Classmate Steve Gauen presented a tribute to the 1965 Kahok basketball champions back in January at the Fletcher Gymnasium on January 10th, 2015. This was his address –

Celebration of the 1965 Basketball Championship
Fletcher Gymnasium – January 10, 2015

I would like to recognize the following people, first our cheerleaders:

Lynn Ackermann                                      Kris Kaiser
Dianne Bloomer                                       Judy Roschke
Diane DeMoro                                           Jane Ulkus
Barb Fowler

Second, our team managers:

Tom Noascono
Rich Lyons
Frank Mitchell

And third, the players:

Don Birger                                              Dennis Arnold
Jack Darlington                                    Mick Belobraydic
Steve Gauen                                           Bruce Evans
Dennis Pace                                            Mike Vincent
Harry Parker                                           Keith Zeisel

And of course, our 1965 classmates (as well as underclassmen)!!  They knew that we knew they were with us Players and Cheerleaders……Sometimes Rowdy…..No, most of the time Rowdy and behind their team all the way!!

I know we need to keep score and that there needs to be winners and losers…That is just the way it is…But I now realize that it is more about the “Journey”….Here we are 50 years from the event we are honoring tonight against a quality rival Quincy that we played twice in 1965 for a margin of victory totaling 4 points.

Quincy fans, make no mistake about it, your 1965 team was also a champion as well….not because of your victory on the court over Collinsville….because that simply did not happen…..but because of the character, integrity and high standards of your coaches and players that represented your community at that time.  Nothing but first class.

For some of our classmates the journey I speak about has ended way too soon….as well as for our mentors coaches Virgil Fletcher and Frank Pitol….And for others of us our journey continues and will play out in future years….But there is one constant…something that will never change….that is the Collinsville Kahoks will always be remembered as the State of Illinois 1965 State Basketball Champions!!! And for this there is reason to celebrate.  We salute the CHS Class of 1965………………SALUTE!!!

Thank you,
Stephen E. Gauen
Class of 1965