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Six Mt. Pulaski High School
athletes and four teams were inducted into the MPHS Hall of Fame at
the inaugural ceremony Saturday, September 12 on Mt. Pulaski
Courthouse lawn.
MPHS Hall of Fame recognizes all-star athletes and championship
teams from over the years. One MPHS athlete began a major league
baseball career in 1903 and one team dated all the way back to 1936.
First up was the late Coach Ed Butkovich, who had a 38-year career
coaching basketball, which included several state tournaments.
Butkovich coached one of the most successful programs in the state.
1984 MPHS graduate Deron Powell
shared notable accomplishments from Butkovich’s coaching career.
Coach Butkovich’s family accepted the award gratefully and were
honored that he was inducted into the hall of fame.
1905 MPHS graduate Forest Van Hook
went on to become one of the greatest offensive linemen in
University of Illinois history. After graduating from college and
medical school, he then served as a physician in Mt. Pulaski for
many years.
Van Hook’s granddaughter Joanne Milligan accepted the award on his
behalf and shared some memories of him.
Elkhart native Garland “Jake” Stahl later became a University of
Illinois athletic standout and began his major league baseball
career in 1903. He played with the Washington Senators and Boston
Red Sox. He was player-manager during the 1912-1913 Red Sox season,
helping guide the team to the world series.
Accepting the award was Stahl’s
great niece Virginia Van Pelt. She shared a story that the train
master received information about the game by telegraph and was able
to relate this information to people from town.
1990 MPHS graduate Tina
Rogers-Smith was a big part of one of the most dominant eras in
Hilltopper volleyball history. During this time, the teams had a
remarkable 148-7 record, a 41-1 season, a state runner-up finish in
1988 and a perfect 43-0 state championship year in 1989. She was
also an All-American and All-State player when she continued her
volleyball career at the University of Illinois, receiving more
recognition and awards and representing the United States at the
U.S. Olympic team.
As Smith accepted the plaque, she said she was surrounded by the
spirit of the school where she learned lessons about hard work,
accountability and showing up for others. Though her Coach Donna
Dulle was unable to be there, Smith recognized Dulle for the lessons
she instilled in her players.
1971 MPHS graduate Dennis Werth
excelled in both basketball and baseball. During eleven seasons of
playing professional baseball, Werth played for the New York Yankees
then Kansas City Royals. Werth’s high school number was retired
recently. In accepting the award, Werth thanked the current coach
and many others who helped mold his life.
Before Werth came up to receive his plaque, his daughter Anna Werth
said he overcame many obstacles over the years. When he was born,
doctors said he had an odd shaped heart and he was given just three
weeks to live. Werth’s mother prayed constantly for him and a few
weeks later, everything looked fine.
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1978 MPHS graduate Jeff Clements,
who scored a record 2,112 career points with the Hilltoppers and led
them to an 81-11 record during his years with the team including the
1976 IHSA basketball championship. In one notable game, Clements
scored 40 points against Blue Mound. While playing for Illinois
Wesleyan University, Clements was part of the 1982 conference
championship team.
Clements’ teammate David Welch shared stories about Clements and the
team.
After the six athletes had been inducted into the Hall of Fame, they
then inducted four former MPHS teams with notable records.
The 1989 MPHS girls’ volleyball
team coached by Donna Dulle were Class A state champions. They won
the Class A State Championship by defeating Hoopeston E. Lynn.
Several team members were there to accept the award.
The 2007 MPHS girls’ volleyball
team Class A state champions. They won the championship after
beating Rockford Keith County Day by winning both matches in two
sets. Some of the team were there to accept award.
The 1936 MPHS boys’ basketball team coached by Dolph Stanley. They
had an impressive 26-7 record and advanced to the IHSA state
championship where they finished fourth in state. It was one of the
earliest great accomplishments for a team from the school.
Doug Martin, grandson of one the
players, accepted the plaque and read excerpts about some of the
team’s games he found in the Old Town News.
The final team recognized was the
1976 MPHS boys’ basketball team, which was coached by Ed Butkovich.
These Class A state champions defeated Oneida ROVA 59-58 and this
win was the first across all sports for the school.
One team member shared various accomplishments of the 1976 team.
When the ceremony was done, the emcee thanked everyone for coming.
Mt. Pulaski High School Inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony photo
slideshow
[Angela Reiners]
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