Galesburg’s Role in Stopping Al Capone

Prohibition & Al Capone

Prohibition in the United States began in 1920 with the passage of the 18th Amendment. It ended in 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment. 

During this period of time, Al Capone in Chicago built a huge financial empire selling alcohol. By the late 1920’s, Capone was pulling in an estimated $100 million selling illegal alcohol. That would be equivalent to over $1 billion in today’s dollars. The center of his empire was on the southside of Chicago, but it is estimated that the Capone mob controlled over 6,000 speakeasies in Illinois.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Curt Morgan 1978

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Curt Morgan from Galesburg HS’s class of 1978. 

Curt has been highly successful in the business world. He has had a positive impact in every area that he has worked because of his strong leadership skills. 

His success is no surprise to any of us who knew Curt while he was at Galesburg High School. Curt was a focused student at GHS, and he showed tremendous social skills. He was leader through his humility and respect for others. 

I am so glad that Curt was willing to share his memories and his journey after  GHS. 

1983 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

State Champion- Quincy Notre Dame

2nd- Rushville

3rd- Walther Lutheran

4th- Bloomington Central Catholic

This Week in Galesburg History- Sept 28, 2026

 

 

“This Week in Galesburg History” 

Can a woman become President?

What’s on TV

Teachers are fighting

Karaoke at Northgate

Streaks face winless opponent 

No more concession lines

This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

“This Week in Galesburg History” appears on Mondays on the WGIL website and the Massey Basketball Blog.

1983 Illinois Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Lawrenceville

2nd- Flanagan

3rd- McLeansboro

4th- Havana

Inside Hoops- Building Man to Man Culture

Early in my career, the varsity players did not have much basketball training before they got to high school. They had not played in the YMCA, they had not gone to camps when young, and most had not even had JH experience. 

I knew I wanted to have my teams play man to man defense, but early I made an horrible mistake. I looked at everything that I thought needed to be taught, and decided that teaching man to man to the first teams would be too much. So I took the easy route. Although we pressed some 1-2-1-1 and some 2-2-1, our primary defense was to sit in a 2-3 zone. It was not a 2-3 “matchup”, it was a straight zone. As a player had never played 2-3, I knew nothing about it, we just sat in a 2-3 zone. 

Hall of Fame Insight: What Do You Miss?

This was the first of the Hall of Fame Insights- it was posted July 30, 2024

I am hoping to do this segment- "Hall of Fame Insight" on a regular basis. I have put together a crew of retired coaches, who were highly successful in their high school coaching career. My hope is to pose one question to them, every two weeks. 

Massey Basketball Quiz #5- Legendary Illinois HS Coaches from ‘30’s thru ‘60’s

   

 

 

Here are 16 pictures of legendary Illinois HS coaches from the 1930’s thru the 1970’s. This is just some of the legendary coaches- it is not intended to be all the legendary coaches of that era. 

I will give you a picture of the coach, and one of the schools they coached- your job is to name the coach. 

The answers are at the end of the quiz. 

Vince Lombardi Quotes

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victory.

If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?

Legends- Layne Langholf, Todd Hursey, John Gross

(This was originally published January, 2025.)

One of the goals for coaches and players is to win a State Championship. I have asked 8 high schools basketball coaches to reflect upon their championship seasons. Today Layne Langhoff (Peoria Notre Dame), Todd Hursey (Richwoods), and John Gross (Richwoods) reflect upon their championship seasons. 

It should be noted that by doing this blog page, there may be some of my former players who send me hate mail. That will be ok, I miss my players so whether good or bad messages, it will be great to hear from them!!!

1966 Galesburg HS Reflector

Hall of Fame Insights- Head Coach as a Leader

(The following first appeared in September of 2025.)

This Weeks Topic: The Head Coach as a Leader-Looking back, what do you consider the most crucial elements of effective leadership for a head coach with your staff? How did you try to empower your staff and foster cohesion in the staff? Can you recall specific instances where you “let go” some of your power and an assistant impacted a game or season?

The Challenges and Triumphs of Streaks Female Athletes in the ‘70’s

While Galesburg HS offered girls tennis from 1930-1949, the start of an entire girls sports program came in the 1970’s. In 1971-2, Galesburg formed an interscholastic basketball team with a schedule of just two games. Before they could play, the IHSA announced that interscholastic basketball was prohibited in Illinois schools. 

The program of sports started in 1972-3 with field hockey, volleyball, badminton, bowling, basketball, softball, track, and golf. The IHSA offered championships in only track and bowling. 

There was much excitement getting started sports, and the early girls teams had great successes. The first two basketball teams went undefeated, the 1975 and 1976 golf teams both took third in State, the field hockey team took third in State in ‘75 and made the Elite 8 in ‘76, and the tennis team in ‘79 and ‘80 took fourth and fifth in State. 

Not everything was joyful for athletes in the ‘70’s. Athletes sometimes had to practice in grade schools, they had very limited schedules, limited funding, limited media attention, and sparse crowds. 

I have put together a list of early highlights of girls sports, and I asked six female athletes from the ‘70’s to share the joys and the frustrations of being the first female athletes at GHS. Here are their memories…

Streaks Alumni Profile- Kelly Lange-Haider 1976

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Kelly Lange-Haider from the Galesburg HS’s Class of 1976. 

Kelly was one of the pioneers in girls sports in the 1970’s. Like many of the girls in this era, she seemed to try any sport she could. She was one of the top early athletes at GHS. 

Knee injuries put a damper on her high school career but not before she helped lead the 1975-6 field hockey to 3rd in State finish. Kelly was the goalie who was instrumental in shutting down the opponents. To say she was a key to the team’s great achievement would be an understatement. Despite her team’s success and her tremendous performance, neither she or her team are in the GHS Athletic HOF. 

Kelly went onto to have an impressive career as a female pioneer in engineering.

I really appreciate Kelly taking the time to share her memories and her life story. 

1982 Illinois Boys Basketball Class AA State Tourney

State Champions- East St. Louis Lincoln

2nd- Chicago Mendel

3rd- Quincy

4th- Chicago Marshall