Galesburg vs Pekin 1965- Sell Out

Pekin paper’s preview of 1965 game. 

Galesburg vs Pekin on January 30, 1965 maybe one game that captures the extreme interest in high school basketball in both Galesburg and in Pekin. I don’t have details about the game itself, but I think the built up to the game is fascinating.

Pekin’s paper- headline after 1964 game.

Galesburg and Pekin had developed a huge rivalry, dating back to the late 1950’s. In  1964, Pekin defeated Galesburg at Pekin in front of a record 4,300 fans by a score of 72-67. As many games in this rivalry were, this had its share of controversy. Pekin was whistled for 18 fouls, while Galesburg was whistled for 27 fouls. Galesburg led by 3 points after 3 quarters but was outscored by 8 points in the fourth quarter, which saw two Galesburg players foul out. Pekin was 24-30 from the line and Galesburg was 11-18 in free throws. 

Pekin paper’s picture and caption describing post game in 1964. 

After the game, there are different versions of what happened. It would appear a Galesburg player attempting to foul a Pekin play just before the buzzer got caught up in a flood of students rushing the floor, which resulted in shoving between some players and students. A Galesburg player at the buzzer went out to an official to apparently give him feedback on his performance. Coach Hawkins and Coach Thiel were in the middle of things in an apparent attempt to restrain players. An account in the Pekin paper after the game stated,”Post-game actions probably will be reported to the IHSA.” This assessment did not turn out to be true. Galesburg fans would be interested to know that some accounts claim a peacemaker was Pekin assistant coach Duncan Reid. 

That season, Galesburg went onto make the Elite 8, losing to Cobden in the Elite 8. In the meantime, Pekin won the 1964 State Championship. With both teams returning significant players in the 1965, that set up the big game. 

Pekin paper on attempt to move game.

Originally, without contacting Galesburg, Pekin negotiated to move the 1965 game from Galesburg to Robertson Fieldhouse. Pekin’s logic was that Galesburg gym holding only 3,300 fans was too small- the game had sold out Pekin’s 4,300 seat gym the year before. Galesburg when presented with this option turned it down, not wanting to lose the home game. Instead, the game stayed at Galesburg, but it was worked out to have the game televised. 

Fans ready for the game.

Galesburg has a starting lineup of Dale Kelley, Davey Lundstrom, Bernie Cowan, Larry Doyle, and Mike Davis, with Bob Jasperson as the 6th man according an article in the 1965 GHS Budget. In the meantime, Pekin had All-State guard Dave Golden, who was averaging over 25ppg. In addition, they had a rising soph star, Fred Miller. Based on their 1964 season, Pekin started #1 in the State, and had remained there and was undefeated going into the January contest. Galesburg had been #7 at Christmas but climbed to #2. So the game matched the #1 and #2 teams in the

Ticket Requests

Letter from Bednar explaining tickets

Pekin complained going into the game that they were only being given 400 tickets. A print out from the Galesburg athletic department explained how the 3,300 seats were divided up. 

1250 Galesburg season ticket holders

250.  Galesburg School District #205 employees

400.  Pekin fans

1400. Galesburg students with SAA subscriptions

Interview about ticket
Demand.

At this time, the entire bottom section on the north side of the gym was reserved for students. At the beginning of each school year, student could purchase a “Student Activity Account.” This entitled students to attend all sporting events free, as well as plays and other activities. The Pekin game had a 7pm tip for the Soph game, and then an 8:30pm tip for the varsity. Students had until 7:30pm to “claim” their tickets. If after 7:30pm, if not all 1,400 students claimed tickets then people waiting in line could purchase the leftover tickets. 

There was a huge demand for tickets from media, and area sports fans. Stories are told of the number of calls and letters that Chuch Bednar (Athletic Director) and John Thiel (Coach) received asking for “just a couple tickets.” Bednar being extremely organized, mapped out spots for “standing room only” people to be assigned to stand. Basically they were assigned to stand in one of the four corners of the balcony or the main floor. For example, according to Bednar’s chart, one of the people assigned to stand in the NE corner of the main floor was ROVA AD and football coach, Bill Adams. 

Adminstrator’s plea in Budget

Based on the tension in past years, the nature of this rivalry, and it being #1 vs #2, there were concerns for security on this night. According to the Pekin newspaper, Bednar had 14 policemen (State and Galesburg), as well as 4 firefighters on duty to handle security or emergencies.

The GHS Budget contained two editorials pleading for good sportsmanship. In the student editorial, the writer starts out with the fictional headline,”GHS, Pekin Banned From Tournament Competition By IHSA.” The writer then uses the first part of the editorial to draw a fictitious account of fans be unsportsmanlike. He then precedes to basically say,”Let’s not have this come true.”

Budget- student’s editorial

The student writer finishes with a phrase,”You do not have to be in love with our guests, but treat them courteously, as they did not last year treat us. A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR JOHN THIEL, AND HIS SILVER STREAKS DEPENDS UPON IT! HI O, SILVER AWAY!”

At this time, the gym only had one “radio booth” in the SE corner of the balcony. Today most radio people are frustrated if two stations are put in one booth. For the game, four radio stations were assigned to the one booth with all of them having 2-3 workers. So that meant that there were 8 assigned to seats in the booth and 5 to be standing behind in the booth. So that meant there were 13 in the radio booth.

In a game officiated by Rocco Carbone, and the legendary, Moose Corgnati, the Streaks suffered a 79-72 loss. 

Galesburg won their Regional over Monmouth, but lost to Quincy in the first round of the Sectional 58-54 at Macomb. In the meantime, Pekin lost to Lockport Central in the Supersectional 67-61 to end their dream of a repeat State title. 

Galesburg vs. Pekin continued to be a huge game and huge rivalry. In 1970, the son of an NBC news executive attended Knox College (and was a Phi Delt), he recommended to his father that he might want to do something with the Galesburg vs Pekin game on their new show- First Tuesday. And indeed, NBC did a half-hour show on the Galesbug vs. Pekin game. You can watch it by googling- First Tuesday Galesburg vs. Pekin.