'Hall of Fame' Banquet Honors Athletes, Careers
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The Galen Davis-Du Quoin Community Unit School District #300 Athletic Hall of Fame officially enshrined its second class of inductees Saturday night.
Special ceremonies were held during a banquet in the commons area of Du Quoin Middle School.
Approximately 70 people attended-some traveling from as far away as Texas and Arkansas-to enjoy the two-hour affair.
Don Stanhouse, Dave Rodley, Jack Rodley, Kris Stacey and Tom Kelly joined the hall as individuals with Du Quoin's undefeated 1968 football team and legendary coach Emory Martin, also welcomed in.
"This banquet and the entire hall of fame process is a really neat thing, " Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Jeremy Cornett said.
"And its going to do nothing but get better with time. This year's class of inductees is another very special group. Their accomplishments will definitely stand that test of time."
Stanhouse, who's 14-year professional baseball career included a decade in the major leagues, was Most Valuable Player of Du Quoin Township High School baseball, football and basketball teams in 1968 and 1969.
An All-American quarterback and pitcher, Stanhouse still ranks among the top 10 career scoring leaders in Du Quoin's basketball history.
"Of all the honors I've been blessed to receive in athletics," an emotional Stanhouse said. "This is the one that truly means the most. This is the most special award I've ever received. To be considered a Hall-of-Famer in your own community...it just doesn't get much better than that."
Introduced by older brother Gary, Stanhouse was Bob Karnes' "Mr. Everything" during the Indians' glorious campaign in the fall of 1968.
Outscoring foes 337-72 during a 10-0 season, Du Quoin was ranked 12th in the final United Press International statewide football poll.
About a dozen teammates joined Stanhouse at the banquet.
"These guys," he said while choking back tears. "Are my all-time hall of famers," he said.
Dr. Gary Kelly, District #300 Superintendent, read a letter to the 1968 team from Karnes, who couldn't attend because of a prior commitment.
"I truly believe," Karnes wrote. "This is the team that really put Du Quoin football back on the map and on the road to where it is today. They brought respect from not just Southern Illinois, but the entire state."
Stanhouse, who played for six hall of fame managers in pro ball, talked at length about the coaching he received as a youngster in Du Quoin. He thanked Les McRoy, Rudy Michael, Bill Theobald, Don Anderson, Karnes and the late Ray Saunches for "believing in a skinny, red-headed kid and giving him the motivation and knowledge to succeed."
Stanhouse and the Rodley brothers-though separated in age by more than a decade-grew up in the same Pope Street neighborhood on Du Quoin's northeast side.
Dave Rodley, still the school's Discus and Shot Put record holder, earned varsity letters in three sports between 1983-1986.
Winning the Class A Discus title once while medaling two other times, Rodley broke DHS records set five years prior by older brother Jack in each event. He was ranked among the top 10 high school Discus throwers USA as a senior and enjoyed a stellar career at Arkansas State.
Qualifying for three US Olympic Trials as a multi-time All-American at USA, Rodley retired with a ranking as one of the 200 best shot putters in World History.
"Reflecting back on my career and time in Du Quoin one thing really stands out," Rodley said. "And that's the relationships I developed. The people here were life-changers and difference-makers for David Rodley. Being raised here and being raised the right way, it was my launching pad for success."
Jack Rodley graduated DHS in the spring of 1981, a few hours after winning the Class A Discus title. Like David, Jack also starred on the offensive and defensive lines in football while excelling in the Shot Put.
"I still remember the Christmas when my brother Gene gave Jack a Discus," David recalled. "I watched Jack and decided I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to throw the Discus and Shot Put for Du Quoin High School. I wanted to play football for Bob Karnes and Whitey Miller. It all started here for both of us."
Dave Rodley, who was formally introduced to the crowd in stirring fashion by DHS teammate Jim Peterson, accepted Jack's hall of fame award.
"My brother couldn't make it here tonight," but I know I speak for both us when I say that I was proud to wear red and black. I was proud to be a Du Quoin Indian and I will always be a Du Quoin Indian."
Kris Stacey passed away following a battle with cancer in September of last year. She was just 46 years old.
Perhaps the best all-around female athlete ever to play for the Lady Indians, Stacey was a four-sport standout who graduated in 1979.
A multi-year Most Valuable Player in softball and volleyball, she also captained basketball and track squads at DHS.
After high school and two successful seasons in softball and basketball at John A. Logan College, Kris earned a scholarship to Eastern Illinois University and eventually graduated from SIU-Carbondale.
The first winner of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority's Outstanding Senior Female Athlete Award, Stacey drew praise from her longtime coach, associate and friend Pat Ferrari.
"She had a competitive attitude and spirit in life and athletics," Ferrari remembered in comments to the newspaper last week. " It's so appropriate that she be the first female inducted to the hall of fame."
Stacey spent nearly two decades in education and coaching, the last several years teaching at nearby Elkville. She coached softball squads to winning records at both Elverado High School and Middle School.
"Kris so loved teaching," Glenna Harrison said. "She loved her students and coaching. She loved Du Quoin High School and the Indians and Elverado. I know she's smiling today and would be so proud to receive this honor."
Emory Martin coached 9 1/2 years at old Du Quoin Township High School, leaving at mid-semester in 1942.
Building a 46-31-7 career mark on the football field, Martin ushered Du Quoin into the Southwestern Egyptian Conference while also coaching basketball to a sparkling 189-65 record from 1933-1942.
Third on the all-time career wins list in basketball, Martin's teams won six conference titles, nine regional/district crowns and reached the IHSA sectional finals three other times.
He also led the school's move to begin playing football games at Van Metre Field in 1935. The Indians won three conference titles and played 3,000-student East St. Louis Senior in the 1941 Shriners Bowl, the World War II ear-equivalent of the state championship game.
"In every sense of the word, Galen Davis said. "Emory Martin was a gentleman. Very seldom did he ever raise his voice. Playing for Coach Martin was truly an interesting learning process. I admired and respected him a great deal."
Davis starred on some of Martin's earliest-and greatest teams-at DTHS.
Tom Kelly was one of the first great athletic stars in Du Quoin history.
An important member of the school's first official team in 1903, Kelly gained midwest prominence as Shot Put champion.
At the University of Chicago, Kelly started in the same backfield with legendary runner Walter Eckersall on several of Amos Alonzo Stagg's finest teams. At the time, U of C dominated the Big Ten.
A trusted understudy of Stagg's for many years, Kelly went on to coach college football at Alabama and Missouri. He was barely 30 years old at the time and later became Athletic Director at Nebraska.