Chester High School Hosts All-Sports Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Prompted by then principal John Pearson, the Chester High School All-Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1993 and dedicated to the memory of longtime Chester sports advocate and KSGM sportscaster Dick Roth. The first induction ceremony was held in the spring of 1994. To be considered for the Hall of Fame, an athlete must have graduated at least ten years prior to nomination and had an exemplary sports career while at CHS.
On Saturday, September 24, six individuals and one team were inducted into the prestigious Chester High School Dick Roth All-Sports Hall of Fame. They were also introduced to the fans at halftime of the Chester-Johnston City football game on Friday evening.
Saturday following a well-enjoyed dinner prepared by the CHS kitchen staff, a ceremony was held in their honor. As a tribute to their athletic accomplishments, each individual inductee was presented with a plaque to commemorate his/her induction. Similar etched plaques will join the 47 athletes and ten teams from eight previous induction ceremonies on the "wall of fame" in the lobby of the Colbert Gymnasium.
Todd Cowan of Chester (Class of 2001) was introduced by his cousin and best friend, Clint Cowan. Although a highly respected track member both individually and as part of various relay teams, Todd will always be most highly acclaimed for his remarkable ability in football and his dedication to the sport. He still ranks among the top football record holders, both season and career, of all Chester High School graduates.
While wearing #42 for the Yellow Jackets, Todd was named the team's Top Offensive Back, Most Valuable Player, All-Conference Running Back 1st Team, All-Conference Defensive Back, All-South, and All-State Running Back. He was also honored with a Chicago Tribune Award. Todd finished his football career with 3,872 yards rushing with an average of 8.8 yards per carry, scoring 50 touchdowns, and earning 337 total points. As a four-year letter winner for the Yellow Jacket track team, he found the most success during his final season. Todd was named Most Valuable Player, All-Conference, and All-South and was a member of the All-State 800 m Relay Team.
Following his stellar football career, Todd played on the two-year National Championship team of Joliet Junior College and was named All-Conference Defense.
Introducing Pete Glass of Wentzville, MO, (Class of 1967) was Dennis "Doc Bones" Bartels, high school friend and co-worker. As a three-year member of the varsity squads in football, basketball, and baseball, Pete was probably most outstanding in football as an offensive end and fullback and in baseball as a right fielder and catcher. During the 1967 baseball season, he led the CHS team in both hits and homeruns. Pete was a fun-loving person, but when it was game time he was all business which rubbed off on his teammates.
As a junior football player, Pete was a member of the 1965 Southwestern Egyptian Conference Championship team. His senior year he earned All-Conference honors and was named the team's Most Valuable Blocker. In baseball Pete earned All-Conference honors his senior year and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. He was part of the district championship team for CHS in the spring of 1967. Glass earned seven varsity letters at CHS.
Following graduation, Pete played baseball for Belleville Area College hitting .405 and .365 respectively in two seasons while leading the team in hitting on the way to the NCAAJC regional finals. While teaching at McCluer High School in Florissant, MO, he served as assistant coach on a 5A state championship team.
The third inductee honored was Jessica Roth Hinsenkamp of Milwaukee, WI, (Class of 2001) introduced by her former volleyball and track coach, Mrs. Missy Meyer. Jessica's accomplishments, especially in track, certainly mark her as an outstanding athlete. Jessica participated in four sports at CHS, but track was by far her best sport. Jessica was honored her senior year by being named the Southern Illinoisan's Female Track Athlete of the Year. As of today, she is the only Lady Yellow Jacket track athlete to receive the award. She is the school record holder for the long jump and triple jump and was All-State her sophomore, junior and senior years. She was named the team's Most Valuable Player her sophomore and senior years.
She also found success on the volleyball court as she was named All-Conference and Most Valuable Player her final two years at CHS. As her impressive career came to a close at CHS, Jessica was honored with the coveted Jeff Brown Outstanding Track Athlete Award and Fritz Roth Outstanding Senior Athlete Award.
Jessica graduated near the top of her class and received a volleyball scholarship to John A. Logan. During her two years there, she was named All-Conference in 2002 and was a valuable part of the college's 2002 Conference and NJCAA Region 24 Championship team which also placed 7th in the nation. She advanced to play volleyball for one-half of the season at SIU-Carbondale.
Currently residing in San Jose, CA, the next recipient Scott Lamb (Class of 1998) was introduced by Dr. Nick Rathert, lifelong friend. Scott was one of several highly talented athletes in the class of 1998 that brought excitement to Chester sports during their four-year reign. He excelled in football, track, and baseball during his career setting numerous records in football, many of which he still holds. He was also named as Southern Illinoisan Outstanding Athlete of the Week during two consecutive seasons.
As a member of the Jacket football team, Scott was named All-Conference at four different positions and was named All-South and All-State his senior year. In track Scott was named Most Valuable Player his junior and senior years, earned All-Conference honors three years, and advanced to state in the 110 m high hurdles and on the 1600 m relay team. He was the recipient of the Mike McLean Outstanding Football Athlete Award his junior year.
Scott went on to play football at Illinois State University where he earned two varsity letters after being "red-shirted" his freshman year and until suffering a career-ending concussion during a game his junior year. He was a member of the Illinois State University's Missouri Valley Conference Championship team in 1999 which also progressed to the semi-finals of the NCAA Collegiate Football Championship Division I-AA tournament before being eliminated by the eventual championship team.
Mr. Bartels again stepped to the podium to introduce his boyhood neighbor and best friend, Steve Sherrill of Jacksonville, IL, (Class of 1965). Steve was a highly-esteemed athlete and team player. With his easy-going, friendly personality, he was well-liked by teachers and classmates alike. Steve respected his coaches, teammates, teachers, and friends, and was well-respected and admired by them in return.
In basketball Steve was the team's Most Valuable Player his junior and senior years and holds a number of records including the most points scored in a single game with 55 against Pinckneyville (still unbroken in the SIRR Conference). In an earlier game that season, Steve contributed 37 points to defeat the Pinckneyville Panthers on their home court for the first time since 1949 with a final score of 55-52. With eight seconds left, Steve put the Jackets on top with two charity shots. He is a member of the school's coveted 1,000 Point Club and was named All-State Honorable Mention (in the former one class system) and All-Conference in both 1964 and 1965. As a CHS athlete in football, basketball, and baseball, Steve earned nine varsity letters. He was also the Co-Recipient of the Most Valuable Senior Athlete with his cousin Mike Cowell.
Steve advanced from Chester High School to play basketball for Northeastern Oklahoma A & M for two years and then moved on to being a high-scoring, valued basketball player for MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL. Steve prefers to look back and enjoy his entire career in sports rather than dwelling on specific accomplishments at any one point in time.
The final individual inductee now residing in Carthage, MS, will be remembered by many as Joel "Thunder" Thornton (Class of 1966) and was introduced by lifelong friend Nick Wolff. "Joel Thornton of Chester was the best backfield opponent in 1965. He was a powerful runner with a great sense of balance and of doing the right thing. The best we have seen by the opposition in the last three years." - Eddie Kemper of The Nashville News.
In 1965 "Thunder" Thornton was a member of the school's only outright football conference championship team with a conference record of 6-0 and overall record of 8-1. He was the team's Most Valuable Player and was named Southwestern Egyptian "All-Star" Running Back. As a member of the track team, Joel was a state qualifier his senior year in the 120 yd. high hurdles and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. He earned ten varsity letters at CHS, an astounding accomplishment in itself. Joel was undoubtedly an exceptional athlete. At the end of his career, Joel was named the Most Valuable Senior Athlete and was the recipient of the Fritz Roth Memorial Award.
After graduation Joel received a scholarship offer from Southeast Missouri State University and letters of interest from Memphis State, but he spent his college years serving three tours in Vietnam.
Also inducted into the All-Sports Hall of Fame was the 1954 Football Team. Seven members of the team along with 22 guests attended the evening's festivities. Jerry "Jiggs" O'Connor spoke briefly for the group. Though numerous accolades could be proclaimed and many unforgettable memories were shared among teammates Saturday night, the team's Southwestern Egyptian Conference record of 4-1-1 and overall record of 6-2-2 speaks volumes.
Probably most impressive is the fact that this team was unscored upon except in their two losses which totaled only 18 points scored against them all season. This accompanied by their winning record exhibits both extraordinary offense and defense.
Teammates include Wayne Ahrens, Ray Brown, Tom Cress, Paul Crisler, Marvin Eggemeyer, Gary Frazer, Charles Griffith, Mike Hathaway, Charles Higgins, Bill Jeremiah, Jim (Roger) Knott, Larry Lipe, Neal Mangold, Harold Meisenheimer, Jerry O'Connor, Bob Parker, Dave Phelps, Melvin Runge, Bob Tindall and Deceased Members: Dick Decker, Rayburn Fricke, Tom Klein, and Don Misselhorn.
As each introducer stepped to the podium, they shared humorous stories, memories, and noteworthy credentials of the nominee they were presenting, but overwhelmingly each inductee praised and thanked their teachers and coaches for the guidance and support they had given them at CHS. They each credited their success in their current careers and family lives to the dedication exhibited by their former mentors.
Special thanks for the success of the evening go to Gail Ruch and the ladies of the kitchen staff and to the Boys' Cross Country team members who served in various capacities.