Galesburg High School basketball ended an era in 1950 when Gerald Phillips stepped down as basketball coach. Coach Phillips had been the coach of the Streaks since 1929. Phillips’ teams went to State 7 times, including a 2nd place finish in 1931.
To replace Phillips, Galesburg came up with a huge name in the basketball world. They hired Ken Menke to start in the 1950-1951 season. Menke had been part of the University of Illinois’ famous Whiz Kids. Menke and the Whiz Kids were considered among the best players in America.
Menke did not have a successful win-loss record as the GHS coach, he had a huge impact on both the basketball program and on the entire Galesburg community. Menke is responsible for playing African-Americans on the Silver Streaks basketball program. Before Menke arrived, GHS had not had an African-American play basketball for over 35 years.
The Whiz Kids
The Illini with the Whiz Kids had dominated the Big Ten in the 1942 and 1943 seasons. During this time, the Illini had gone 35-6 overall and 25-2 in the Big Ten. Ken Menke was All Big-Ten in both seasons.
In 1943, the Illini were perfect in the Big Ten in 1943. Many thought the Illini had the inside track on winning the NCAA Tourney with the Whiz Kids. As World War II broke out, the Illini’s chance disappeared. Three of the five Whiz Kids were drafted before the end of the season- Art Mathison, Ken Menke, and Jack Smiley. With three of five starters gone, the Illini elected not to participate in the NCAA or the NIT that year.
Menke and three other players enrolled again in 1947 but they were not able to duplicate their previous success.
Menke went on to play in the NBA with Fort Wayne (1948) and Waterloo (1950). As one can guess, Menke was a big name to hire to replace a local legend in Phillips.
Coach Phillips Era Ends
Phillips last two years, the Streaks had gone 11-11 (1949) and 7-15 (1950). In 21 years coaching at Galesburg, the 1950 season was one of only three losing seasons under Phillips.
Perhaps the down turn in ‘49 and ‘50 might have been a sign of bad things to come. During Menke’s four seasons, only once did the Streaks reach .500. Galesburg’s records under Menke were- 9-13 (‘51), 6-17 (‘52), 12-12 (‘53), and 8-13 (‘54). The Streaks did win the Regional in 1953.
After the 1954 season, Menke decided to leave Galesburg. Menke’s won/loss record at Galesburg may not seem impressive but he is responsible for making an historic change at Galesburg High School.
African-Americans Playing Basketball at GHS
Ziggy Hamblin played basketball for Galesburg High School in 1914 and 1915. Ziggy was the first African-American to play basketball for GHS.
From search of the GHS Reflector (Galesburg HS’s yearbook) appears no other African-American played on a Galesburg basketball team until 1951 when T.J. Jiles and Paul Johnson played.
Here is a list of African-Americans who first played for Galesburg basketball teams:
1914, 1915- Ziggy Hamblin (#1)
1951- T.J. Jiles, Dewey Taylor (#2, #3)
1952- Dewey Taylor, Harold Ewing (#4)
1953- Pete Thierry (#5)
1954- Chuck Taylor, Don Bryant (#6, #7)
1956- Albert Kimbrough, Elbert Kimbrough, Ray Young, Al Williams, Dick Taylor (#8-12)
In his first year, Ken Menke placed two African-Americans on the GHS basketball roster. It had been 36 years between Hamblin in 1915 to Jiles and Johnson in 1951 with no African-Americans on a GHS roster. It should be recognized that in 1951 when Menke included Jiles and Johnson on the Streaks team, there still restaurants in Galesburg that did not serve African-Americans and segregation in some businesses. Placing the African-Americans on the basketball was a significant change for Galesburg.
Harold Ewing, who played for the Streaks in 1952 was a relative of Bumpy and Lincoln Nixon. Harold’s father is credited with convincing his sister to bring Bumpy and Lincoln to Galesburg.
Pete Thierry played in 1953. According to Rodney Bunch, when Galesburg played, Jack Sepich (Streak teammate) told the white players on the other teams, “Leave Pete alone or it’s gonna be you and me.” Sepich was the biggest player on the Galesburg roster.
1949- 11-11, Coach Phillips
(African-American Players- None)
1950- 7-15, Coach Phillips
(African-American Players- None)
1951- 9-13, Coach Menke
(African-American Players- T.J. Jiles, Dewey Taylor)
1952- 6-17, Coach Menke
(African-American Players- Dewey Taylor, Harold Ewing)
1953- 12-12, Regional Champs, Coach Menke
(African-American Players- Pete Thierry)
1954- 8-13, Coach Menke
(African-American Players- Chuck Taylor, Don Bryant)
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