[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3959]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CENTRALIA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Centralia High School boy's basketball team for 100 years of remarkable 
success.
  The Centralia High Orphans have earned the distinction of being one 
of the ``winningest'' high school basketball teams in America. The 
Centralia basketball program began its winning career with a 2-and-2 
record in its inaugural 1906-1907 season, less than a decade after the 
sport had been invented. In this their 100th season, the Orphans have 
amassed more than 1,975 career wins.
  During the past 100 years, Centralia High has witnessed many 
legendary coaches and players. Coach Arthur Trout led the team to three 
State championships as well as an impressive 1941 season of 44 wins and 
only 2 losses. Coach Trout has an honored place in Centralia High's 
history where the new school gym bears his name today. Even now, many 
fans fondly recall the Orphans' all-time leading scorer, Dwight 
``Dike'' Eddleman, who played for the team in the 1940s. Eddleman went 
on to letter in three sports at the University of Illinois, won the 
silver medal in the high jump at the 1948 Paris Olympics, and played in 
the NBA. Other Orphans that represented Centralia in the NBA include 
Bobby Joe Mason, Ken McBride, and Dick Garrett.
  I am proud to be able to offer my congratulations to the Centralia 
High basketball team, Coach Randy Lincoln, and the town of Centralia, 
IL on reaching their 100th season, and I look forward to cherring on 
many more successful seasons of Orphans basketball in the future.

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