John A. Logan College Celebrates Du Quoin
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ John A. Logan College at Carterville gets it. Period!
Southern Illinois' little college that could back in the 1960s is flourishing as the big college that does with the enrollment, the curriculum and the hometown hospitality to prove it.
Last night, all hands in John A.'s athletic department were on deck as the college hosted "Du Quoin Night" at John A Logan College. The Du Quoin Middle School and High School bands were both asked to play during back-to-back games of the Lady and Men's Volunteers. The men's team lost by only two to Southwestern Illinois College after keeping the lead through much of the first half. The cardiac finish came on the heels of a narrow loss by the girls, as well.
All residents of Du Quoin, Elkville, Dowell, Vergennes, Crab Orchard, and Murphysboro as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from southern Illinois received free admission to the games. Students from the Du Quoin, Elverado, Crab Orchard, and Murphysboro school districts enjoyed free popcorn and Pepsi. T-shirts were given away during both games. The Du Quoin State Bank, Du Quoin Dairy Queen, Ten Pin Alley, the Elkville State Bank, the First Bank and Trust Company of Murphysboro, and the Village of Elkville were some of the sponsors. The DHS Indianettes shared the halftime floor with Murphysboro Devil Dazzlers.
The Du Quoin state runner-up football team, the Du Quoin Junior High state championship baseball team, the Crab Orchard High School and junior high basketball teams, and the Murphysboro High School basketball teams were all recognized at the games.
Murphysboro native Tom Ashman, former head coach of the Volunteers, was honored before the tipoff of the men's game for his years of service to the college and Logan athletics. As Logan's winningest men's basketball coach, he guided the Vols for 15 seasons (1980-1995), compiling a record of 295-183. His 1989-90 squad won 29 games, setting the school record for wins in a season.
In short, it was a great night in a great place.