Chicago Englewood High School "Eagles"

Chicago Englewood High School 1873-1979

courtesy of Harold Lee Rush & http://eagles.whgbetc.com/

The History of Chicago Englewood High School

Chicago (population: 2.8 million) is the nation's third largest city that grew quickly within its first 100 years. It was the fastest growing city in the US during the second half of the 19th Century, even with a great fire in 1871 that wiped out a good portion of the city, and after rebuilding, it annexed numerous communities such as Woodlawn, Roseland, Englewood, Lake, Rogers Park, Humboldt Park, Forrestville, and Pilsen into its boundaries.

Interstates 55, 57, 90, and 94 will take you to the city, along with other highways with state and US designations, train service, and air travel to/from O'Hare International Airport as well as Midway Airport, both of which serve many travelers daily. From it's founding in 1803 and even still today, the city possesses an eclectic feel with its numerous cultures and history that distinguishes the community from others world-wide.

Englewood High School was located at 6201 S. Steward, about seven miles south of the Loop. The school (which later built a newer facility in 1979) was settled in an area that was called Chicago Junction or Junction Grove when railroad companies began to lay tracks and build stations as early as 1852. The area had been initially settled in 1840 by a man named Wilcox when it was a swamp, but the railroads helped change that.

In 1868, settler and merchant Henry B. Lewis made a suggestion to change the name of the neighborhood from Junction Grove to Englewood in an effort to improve its image, and it succeeded in the degree that the Cook County Normal School (now known as Chicago State University) located in the area the same year. The school was on 10 acres between 67th & 69th Streets between Stewart and Halsted on land donated by a real estate developer.

Following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the Englewood neighborhood became a prime location for those looking to build homes after being displaced, due to the fact that railroad service was already established. Streets were laid out in the neighborhood and the building started in 1872.

The following year, Englewood High School opened up to educate the students who came from the neighborhood, starting a tradition that would last 135 years. By 1889, the city of Chicago annexed the Englewood neighborhood along with those in Hyde Park and Lake in an effort to not only reach one million in population, but to also land the 1893 World's Fair (aka the World's Columbian Exposition), which it did.

During this time, Chicago and the Englewood neighborhood had immigrants from Sweden, Germany, and Ireland come in and settle, some of which were involved in a construction phase for the World's Fair. Their relocation to the area by 1920 helped push the neighborhood population to over 86,000. Over time, the number of immigrants fell below 20 percent, but the Irish, Germans, and Swedes remained the largest ethnic groups.

Following World War II, the racial makeup of Englewood began to change. Up to that point, less than five percent were African-Americans that worked on the railroads, were laborers, or domestics. The Great Migration of the 1950's saw the number of African-Americans come from the South in order to gain better opportunities for themselves and their families, and as a result, the percentage of African-Americans grew in Englewood from 10 in 1950 to 69 in 1960. Part of that increase can also be accredited to the construction of the South Expressway, which today is known as the Dan Ryan Expressway, when homes were torn down to make way for the superhighway.

Over time, the community and high school became nearly 100% African-American, and the societal changes that took place nationwide also affected their part of the world. Even though Englewood built a new facility in 1979 (see photo below) to replace the one it started in (see above), it did not help as it faced the issue of preparing its students for the future. The school was on probation for a nine-year period in order to get itself up to standards that were set by the Chicago Public School system, not to mention that various attempts to improve the situation had failed.

In February 2005, it was decided that due to poor performance, Englewood would be phased out over a three-year period to allow the freshmen that had entered to be the final class to graduate. That group did receive its diplomas at the final Englewood graduation ceremony in June 2008. The building is now the home of Urban Prep Charter Academy, which is an all-boys' school within the CPS system, as well as TEAM Englewood High School.

A history of the neighborhood can be found here: http://www.chicagoreporter.com/index.php/c/Sidebars/d/A_Brief_History_of_Englewood

Englewood High School 2007

credit: http://www.englewood.cps.k12.il.us/index.htm

FACTS ABOUT CHICAGO ENGLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Year opened: 1873

Moved into new building: 1979

Year closed: 2008

School colors: Purple & White

School nickname: Eagles

School song: "Our Englewood"

(thank you to Annie McGowan for providing the words, written by J.E. Amstrong & arranged by Charles Espenshade)

All voices raise in songs of praise for Englewood

Our flags unfold and banners hold for Englewood

For many friends thruout the land

With joyful hearts all willing stand

To shout her praise for dear old Englewood

(chorus) Oh Englewood, our Englewood

How many times before

You've taught us how to faithful be

You're turned defeat into victory

Oh Englewood, our Englewood

We'll stand by you today

Hurrah for the Purple and White

Then here's a cheer for schoolmates, dear hurrah, hurrah

And here's a hand for teachers, grand hurrah, hurrah

Our loyalty we pledge to thee

We'll work for what we hope to be

All honor then to dear old Englewood

(back to chorus)

O tell me of a High School

Where I should like to go

Where jolly pupils gather

And seek life's work to know

O tell me is there sunshine

In class and hall and heart

For I should like to join that school

And try to do my part

(repeat chorus)

Aerial view of Englewood campus

credit: http://eagles.whgbetc.com/

ATHLETICS

Englewood was a member of both the Cook County League and its' successor, the Chicago Public High School (aka the Public League), offering boys' sports in track, basketball, baseball, football, cross-country, swimming, soccer, gymnastics, golf, speed skating, and rifle marksmenship. The female students of EHS had their choice among basketball, volleyball, softball, track, and swimmng, even though there was very little information about these sports available while researching. Anyone who has more information about these offerings is encouraged to contact us with details at dr.veeman@gmail.com.

BOYS' TRACK

Before you get settled in, allow us to say that it may not be a bad idea to make a quick trip to the restroom or grab something to drink since this listing is going to a very long one. The Eagles won four state championships, 18 conference titles (indoor & outdoor), along with numerous relay and individual championships at the state meets. Here's a look at the Englewood boys' track history:

1891 First team known competed in Cook County League meet

1893 Individual Medalists

B. Hails 1-mile bike 3rd place

E. Kinchin 880-yd run 3rd place

1894 Tied for 8th in State

Cook County League Champs

State Final Standings

1 Urbana 22

8 Chicago Englewood 10

Yorkville 10

Individual Medalists

Clayton Teetzel 1-mile run 2nd place

880-yd run 3rd place

A. Vernon Hales 1-mile bike STATE CHAMPION!!

1895 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Cook County League Champs

State Finals Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Chicago Englewood 26

2 Rockford HS 20

3 Chicago South Division 16

4 Springfield HS 14

5 Mattoon 12

Individual Medalists

T.B. Egbert 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

L.V. Porter 1-mile bike STATE CHAMPION!!

Clayton Teetzel 1-mile run 3rd place

880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!

James Hutchinson 100-yd dash 3rd place

220-yd dash 2nd place

N.C. Thayer 50-yd dash 2nd place

high jump 2nd place

1896 2nd in State!!

Cook County League Champs

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Rockford HS 23

2 Chicago Englewood 21

3 Chicago Hyde Park 11

4 DuQuoin HS 10

5 Chicago English 9

Individual Medalists

James Hutchinson long jump STATE CHAMPION!!

T.B. Egbert 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

W.D. Brookfield 1-mile walk 3rd place

James Henry triple jump 2nd place

Bert Hodgman 1-mile run 2nd place

N.C. Thayer 100-yd dash 2nd place

Gage Leake pole vault 3rd place

1897 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Cook County League Champs

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Chicago Englewood 22

2 DuQuoin HS 20

3 Chicago Hyde Park 17

4 Peoria HS 16

5 Aurora East 14

Individual Medalists

Gage Leake pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!

Clayton Teetzel 220-yd dash 3rd place

440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

Harry Salmon 880-yd run 2nd place

Roderick "Jack" Siler 1-mile run 3rd place

Charles Flocken hammer 2nd place

broad jump 3rd place

Willard Doud 880-yd walk 2nd place

1898 3rd in State

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Aurora East 36

2 Peoria HS 28

3 Chicago Englewood 19

4 Chicago Hyde Park 13

5 Lewistown 11

Individual Medalists

Willard Doud 220-yd hurdles 3rd place

Zellner Pettet 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

Theodore George 800-yd walk STATE CHAMPION!!

John Maloney 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!

shotput 2nd place

1899 4th in State

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Biggsville 23

2 Aurora West 21

3 Chicago Hyde Park 19

4 Chicago Englewood 15

5 Taylorville 9

Individual Medalists

Thomas Webster 880-yd run 3rd place

E. Maginnis 1-mile bike 3rd place

Clarence Gray 100-yd dash 2nd place

50-yd dash 3rd place

William Hutchinson 220-yd hurdles 3rd place

Roderick “Jack” Siler 1-mile run 2nd place

Fred Indermille 800-yd walk 3rd place

1900 2nd in State

Cook County League Champs

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Biggsville 33

2 Chicago Englewood 22

3 Decatur HS 17

4 Taylorville 15

5 Aurora West 12

Individual Medalists

Fred Indermille 800-yd walk 3rd place

William Forbes 1-mile run 3rd place

Charles Kennedy long jump 2nd place

Frank Lasley 100-yd dash 2nd place

180-yd dash 2nd place

50-yd dash 2nd place

1901 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Cook County League Champs

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Chicago Englewood 20

2 Taylorville 18

3 Aurora West 15

4 Decatur HS 9

Chicago Northwest Division 9

Individual Medalists

Robert Maxwell shotput STATE CHAMPION!!

Thomas Webster 1-mile run STATE CHAMPION!!

880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!

Ernest Salmon 220-yd hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

1902 Tied for 3rd in State

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Chicago South Division 31

2 Paris 14

3 Centralia 10

Chicago Englewood 10

Pontiac 10

Individual Medalists

Ernest Salmon 220-yd hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

Robert Maxwell shotput STATE CHAMPION!!

1903 Tied for 10th in State

State Final Standings
1 Chicago Hyde Park 24

10 Taylorville 5

Cuba 5

Chicago Englewood 5

Elmwood 5

Oak Park-River Forest 5

Relay & Individual Medalists

2/3rd mile relay 2nd place

Corson Morris pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!

1904 Relay & Individual Medalists

2/3rd mile relay 3rd place

Corson Morris pole vault 2nd place

1905 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Cook County League Champs

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Chicago Englewood 16

2 Chicago Phillips 11.5

3 Greenfield 10.5

4 Petersburg 8

5 Chicago Crane 9(?)

Relay & Individual Medalists

2/3rd mile relay 2nd place

R. White 220-yd dash 2nd place

C. Butler 1-mile run 2nd place

Walter Merrill 100-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

50-yd dash 2nd place

Roy Madigan discus 2nd place

1906 Individual Medalist

(James) Austin Menaul 440-yd dash 2nd place

1907 3rd in State

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Oak Park-River Forest 18

2 Chicago University 14.2

3 Chicago Englewood 10

4 Atlanta 8

5 Chicago Lake View 6

Champaign HS 6

Individual Medalists

(James) Austin Menual 440-yd dash 3rd place

shotput STATE CHAMPION!!

Ray Coleman 1-mile run 2nd place

880-yd run 3rd place

1908 Individual Medalist

Ray Coleman 880-yd run 2nd place

1910 10th in State

State Final Standings

1 Chicago University 26

10 Rushville 5

Chicago Englewood 5

Individual Medalist

Darwin Tate 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!

1911 6th in State

State Final Standings (top 6 schools)

1 Chicago University 23

2 Chicago Hyde Park 18.5

3 Oak Park-River Forest 17

4 Chicago Lane 16

5 Decatur HS 11

6 Chicago Englewood 9.75

Individual Medalist

Charles Bachman discus STATE CHAMPION!!

pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!

shotput 3rd place

1912 3th in State

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Chicago Lane 18

2 Oak Park-River Forest 17

3 Chicago Englewood 14.83

4 Chicago University 14.67

5 Chicago Bowen 12

Individual Medalist

Charles Bachman discus STATE CHAMPION!!

hammer STATE CHAMPION!!

pole vault STATE CHAMPION!!

shotput 2nd place

1915A Individual Medalist

F. Patton 220-yd dash 4th place

1916A Individual Medalist

F. Patton 220-yd dash 3rd place

1922A Tied for 6th in State

State Final Standings

1 Evanston Township 35

2 Highland Pk. Deerfield-Shields 17

3 Marion HS 14

4 Springfield HS 12.75

5 Oak Park-River Forest 10

6 Chicago University 9

Champaign Central 9

Urbana HS 9

Chicago Englewood 9

Individual Medalists

Albert Washington 100-yd dash 2nd place

50-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

Joseph Cody high jump 3rd place

1923A Individual Medalists

Joseph Cody high jump STATE CHAMPION!!

Gilbert Mintz 220-yd dash 2nd place

1924A Individual Medalist

Robert Colin high jump 3rd place

1925A Individual Medalist

Nelson Brefford high jump 5th place

1926 Individual Medalists

Nelson Brefford high jump 5th place

Raymond Singer 50-yd dash 3rd place

1932 Individual Medalist

Stephen McCall long jump 4th place

1933 Individual Medalist

L. Hayes 220-yd hurdles 4th place

1934 4th in State

Public League Champions (both indoor & outdoor)

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Winnetka New Trier 19

2 Rockford HS 15

Sterling HS 15

4 Chicago Englewood 10.5

5 Centralia 9.9

Relay & Individual Medalists

880-yd relay 4th place

(?) Chism high jump STATE CHAMPION!!

Ed Smith 220-yd hurdles 2nd place

1935 9th in State

Public League Champions (both indoor & outdoor)

State Final Standings

1 Rockford HS 21

8 DeKalb 7

9 Chicago Englewood 6.5

10 Palatine HS 6

Peoria HS 6

Relay & Individual Medalists

880-yd relay 5th place

Joseph Bowles high jump 5th place

Ricardo Ruiz 440-yd dash 3rd place

Aquila Austin long jump 4th place

1936 Tied for 9th in State

Public League Champions (both indoor & outdoor)

State Final Standings

1 Elmhurst York 20

8 Shelbyville 7.5

9 Chicago Englewood 7

9 Alton Senior 7

Individual Medalists

Aquila Austin long jump STATE CHAMPION!!

Evans Walker 100-yd dash 4th place

1937 Tied for 10th in State

Public League Champions

State Final Standings

1 Oak Park-River Forest 18.5

9 Urbana HS 8

10 Chicago Englewood 7

10 Anna-Jonesboro 7

Individual Medalists

Ray McQueary 220-yd dash 3rd place

Eddie Culp 880-yd run 2nd place

1938 Individual Medalist

Eddie Culp 1-mile run STATE CHAMPION!!

1951 Individual Medalist

Clyde Ware 440-yd dash 2nd place

1952 Individual Medalist

Bernard Porter high jump 5th place

1957 Individual Medalist

L.V. Morrow long jump 4th place

1967 Individual Medalist

Willie Thomas 880-yd run 2nd place

1968 Tied for 8th in State

State Final Standings

1 Hillside Proviso West 20.5

7 Moline HS 11

8 Chicago Englewood 10

8 Maywood Proviso East 10

8 Chicago Harlan 10

Relay & Individual Medalists

880-yd relay 3rd place

Willie Thomas 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!

Ray Smith 220-yd dash 5th place

1969 3rd in State

Public League Champions

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Alton Senior 25

2 East Moline United 16

3 Chicago Englewood 15
4 Chicago Hts. Bloom 13

5 Berwyn Morton West 10

Individual Medalists

Willie Thomas 880-yd run STATE CHAMPION!!

Harry Johnson 1-mile run 5th place

Roderick Moss 220-yd dash 4th place

Michael Stover 120-yd hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

1970 4th in State

Public League Champions

State Final Standings (top 5 schools)

1 Evanston Township 21

2 Alton Senior 17

3 Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 14

4 Chicago Englewood 10

5 Belleville West 9

Individual Medalists

Alan Everett shotput 3rd place

Lonnie Brown 180-yd hurdles 2nd place

long jump 3rd place

1971 6th in State

Public League Champions

State Final Standings (top 6 schools)

1 Evanston Township 24

2 East Moline United 21

3 LaGrange Lyons 15

Alton Senior 15

Chicago Heights Bloom 15

6 Chicago Englewood 13

Relay & Individual Medalists

1-mile relay 6th place

Lonnie Brown 180-yd hurdles 5th place

long jump STATE CHAMPION!!

Alvin Everett shotput STATE CHAMPION!!

1972 Individual Medalist

Steve Jackson 2-mile run 3rd place

1973 Tied for 6th in State

Public League Champions

State Final Standings (top 6 schools)

1 LaGrange Lyons 16

East St. Louis Lincoln 16

3 Harvey Thornton 15

4 Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 13

5 Chicago Parker 12

6 Chicago Englewood 10

Chicago Heights Bloom 10

Granite City 10

Lebanon 10

Relay & Individual Medalists

1-mile relay 3rd place

880-yd relay 5th place

Alphonso Sanders 440-yd dash STATE CHAMPION!!

James Thompson 440-yd dash 6th place

1974 Individual Medalist

James Thompson 440-yd dash 3rd place

1976AA Public League Champions

Individual Medalists

Kenneth McCloud 880-yd run 7th place

Tyrone Smith 330-yd hurdles 3rd place

AN OUTSTANDING RUN BY THE ENGLEWOOD TRACK PROGRAM!!!!!

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

Englewood competed in the first Cook County League meet held in either the fall of 1908 or spring of 1909. From there, the school competed over hill and dale, winning 12 Public League championship, placed in the top 10 of the team standings at the state finals four times (including a second and a third in successive years), and had four individuals place in the top 10 to gather all-state honors.

1933 Public League Champs coach unknown

1934 Public League Champs coach unknown

1936 Public League Champs coach unknown

1937 Public League Champs coach unknown

1948 Public League Champs coach unknown

Individual Medalist at State Finals

Jerold Richard----10th place

1950 6th in State

Public League champs

State Final Standings (top 6 teams)

1 Chicago Hts Bloom Twp. 49

2 Paris 70

3 Des Plaines Maine Twp. 99

4 Peoria Woodruff 104

5 Lincoln 117

6 Chicago Englewood 126

Individual Medalist

Charles Towns----5th place

1951 Public League champs

State qualifier

1953 Public League champs

State qualifier

1954 Public League champs

State qualifier

1955 2nd in State!!!!

Public League champs

State Final Standings (top 5 teams)

1 LaGrange Lyons 95

2 Chicago Englewood 122

3 Urbana 139

4 DesPlaines Maine Twp. 161

5 Peoria Central 163

1956 3rd in State!!!!

Public League champs

State Final Standings (top 5 teams)

1 LaGrange Lyons 102

2 Rock Falls 113

3 Chicago Englewood 151

4 Maywood Proviso 156

5 Alton Sr. 171

Individual Medalist

Leonard Williamson---10th place

1957 Public League champs

State qualifier

1966 State qualifier

1967 State qualifier

1968 9th in State

Public League champs

State Final Standings

1 Elmhurst York 121

9 Englewood 263

Individual Medalist

Willie Thomas---5th place

1971 State qualifier

BOYS’ SWIMMING

Englewood’s tankmen were one of the better teams in the state of Illinois when the IHSA began offering a state championship in the sport during the 1930’s. The Eagles scored three top-10 team finishes (two of them in the top five) in that era, and also were Public League champs in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Names of coaches are unknown.

1922-23 Public League Outdoor Champs

1924-25 Public League Indoor Champs--20-Yard Division

1927-28 Public League Indoor Champs--25-Yard Division

1930-31 Public League Indoor Champs--20-Yard Division

1931-32 8th in State

State Final Standings

1 Des Plaines Maine 22

8 Englewood 4

Relay Medalists

200 medley relay---4th place

1933-34 5th in State

State Final Standings (top 5 teams)

1 Des Plaines Maine 27

2 Chicago University 19

3 Chicago Roosevelt 14

Rockford HS 14

5 Chicago Englewood 8

Relay Medalists

160 freestyle relay---4th place

180 medley relay—3rd place

Individual Medalist

Harold Cullen diving---4th place

Public League Indoor Champs--20-Yard & 25-Yard Divisions

1934-35 4th in State

State Final Standings (top 5 teams)

1 Des Plaines Maine 26

2 Chicago University 19

3 Oak Park-River Forest 10

4 Chicago Englewood 8

5 Winnetka New Trier 7

Chicago Hyde Park 7

Relay Medalists

160 freestyle relay---3rd place

180 medley relay---4th place

Individual Medalist

Billy Edgecomb 40 freestyle---3rd place

Public League Indoor Champs--20-yard & 25-Yard Divisions

FOOTBALL

The Eagles enjoyed success on the gridiron, taking home either the outright title or sharing it with another school on 14 occasions in its early years, and even won a couple of division titles as well in Public League play. It even made a playoff appearance in 1996, winning its first game in the 4A playoffs before ending its season.

There have been a number of notable players that played for the Purple and White, but one has a trophy named after him: Robert Maxwell. The Maxwell Trophy goes to the top collegiate player in the country, and was started in 1937 by friends of the Englewood grad, who died from injuries suffered in a auto accident in 1922.

In addition, one of the oldest traditional football rivalries involved Englewood with neighboring school Hyde Park. Robert Pruter wrote at length about the meetings between the two schools that began in 1889 and serves as the oldest prep football rivalry in the state of Illinois: http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/hstoric/football_engle-hp.htm

With help from Pruter as well as Tom Sikorski and the IHSA's website (www.ihsa.org), here's a look back at some of the better teams in school history:

1889 First team

1890 Cook County League Champs

1895 Cook County League Champs

1897 Cook County League Champs

1898 Cook County League Champs

1899 Cook County League Champs

1903 Co-Cook County League Champs

1908 Cook County League Champs

1909 Cook County League Champs

1914 Co-Public League Champs

1915 Public League Champs

1916 Public League Champs

1918 Public League Champs

1919 Public League Champs

1920 Public League Champs

1933 3--2--1

1936 4--2--1

1947 5--2

1951 5--3

1958 7--0--1 Blue Division Champions!!

Blue South Central Division Champs

Defeated Roosevelt 19-6 & Farragut 12-6 for Blue Division Title

1961 8--1 Blue South Central Champs!! Coach Yoshio Yamada

Defeated Wells 41-14 in Blue Division playoffs

Lost to Roosevelt in Blue Division finals, 14-13

1962 5--2--1 Coach Yoshio Yamada

1963 5--2 Coach Yoshio Yamada

1965 5--4 Coach Yoshio Yamada

1966 7--2 White South Central Champs Coach Yoshio Yamada

1967 5--3 Coach Yoshio Yamada

1968 4--2--1 Coach Yoshio Yamada

1969 5--3--1 Coach Yoshio Yamada

1970 5--2--1 White South Champs Coach Yoshio Yamada

1975 6--3

1976 5--3

1977 6--2

1980 5--4

1984 6--3

1985 6--2

1994 6--3 Coach Eudell McKenzie

1995 5--4 Coach Eudell McKenzie

1996 9--2 State 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach David Stiggers

Beat Aurora Marmion in 1st round, 56-15

Lost to Batavia in 2nd round, 55-6

1997 Coach David Stiggers

1998 coach unknown

1999 6--3 Coach Albert Cruse

2000-02 Coach Albert Cruse

2003 6--3 Coach Albert Cruse

2004 6--3 Coach Albert Cruse

2005 Coach Albert Cruse

2006 4--5 (last season w/team) Coach Michael Singleton

Last win was a 1-0 forfeit victory from Chicago Sullivan

Last game played was a 36-12 win over Chicago Payton

Englewood alumni that later went on to play professional football:

--Tom Farris: Following graduation, Farris attended the University of Wisconsin and later played from 1946-47 with the Chicago Bears and 1948 with the Chicago Rockets of the All-American Football Conference as a quarterback & defensive back.

--Ed Bradley: Bradley went on to play for Wake Forest, then was chosen in the 16th round of the 1950 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, with whom he played with in 1950 and 1952 as a defensive end in 12 games.

--Harold Bradley: This offensive guard went on Iowa, then signed with Cleveland, where he played from 1954-56. The Browns were NFL champs in 1955 as Bradley appeared in 11 games that season. Following the three years with Cleveland, Bradley played the 1958 season with Philadelphia before retiring.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Englewood’s basketball program made history on March 2, 1900, when the Eagles played Elgin High School in the earliest-known interscholastic game between two prep teams in Illinois, winning that contest at Sauer’s Hall in Elgin by the score of 16-12. The school won three conference titles, four more at the lightweight division, and a "Sweet 16" showing in the last year of operation.

1909-10 Cook County League Champions coach unknown

1917-18 Public League Champs coach unknown

1922-23 Public League Lwt. Co-Champs coach unknown

1924-25 Public League Lwt. Champs coach unknown

1925-26 Public League Lwt. Champs coach unknown

1926-27 Public League Champs coach unknown

1927-28 Public League Lwt. Champs coach unknown

2007-08 29-4 "Sweet 16" in 2A!!! Coach Louis Adams

Defeated Hales Francisan for Englewood Regional Title, 60-57

Downed Niles Northridge Prep 60-50 in Chicago North Lawndale Sectional

Upset by North Lawndale in sectional finals, 70-68

(North Lawndale eventual state 2A champs)

BOYS’ SOCCER

The Eagles made history as they participated with Oak Park-River Forest in the first-known prep match between two Illinois schools, ending in a 1-1 tie in 1909. Soccer was introduced to the school in 1905 following a serious football injury, playing the Chicago Wanderers that fall and winning 4-3. The school was not able to schedule games against other schools until 1909 when OP-RF started the sport due to a football death in 1908, so they played amateur clubs until then.

Archibald Patterson was the school’s first coach, and helped push the Cook County League to establish the sport in the league in 1912. Englewood won a number of Public League titles as well as the Peel Shield in the fall of 1914 as champion of the Public League and winner over the Suburban League participate in a winner-take-all game. The Eagles were a perennial contender in the CPL as well as for the Peel Shield for the remainder of the decade.

The 1919 Peel Shield match versus OPRF was marred by rough play and the referee ordered an extra period of play after being knotted at two in regulation time. OPRF pulled their team off the field, despite protests by Peter J. Peel, sponsor of the title match, and that ended the series. Englewood won the CPL title again in 1922, then disbanded their program in 1925.

1914 Public League Champions

Peel Shield Winners

1915 Public League Champions

1916 Public League Champions

1918 Public League Champions

1919 Public League Champions

1922 Public League Champions

BOYS’ TENNIS

The Eagles competed among the Cook County League and Chicago Public League teams, coming away with two singles and two doubles titles in addition to a team title. It also placed in the top three at the IHSA tournament in singles & doubles five times when the state finals were in their infancy.

Englewood was a part of the Cook County High School Lawn Tennis Association tournament that was held in 1894 only. The program gained some notice in 1910 when Alexander Squair won the University of Chicago Interscholastic singles title and then followed it up in 1914 with the Western Tennis Championship.

1912 Cook County Team Singles & Doubles Champions

1913 Cook County Team Singles & Doubles Champions

State Tournament Medalists

Al Lindauer & (?) Becker--2nd in doubles

(lost to Jerry & Jimmy Weber of Chicago Harvard 2-6, 7-5, 6-2)

Al Lindauer--2nd in singles

(lost to Jerry Weber of Chicago Harvard 3-6, 6-4, 6-2)

1921 State Tournament Medalist

(?) Reichenbach--3rd in singles

1922 State Tournament Medalists

Gene Quinn & Emmet Wertheimer--2nd in doubles

(lost to Rudolph Mulfinger & Frank O'Connell of Chicago Hyde Park, scores unavailable)

Gene Quinn--3rd in singles

1923 Public League Champions

BASEBALL

The Eagles started as early as 1890 on the baseball diamond, according to information received from historian Robert Pruter, as Englewood won three Cook County League championship during the 1890’s. As you can tell below, they were still playing up to the school’s final days.

1892 Cook County League Champions

1898 Cook County League Champions

1899 Cook County League Champions

2005 17-4 good record Coach Louis Adams

GOLF

Englewood enjoyed success as a team in the sport, winning three league titles, and even having one of its own players return home with a top five finish at the state tournament during the 1922 meet.

1910 Cook County League Champs

1912 Cook County League Champs

1922 Chicago Public League Champs

Individual Medalist

Eldridge Robinson---4th place (246, 15 strokes behind)

BOYS’ GYMNASTICS

The Eagles were pioneers in the sport, helped by the fact that they were coached by Henry Smidl, who introduced the sport to Illinois high schools. Englewood won the first Public League title in 1924 & 1925 before Smidl moved onto other Public League members Lindblom & Gage Park. Smidl was a gymnast himself, having won the national Sokol Club all-around championship from 1919-26. (The Sokol Club was an organization that was made up of Czechs and Slovaks who had immigrated to the US.)

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Englewood was a member of the Cook County League from 1900-1906 before the sport was banned by Edwin Cooley, superintendent of Chicago schools. The Englewood girls won the first league title in 1899-1900, and resumed play when girls' sports were re-introduced in the 1970's, but no Eagle team won a league title or qualified for the state finals.

MINOR SPORTS

SPEED SKATING

Englewood offered a team in the early 1920’s and won the senior division title at the 1922-23 Public League meet.This sport was contested all the way thru the 1970's when it was dropped by the Public League.

RIFLE MARKSMENSHIP

The Eagles had both boys’ & girls’ teams in the post World War I era (1919-1929) that competed in area competition between schools from the city and possibly the suburbs, but no date is known on when the school discontinued these teams.

FAMOUS ALUMNI OF ENGLEWOOD

The folks at Englewood were proud of their students and honored those who became successful in athletics, business, education, entertainment, government, media, military, religion, and science & technology by inducting a number of them into the school's hall of fame (see photo below). Among those inducted:

--Patricia Roberts Harris--attorney, former UN ambassador to Luxembourg, former Secretary of HUD (Housing & Urban Development) 1977, served as Secretary of HEW (Health, Education, & Welfare) 1979-80, and Dean of Students at Howard University.

--Jewel S. LaFontant-Mankarious--attorney, served as former Assistant General in US Attorney General's office, and as a US Ambassador.

--Avis Lavelle--public relations specialist, former broadcaster with WGN Radio & Television in Chicago. Has served as media specialist for former President Bill Clinton and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

--Merri Dee--radio/television personality with television stations WSNS & WGN in Chicago. Also worked as director of community relations for WGN.

--Samuel Greenlee--writer, poet, radio talk show host. Wrote "The Spook Who Sits by the Door" and "Bagdad Blues."

--Lorenzo Martin--former EHS teacher and newspaper editor/publisher.

--Fred Farmer--first African-American Army paratrooper & aviation instructor for helicopters.

--Maj. Robert H. Lawrence (USAF)--1st African-American astronaut and officer. Received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Ohio State, but lost his life in a test flight crash in 1967.

--Sgt. Donald L. Minter (US Army)--Retired Master Sergeant and was the senior ROTC instructor at Englewood.

--Dr. Walter R. Benson--chemist, pharmacist, retired Director of Drug Chemistry for the Food & Drug Administration.

--Dr. Jewel Plummer--cell physiologist at California State University/Fullerton and President Emerita at the school.

--Warren "Pete" Miller, Jr.--engineer and university professor, was Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy under President Barack Obama, and former Los Alamos National Laboratory senior administrator.

--Walter "Roger" Brown--former Englewood basketball player who played professionally in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers & Detroit Pistons as well as the hometown Chicago Bulls, plus with three teams in the former ABA following his college days at Kansas.

--Napolean Montgomery--coach of the 1996-97 boys' basketball team at Englewood, and was named to the University of Nevada Hall of Fame in 1992,

--Dr. Henry A. Hardwick--first African-American cadet chosen to the City of Chicago's Cadet Corps, and served as manager of the State of Illinois Labor Statistics bureau.

--Rudolph A. James--realtor, co-founded Ebony Real Estate in Chicago.

--Larry Hudgens--entrepreneur, CEO & president of Riteway Construction Company, also served as a mentor to Chicago Public Schools.

--Sheila Jefferson-Warfield--CEO of Educational Computing, Inc.

--Darwin Yarborough--financial advisor for Waddell & Reed Financial Services

--The Barrett Sisters (Delores Barrett Campbell, Billie Barrett Greenbey, Rodesa Barrett Porter)--members of the internationally-known gospel group, "Sweet Sisters of Zion"

--Gwendolyn Brooks--Poet Laureate of Illinois and writer, was first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

--Oscar Brown, Jr.--singer-songwriter, also a poet and playwright.

--Etta LaConstance Davis--international vocalist and activist, served as local school council president for EHS.

--Lorraine Hansberry--playwright and essayist that wrote "Raisin in the Sun."

--Jeanette K. Wilson Childress--minister, educator, and guidance counselor.

--Queen Esther Richardson Crawford--served on National Baptist Convention's Foreign Mission Board. Also served as manager of the Bureau of Quality Control for the Office of the Inspector General.

--Gloria J. Gibson Randolph--educator, administrator, and ordained deacon. Founded GGG (Giving God the Glory) Ministries and co-founded R.A.Y. (Reclaim A Youth).

--Orietha Phillips Benton--Eductor and reading specialist.

--Dr. Stephen H. Brown--former EHS principal as well as district and assistant superintendent.

--Edna Alberta Dixon Bryant--served as educator for the Chicago Board of Education for 31 years.

--Dr. Madie Davis Canamore--educator, consultant, writer for computer information services.

--Nadine Dillahunty-Dillanado--award-winning educator, taught at EHS, and was Miss Englewood in 1968-69.

--Dr. Brady J. Fletcher--professional and government educator that served as supervisor in various organizations related to education, research, and governement.

--Hattie Green--served EHS for 37 years as school treasurer and payroll clerk.

--Richard Hunt--sculptor and educator, taught at Illinois-Chicago, Yale, and Northwestern.

--Elaine Ann Hunter--educator and assistant principal at Coleman Elementary School in Chicago.

--Dr. Paulette Webb Kidd--served as assistant principal at EHS, and was student advocate.

--Dr. Sarah Kidd-Burton--educator and compliance monitor for special education students.

--Sherye Garmony Miller--educator and adminstrator

--Charles Mingo--served as principal at Chicago schools.

--Nathaniel Richards--educator & counselor, served on Advisory Board for the City Colleges of Chicago.

--Audrey Hoyle Cooper Stanton--educator and administrator.

--Dr. Hazel B. Steward--served as a principal and was a regional education officer for Chicago Public Schools.

--Mark Upchurch--Served 38 years as English teacher at EHS, was department chairman, and was a delegate on the Chicago Teachers' Union.

--Rudolph A. James, received GED from EHS in after serving in World War II..was owner and founder of Ebony Real Estate at 79th and Ashland.

Other famous alumni who are not in the Englewood Hall of Fame include:

--Archibald Motley: 1914 EHS graduate, known for his paintings in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920's;

--Sherry Brewer-Bronfman, an actress who starred along side Richard Roundtree in the 1971 movie "Shaft" and was once married to Edgar Bronfman Jr., whose family was in charge of Seagrams and Vivendi Universal;

--Dr. George Carruthers, a developer of the space exploration telescope; and,

--Dr. John A Trimble, engineering professor and two-time Fullbright Award winner.

MEMORIES

from Joe Barrett (class of 1955):

"I was reading online about Englewood High School, and wanted to add a note about the Englewood Cross-Country Team that won the Chicago City Championship seven years in a row from roughly 1948 to 1955. I ran on the team in 1953 and 1954.

"I attended Englewood from January 1951 and graduated in January 1955. President Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Shields, was in our class. In my freshmen year, I took Latin and Robert Lawrence (see Famous Alumni above) was in my class, even though he was already a senior."

from Annette Vaughn Nunnally (class of 1958, from 2/20/2018):

"I was looking for information for our 60th year Englewood class reunion and ran across your web site. I was very impressed to see information and history relative to Englewood. I was also happy to see the old school, which is a unique piece of architecture, resembling a castle. Our school was (I think) the only school that had stained glass windows (until they were destroyed). I particularly remember the "gallery" where you needed high-powered binoculars to see the stage.

"I was also impressed with your list of famous people who were listed in (Englewood's) hall of fame, as well as those not listed. I went to school with George Carruthers and Madie Davis. We are preparing for our 60th year reunion (class of '58) in September of this year. We are hopeful that we will be able to reach more of our classmates because we are hearing of deaths frequently. The sad part of having reunions this long is that you see old friends aging (some better than others). But we are always happy to get together and talk over old times and do the old dances.

"We have a number of people from our class who are not on (the) list. I don't know too much about their accomplishments, but they have made great strides during an era when opportunities were limited for black. One of those people is Frank Mingo, brother of Charles, who created his own ad agency and was a big name in New York. Frank graduated in August 1957. At that time, we had half-year graduates that were lumped into one. Lesile Spires ('58) owned his own visiting nurse service, which is now closed due to the death of his wife. He is also an accountant and a member of our committee. Diane Slaughter was the first in our class to receive a PhD (at age 30). Donald Myrick played saxophone with Earth, Wind, and Fire. That sax solo on "Reasons" is him, and unfortunately he died some years ago.

"Precious Luster is part of the Luster Hair Products family and is an executive. Mr. Bunton (choir director) had a lot of famous accomplishments, which I can't remember, but he did a lot of church choirs and was pretty famous in his field. Also, Edward K. Leak, of the funeral family graduated in 1946 or 1947 with the Barrett Sisters. He invited me to one of their class reunions and I was surprised that blacks were in the school that early. I should not have been surprised since my uncle and all of my older cousins went there also.

"Anyway, I enjoyed your website and if you need more info on Englewoodites of the past, I may be able to get some of my committee members to help me in the memory department."

from June Miller (dated 2/9/2021):

"Thank you for commemorating the achievements of graduates of Englewood High School!

I would like to add that Warren "Pete" Miller is a former Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy under former President Obama and the former Los Alamos National Laboratory senior administrator (e.g. Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology; Director of Science and Technology Base Program; Associate Laboratory Director for Research and Education; Associate Laboratory Director At-Large; Deputy Laboratory Director for Energy, Research, and Technology; Associate Laboratory Director for Physics and Mathematics; Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Programs; and Deputy Associate Laboratory Directory for Nuclear Programs, etc.).

It is wonderful how Englewood High School has supported so many students to achieve their dreams!"

SPECIAL THANKS....

to Harold Lee Rush for allowing us to use a couple of photos that are on this page, and well as information that we have been able to find out about Englewood High School. He has a website that caters to the EHS alumni and gives a great deal of information about the school's history: http://eagles.whgbetc.com/.

Also, kudos to Tom Sikorski and Robert Pruter for the information they have compiled on EHS.

OUR WORK MAY HAVE JUST STARTED...

but we have so much to do in telling the most accurate story about the history of Englewood High School for generations to come. If you have more information about the school, whether it be for athletics, academics, the school hall of fame, or others, please contact us. Our email address is dr.veeman@gmail.com or send it thru the mail to us at:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL 60631

Englewood High School Hall of Fame

courtesy of Harold Lee Rush & http://eagles.whgbetc.com/ Eagle painted by Patricia Stewart