughlin
Beaucoup Bumblebees
Falcons
Perry
Franklin
Pro-Am ties after dramatic playoff at Harvest Invitational
Two teams tied for first at the Harvest Invitational Pro-Am at Egyptian Country Club in Mounds after five holes of sudden death failed to produce a winner. Gene Carello’s West Frankfort team and Jerry Glenn’s Carterville group both finished 10 under 61, Glenn’s squad posting low pro 67 while Ed Creasy led amateurs with 69.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Egyptian Country Club
Mounds
West Frankfort
Gene Carello
Randy Lewis
Jerry Kirby
Dick Friel
Jerry Glenn
Carterville
Connie Connell
Jack Connell
Gene Tapley
Glenn
Ed Creasy
Carello
Christoffel
Hardy
Hand
Ted Hale
Byrne
R. Byrne
Hess
Jim Kirk
Blewett
Kortkamp
Stevens
Dave Dixon
C. Connell
Malony
Bagbey
Bill Whitby
Godwin
Moore
Hoover
Trampe
Austin
Mulfur
Epperson
Pollard
Taylor
Creasy
Bour
A. Connell
Bourland
Miller
D. Miller
Maloney
Norris
Grace
Prison team has a chance at Southern Illinois Softball title
The U S Prison earned a double header forfeit win over Herrin RC to stay in the race for the Southern Illinois Softball League championship as they must win six of their remaining games. Bryan-Wides and Zeigler sit at 16-4 with no margin for error.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Herrin RC
Southern Illinois
Bryan Wides
Zeigler
Southern Illinois Softball League
Pet. Bryan-Wides
Prison
Village Inn
McDonalds
du Quoin
Patriots
Frankfort Merwin
O’dale Merchants
Glen Weeks
Patriots Glen
West Frankfort
Belgian Runner Sets World Two Mile Record in Scotland
Emile Puttemans of Belgium set a world record for the two mile run at the Scottish Highland Games in Edinburgh with 8 minutes 17.8 seconds, beating the three year old mark by 1.8 seconds and surpassing Australia’s Ron Clarke.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edinburgh
Scotland
Emile Puttemans
Ron Clarke
Australia
Bankers Invitational golf title defended at Chester CC
Bill Koeneman of Chester defended his Bankers Invitational title at Chester Country Club with a 70. Don Bixby of Sparta posted the second low gross with a two over par 74.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ter Country Club
Don Bixby
Sparta
Koeneman Wins Bankers Invitational Title at Chester CC
Bill Koeneman of Chester defended his Bankers Invitational title at Chester Country Club with a 70. Don Bixby of Sparta shot 74 to take second low gross. Division leaders include Pinckneyville’s Bob Crawford 70 low net and Calvin McDaniel 71 second low net. class A Dr. Gene Stotlar 80 first low gross with Ervin Schuereren 80 second. Ray Burroughs 71 first low net and Jack Lewis 72 second low net. Class B Edsel Keller 87 first low gross, Dave Barrow 87 second low gross, Chuck Daly 72 first low net, Frank McCamish 72 second low net. Class C Elmer Medlin 94 first low gross, Glenn Storme 95 second low gross, Jim Briedenbach 71 first low net, B. J. Holt 71 second low net. Other prizes awarded for longest drive No. 2 Bixby Stotlar, closest to hole No. 5 Storme, closest to hole No. 8 Dolph Werre, and dividend award Holt.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bob Crawford
Pinckneyville
Calvin McDaniel
Gene Stotlar
Ervin Schueren
Chester
Ray Burroughs
Murphysboro
Jack Lewis
Anna
Edsel Keller
Marion
Dave Barrow
West Frankfort
Chuck Daly
Belleville
Frank McCamish
East St. Louis
Elmer Medlin
Carbondale
Glenn Storme
Jim Briedenbach
Caseyville
B. J. Holt
Boskeydell Hosts Weeklong Softball Tournament Start
Boskeydell will host a softball tournament starting Monday night and running to Saturday. Pairings include Monday Anna Sunoco versus Carbondale Toppers at 7 p.m. and Gale Williams against Murphysboro Patriots at 9 p.m. Other matchups run Tuesday and Friday with semifinal games slated for Friday and final games Saturday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boskydell
Anna Sunoco
Carbondale Toppers
Gale Williams
Murphysboro
Patriots
Makanda Bucks
Murphysboro Zambisis
Carbondale Wins Coal Belt League Title on 2-0 Victory
Carbondale clinched the Coal Belt League championship with a 2-0 home win over Anna. George Hopkins struck out 25, earned his seventh win of the season, and Carbondale benefited from a forfeit earlier in the week. Ray Walters and a fourth inning run started the scoring, with a late eighth inning insurance run provided by Van Horn and Waiters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Hopkins
Carbondale
Anna
Benton
Christopher
Herrin
Mike van Horns Crew
Hopkins
West Frankfort
Bittle
Ray Walters
van Horn
Waiters
Also Mentioned on This Page
Merle Jones
Johnston City
Guido Ferrari
Surgalski
al Simmons
Jackson
R. Mulford
Cincinnati
Hick Carpenter
Liberty
Pursie Pipes
Egyptian
Vince Rere
Jenkins
E. Mullins
Clymer
Tom Austin
Pew
Mullins
Cooper
Bud Lemons
C. Lemons Morgan
Connell
Wes Duperier
Thompson
Wilt
McKinney
Bill Johnson
Treece
Smothers
Jack Conne
Nelson
Fichet
Creath
H&r Block
America
W. Main
Park
Walnut
Murphysboro Bloesre
Ill
Win Bankers’ Golf
Bill Koeneman
Ches
Koeneman
Chester Country Club
Dolph Werre
Holt
Boskeydell
Texaco
Master Charge Bank
Americard American Express
Begoodrich
Bowman Tire
Marion, Hl
Hiway 51 North
Jim Pearl
Jim Hartman
Pontiac
Gene Crawshaw
Terry Yearack
Rich Marry
G.M.C. Vandura
John Childress
John
Sandlewood
Gene
Jim
Pam Pearl
Rich Mabry
Salel
Eim
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!