Norris City High School Cardinals

Norris City High School Building through 1949

Submitted bu David Cantrell, from the 1947 Norris City HS Yearbook

Norris City High School

Submitted by Alice Ann (Capen) Stephens

The History of Norris City High School

Norris City (population 1,057) is located in southeastern Illinois about 30 miles east of Benton and 10 miles southwest of Carmi. Norris City sits quietly in the southwest corner of White County 15 miles west of the Indiana state line. U.S. Route 45 and Illinois Route 1 intersect just south of Norris City. The Conrail and Prairie Trunk Railroads also intersects on Norris City's south side. A branch of the Bear Creek flows through the north side of town. Norris City is named after early settlers of the area William and Emaline Norris.

The following brief history of Norris City High School was provided to us by David Cantrell:

"In 1926, the Norris City High School District 181 was formed.

On July 1st, 1948, ground was broken for the new Norris City High School building. Ralph Legeman of Evansville, IN designed the facility that included a 450-seat auditorium and a gymnasium with a capacity for 3,500 people. The gym was the first of its kind in southern Illinois. Both the playing floor (70' x 110') and nine rows of bleachers were below ground. Spectators entered the building at the top bleacher. The angled roof was supported by steel trusses bent at an angle, at Norris City approximately 30 degrees. Mr. Legeman designed 27 other gymnasiums and licensed 10 more including Evansville's Roberts Stadium. Eighth through twelfth grades were housed at the new high school building.

Norris City High School Building 1949 - Current

Submitted by David Cantrell, From the 1949 Norris City HS Yearbook

In 1949, Norris City Community Unit Number 3 High School created from merger of 19 rural one-room schools with Norris City School System.

In 1953, Omaha High School consolidated into Norris City-Omaha (NCO) Community Unit Number 3 High School.

- 1949 Cardinal Yearbook

- Edward Oliver, Villager’s Voice, May 25, 2016

- Remember Roberts Stadium http://rememberrobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/05/legend-of-ralph-legeman.html "

The new district was named the Norris City-Omaha School District.

The following memories are provided by Alice Ann (Capen) Stephens:

"I graduated from Norris City High School in 1949 after having attended Norris City Elementary downstairs in the same old building. When I attended the lower grades, there were no indoor restrooms, but an outdoor one for the boys & another for the girls. By the 1950 school year the construction on a new separate "Norris City Community Unit High School" was completed & opened across the street from where I lived at the time. I have attached a picture of the old school as it looked in 1949 (see above). The Elementary school was downstairs. The High School was upstairs as well as in the building addition shown at the right side of the picture. The gymnasium was also in this addition. Humbert J Phelps was the Principal of the High School and F E Welch was principal of the Elementary School. The old Grade-High School building, I believe, is now the location of the school in the area for Special Education high school students that are bussed in from a wide area of White County. My brother, Moe Capen, still lives in Norris City and has helped me with much of this information."

The high school for the new District (Norris City-Omaha) remained in Norris City. This effort lasted until Enfield joined them in 1985 creating the current Norris City-Omaha-Enfield School District.

Norris City High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year HS District 181 Formed: 1926

Year consolidated: 1953

Consolidated to: Norris City-Omaha High School

Norris City HS team nickname: "Cardinals"

Norris City HS team colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: Norris City Loyalty

Here’s to the Cardinal and the white,

Here’s to our honor and our might,

Here’s to our love of honesty

And my our courage always be.

Here’s to our Alma mater brave,

And May our colors always wave.

To name a victory for Norris City,

Here’s to the Cardinal and the white.

Athletics

The Norris City High School boys competed in basketball and track for certain. We are confident that baseball was offered as well. Team nickname, colors, fight song, team records, and coach's names are all items we are seeking.

Boys Basketball

The Norris City High School boys basketball team won a Regional Championship in 1940 and earned the right to play in the Sectional as one of the top 32 teams in Illinois! Unfortunately this is the extent of the information we currently have available on the NCHS boys basketball program. Several basketball scores involving Norris City High School playing in the IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled "Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores" and are printed below.

No scores listed prior to the 1931-32 season.

1931-32 Eldorado District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carmi 23-18

Galatia beat Harrisburg in title game

1932-33 Harrisburg District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Ridgway 22-18

2nd Rd Beat Broughton 38-25

Semi-Final lost to Eldorado 28-17

Galatia beat Eldorado in title game

1933-34 Harrisburg District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Walpole 30-26

2nd Rd lost to Equality 35-7

Equality beat Eldorado in title game

1934-35 Eldorado District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Equality 24-21

Eldorado beat Carmi in title game

1935-36 Bellmont District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Mill Shoals 26-24 (O/T)

Semi-Final Beat Burnt Prairie 30-23

Title Game lost to Bone Gap 22-17

1936-37 Norris City District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

Norris City Scores Needed

New Burnside beat Broughton in title game

1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1938-39 Eldorado Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

District Tourney not held this season.

1st Rd Beat Cave-In-Rock 35-26

Semi-Final lost to Harrisburg 27-26 (O/T)

Harrisburg beat Eldorado in title game

1939-40 19 - 9 Harrisburg Regional Champs Coach's name & record needed

Norris City did not compete in District this year.

Harrisburg Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Galatia 26-21

Semi-Final Beat Equality 38-24

Title Game Beat Carrier Mills 21-17

Lawrenceville Sectional Tourney

1st Rd Beat Bellmont 31-21

Semi-Final lost to Flat Rock 27-22

Casey beat Flat Rock in title game

1940-41 Eldorado Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Galatia 38-33

Galatia beat Marion in title game

1941-42 Equality District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

Title Game lost to Enfield 30-28

1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1943-44 Harrisburg Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Harrisburg 78-28

Marion beat Harrisburg in title game

1944-45 Eldorado Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Marion 74-36

Carrier Mills beat Marion in title game

1945-46 Harrisburg Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carrier Mills 41-30

Marion beat Eldorado in title game

1946-47 Eldorado Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Harrisburg 61-42

Marion beat Harrisburg in title game

1947-48 Harrisburg Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Harrisburg 80-36

Marion beat Harrisburg in title game

HARRISBURG (80): Brown 24, Cummins 20, Vinson 16, VanderPluym 9, Kibler 4, Hensley 4, Jones 2, Bobka 1.

NORRIS CITY (36): Mayberry 13, Hughes 10, P. Campbell 7, Willis 3, English 2, Coffman 1.

1948-49 Eldorado Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Eldorado 69-26

Harrisburg beat Marion in title game

ELDORADO (69): Kendall 16, Kingston 14, Wilson 11, Melton 8, Overton 5, Pack 5, Cooley 5, Sutton 2, Cochrane 2, Ewan 1.

NORRIS CITY (26): Hughes 10, Hoffstuttler 5, Dixon 3, L. Johnson 2, W. Campbell 2, Lamb 2, Coffman 1, P. Campbell 1.

1949-50 Norris City Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carrier Mills 46-43

Eldorado beat Equality in title game

CARRIER MILLS (46): Proffitt 13, Gowins 11, Cole 8, Blackman 5, Jackson 4, Trammell 4, Johnson 1.

NORRIS CITY (43): Hughes 16, B. Johnson 11, Doerner 6, Carroll 4, Smith 3, D. Johnson 2, Coffman 1.

1950-51 McLeansboro Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Harrisburg 66-37

Mt. Vernon beat Harrisburg in title game

HARRISBURG (66): Logsdon 20, Smith 12, Zeigler 9, Shewmake 7, McNew 5, Ewell 5, Frederick 4, Griffith 2, Raley 2.

NORRIS CITY (37): B. Johnson 12, Doerner 8, South 6, Gossett 5, Smith 3, D. Johnson 2, Lack 1, Piland 1.

1951-52 Norris City Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carrier Mills 41-38

McLeansboro beat Harrisburg in title game

CARRIER MILLS (41): Farrar 16, Cole 8, Culbreth 7, Harrawood 4, Williams 3, Martin 3.

NORRIS CITY (38): B. Johnson 16, Edwards 11, South 9, D. Johnson 2.

1952-53 Carmi Regional Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Albion 83-43

Semi-Final lost to Fairfield 87-65

Mt. Carmel Beat Fairfield in title game

*Became Norris City-Omaha High School in the summer of 1953.

Boys Track & Field

Two individuals won medals at the IHSA State Track Meet. A gentleman with the last name of Cole won medals in consecutive years in the high jump. Thomas Edwards was crowned STATE CHAMPION in the high jump as well.

1930-31 Individual Medalist Kenneth Cole High Jump 4TH Place

1931-32 Individual Medalist Kenneth Cole High Jump 5TH Place

1937-38 Individual Medalist Thomas Edwards High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

From Alice Stephens:

"The person listed for Norris city under "Track & Field" named "Kenneth Cole" on your web site later became a Coach at the High School. He graduated from Norris City High in 1932."

Need Your Assistance

If you have any information to share regarding the history of Norris City and its former "solo" high school please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631