Equality High School "Cardinals"
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Equality Grade School Building 2010
equalitygsfrontdav.jpg
Submitted by James Horaz

Original Steps Leading to Equality HS Bldg 2010
equalityhsstepscloseupdav.jpg
Now "Cardinal Park" (Submitted by James Horaz)

The History of Equality High School
 
Equality (population 721) is located in far southeastern Illinois in west-central Gallatin County on Illinois Route 13. A town of note for location purposes would be Carbondale, about 40 miles west of Equality. The Saline River runs by the town and was the major reason for the towns location. The L & N Railroad also runs through the city. Equality is about 11 miles west of the Indiana border.
 
The town has a rich and storied history. According to the Gallatin High School web site (http://www.lth6.k12.il.us/schools/gallatin/communities.htm), the French first established a type of fort where present day Equality stands in 1735. The town was named Saline Lick until 1827 when it was renamed Equality as a reflection of the main purpose behind the French and American revolutions. Equality served as the Gallatin County seat from 1827-1848. 
 
The educational history of Equality is nearly as storied and rich. The first school, the Gallatin County Academy, opened in 1836; however, it closed in 1844. It is believed that some sort of schooling was available for the Equality children from the mid-1800's through at least 1987. In 1987, the towns of Equality, Ridgeway, and Shawneetown consolidated their school districts to form the Gallatin County School District with all grades located in an educational "complex" in nearby Junction.

Original Equality High School Sidewalk & Steps
equalityhsstepsdav.jpg
Submitted by James Horaz (2010)

There is a school listed on the internet in Equality called the Equality Christian Center for grades K-12. However, we believe the school is now closed. The original Equality HS building has been razed.  The school grounds are now called Cardinal Park with a bandstand sitting on the school's former foundation (see photo to the right).
 
Equality High School Quick Facts
 
Year first school opened:       1836
Year public schools opened:  mid to late 1800s
Year high school closed:       1987
Consolidated to:                   Gallatin County School District (Junction) 
School nickname:                 the "Cardinals"
School colors:                      Red & White
School Fight Song:               unavailable
Athletics
 
The Equality High School athletes definitely competed in boys' basketball and boys' track. It is thought they also competed in baseball for boys. The girls may have competed in basketball, softball, volleyball, and track. There is, however, no mention of the Equality girls athletic success on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org).
 
Boys Basketball
 
The Equality boys only had four seasons of winning IHSA hardware in their history. However, one of those seasons would prove to be magical for the townspeople of Equality. The Equality High School boys basketball team of 1933-34 finished in 3rd place in the Illinois State Basketball Tournament.  This was accomplished in the old one-class basketball system in Illinois. The teams that Equality played in the final 16 are listed below. Note the size of the towns compared to Equality. What another near incredible accomplishment by a small school that probably 99% of the Illinois High School basketball fans do not know about. Great Job Equality boys of 1934!!!!

Some basketball scores were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are listed below too.
   
1921-22 through 1929-30  Postseason scores, records, and coach's names needed.
    
1930-31              IHSA District Champions                      Coach's name & record needed
                           District Scores Needed
                           Carbondale Sectional Tournament
                           1st Rd lost to Johnson City 17-7
                           Johnson City beat Simpson in title game
                           Johnson City placed 4th at State Tourney.
   
1931-32  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1932-33  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
                        
1933-34   36- 2   IHSA State Tournament 3RD Place!!   Coach Dolph Stanley
                           *Undefeated Regular Season
                          *Won 36 Consecutive Games
                           *Coach Stanley won 705 games at
                           6 different schools, beginning at
                           Equality High School
                           Harrisburg District Champions
                           1st Rd Beat Creal Springs 76-22
                           2nd Rd Beat Norris City 35-7
                           Semi-final Beat Shawneetown 60-22
                           Title Game Beat Eldorado 37-20
                           Murphysboro Sectional Tournament
                           1st Rd Beat Metropolis 33-16
                           Semi-final Beat Herrin 26-19
                           Title Game Beat DuQuoin 42-23
                 State Tournament Final Scores / Opponents
                                    Sweet 16 Round
                                Equality  21    -   Marion 20
                                      Elite 8 Round
                          Equality  33     -  Chicago Marshall  17
                                  Semi-Final Round
                          Equality  20     -   Harvey Thornton  30
                      (Harvey Thornton lost to Quincy in title game)
                                  Third Place Game 
                          Equality  38      -  Moline  26
                 
1934-35              Eldorado District Tournament                  Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Norris City 24-21
                           2nd Rd lost to Eldorado 44-19
                           Eldorado beat Carmi in title game
    
1935-36              Harrisburg Regional Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd lost to Eldorado 31-22
                           Eldorado los to Marion in semi-final
                           Marion lost to Carrier Mills in title game
  
1936-37  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
   
1938-39              Eldorado District Tournament                  Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Ridgway 28-27
                           2nd Rd lost to Eldorado 34-29
                           Eldorado lost to Harrisburg in title game
    
1939-40  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1942-43  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1943-44  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
     
1944-45              Equality District Tournament                    Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Springerton 46-16
                           Semi-final lost to Burnt Prairie 27-24
                           Burnt Prairie lost to Cave-In-Rock in title game  
    
1945-46              Ridgway District Runner-Up                  Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Omaha 46-24
                           Semi-final Beat Broughton 32-31
                           Title Game lost to Ridgway 73-23
    
1946-47              Shawneetown District Runner-Up         Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Omaha 37-23
                           Semi-final Beat Springerton 47-36
                           Title Game lost to Cave-In-Rock 38-31
   
1947-48              Equality District Tournament                    Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Shawneetown 53-47
                           Semi-final lost to Cave-In-Rock 63-44
                           Cave-In-Rock beat Ridgway in title game
   
1948-49              Shawneetown District Runner-Up         Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Score Needed
                           Semi-final Beat Shawneetown 52-43
                           Title Game lost to Cave-In-Rock 80-42
  
1949-50              Norris City Regional Runner-Up            Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Sawneetown 74-49
EQUALITY (74): J. Brinkley 20, Williams 16, S. Brinkley 14, Kaylor 14, Frohock 6, Vineyard 4.
SHAWNEETOWN (49): Rash 37, Schaeffer 4, Leavell 3, Ellis 2, Pannell 2, Barger 1.
                            Semi-final Beat Carrier Mills 61-57
EQUALITY (61): Williams 19, Frohock 15, Kaylor 11, J. Brinkley 10, S. Brinkley 4, Vinyard 2.
CARRIER MILLS (57): Proffitt 14, Blackman 12, Cole 9, Johnson 8, Jackson 4, Gowins 4, Trammell 4, Furlong 1, Melven 1.
                             Title Game lost to Eldorado 69-39
ELDORADO (69): Cochran 18, Beasley 16, Tierney 15, Whitlock 6, Finnie 6, Briddick 6, Lovellette 2.
EQUALITY (39): Williams 12, Kaylor 11, J. Brinkley 7, S. Brinkley 7, Frohock 2.
   
1950-51             Thompsonville District Runner-Up         Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Score Needed
                           Semi-final Beat Shawneetown 59-52
                           Title Game lost to Crab Orchard 50-47
     
1951-52             Thompsonville District Runner-Up         Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Shawneetown 44-34
                          Semi-final Beat Crab Orchard 40-32
                          Title Game lost to Thompsonville 42-37
   
1952-53  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1953-54  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1954-55  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
  
1955-56              McLeansboro Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Carrier Mills 99-59
CARRIER MILLS (99): O. Rollins 28, Fitts 18, O. Rollins 15, Rouse 11, Stearns 11, Reid 10, Cofield 6.
EQUALITY (59): M. Glover 18, Milligan 12, C. Barnett 9, Smith 8, T. Glover 6, H. Barnett 4, Carnett 2.
                          Carrier Mills lost to Shawneetown in title game
    
1956-57             Norris City Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Norris City 75-55
                          Norris City lost to Harrisburg in semi-final
                          Harrisburg beat Carrier Mills in title game  
   
1957-58             Eldorado Regional Tournament                  Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Ridgway 72-51
RIDGWAY (72): Suttner 27, Clifford 15, Crawford 14, Ambrous 8, Sanders 3, Jones 2, Drone 2, Schmitt 1.
EQUALITY (51): H. Barnett 14, Glover 10, Henshaw 10, Emery 8, Carnett 3, C. Barnett 2, Smith 2, Peverly 2.
                          Ridgway lost to Carrier Mills in title game
  
1958-59             McLeansboro Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Harrisburg 93-72
                          Harrisburg beat Ridgway in title game
  
1959-60  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
  
1960-61             Norris City Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Carrier Mills 78-36
                          Carrier Mills lost to McLeansboro in title game
   
1961-62             Eldorado Regional Tournament                  Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to McLeansboro 62-42
                          McLeansboro beat Harrisburg in title game
    
1962-63             Norris City Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to McLeansboro 69-46
                          McLeansboro beat Harrisburg in title game
            
1963-64             IHSA District Champions                         Coach's name & record needed
                          District Scores Needed
                          Harrisburg Regional Tournament
                          1st Rd lost to Norris City 63-60
                          Norris City lost to Carrier Mills in semi-final
                          Carrier Mills lost to Harrisburg in title game
   
1964-65  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1965-66  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
      
1965-66             IHSA District Champions                         Coach's name & record needed
                          District Scores Needed
                          IHSA Regional Qualifier
                          Regional Scores Needed
       
1966-67  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1967-68  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
      
1968-69             Galatia District Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Score Needed
                          Semi-final lost to Galatia 79-72
                          Galatia beat Thompsonville in title game
    
1969-70             Galatia District Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Score Needed
                          Semi-final lost to Thompsonville 79-68
                          Thompsonville beat Galatia in title game
   
1970-71             Equality District Tournament                      Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Score Needed
                          Semi-final lost to Crab Orchard 96-88
                          Crab Orchard beat Galatia in title game
   
1971-72             Norris City Class 'A' Regional Tourney      Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Norris City 70-60
                          Norris City lost to Eldorado in semi-final
                          Eldorado beat McLeansboro in title game
     
1972-73 through 1986-87  Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.
   
1986-87  8 - 19  Final Season                                              Coach Chuck Doty
        
Boys Track
 
Boys Track is the only other sport listed on the IHSA web site for the Equality athletes. One athlete, Bob Pitchers, took full advantage of his "big chance" at the Illinois State Track Meet. Bob Pitchers was the Illinois State Champion in the 1 Mile Run in 1953!!
 
1952-53    Bob Pitchers     1 Mile Run        STATE CHAMPION !!
 
Great Coach
 
*Dolph Stanley - Coached Equality to their only state appearance in 1933-34 and went on to coach with continued successes at Mt. Pulaski, Taylorville, Rockford Auburn, Rockford Boylan, and Rockford Keith Country Day. His career record in over 50 years of coaching is 705-313!  He was the only coach in IHSA history to bring five different teams to the State tournament: 
Equality, 1934; Mt. Pulaski, 1936; Taylorville, 1940 & 1944; Rockford Auburn, 1962-63-64-68; and Rockford Boylan 1971.
 
MORE ON COACH DOLPH STANLEY:
 
**Coach Stanley's 705 wins places him ELEVENTH All-Time for most wins in IHSA history.  Coach Stanley may have been Illinois' all-time leader when he retired as he has been surpassed by several coaches in recent years.
 
**Coach Stanley, as stated above, is the ONLY coach to lead five different schools to the IHSA State basketball finals.
 
**Coach Stanley is the ONLY coach to lead three different schools to the Final Four of the State Tourney.   
 
Need Your Help
 
There are a lot of holes to fill regarding the history of the Equality athletic program and school accomplishments in general. Girls' athletics and the better records and successes of the boys teams are not even touched upon. And what was the school fight song? If you have any information you can share, ESPECIALLY a photo of the old school building and great teams, you can forward them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631

Equality Grade School Building East Side 2010
equalitygseastsidedav.jpg
Submitted by James Horaz