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As Quarterback of A.L. Trout’s
last two football teams at Centralia
(Township) High School, Wimpy led the teams
to 5-3 (South Seven Conference Champs) and
4-5 (Conference Runner-up) records in 1949
and 1950 respectively.
He received honorable mention All-State
recognition both years.
He was a starting guard for Trout’s C(T)HS
basketball teams in 1948-49 (15-12),
1949-1950 (21-7), and 1950-1951 (18-10). The
Orphans finished second in the Holiday
Tourney in 1949 and were consolation
champions in 1950, as Wimpy received second
team All-Tourney honors.
Trout’s coaching days ended after the
Holiday Tourney in 1950, due to illness, and
Jimmie Evers took the reins for the rest of
the season. The Orphans fell to Mt. Vernon
in sectional play in both 1949 and 1950 as
the Rams went on to State Titles each year.
However, in 1950-1951, Wimpy had the honor
of making the winning basket to end Mt.
Vernon’s 46-game winning streak in a game
at Mt. Vernon. He received honorable mention
All-State notice and was named First Team
All-Southern Illinois by the Evansville
Courier.
Wimpy received eight varsity letters at
C(T)HS (football-2, basketball-3, track-3).
He was voted Most Valuable All-Around
Athlete for 1950-1951.
With the distinction of being the last
football and basketball captain for Coach
Trout at C(T)HS, Wimpy took a basketball
scholarship to play for former Centralia
stand-out, George Hails, Jr. at Reedley Jr.
College in California. Under Hails, they
were Conference Co-Champs as Wimpy led the
team in steals and assists and was the
second leading scorer.
He also batted .310 for the baseball team.
When Hails took a different coaching
position for the next year Wimpy transferred
back home to Centralia Junior College for
the 1952-1953 season. As Captain, he led the
team in scoring, assists, and steals and was
named First Team All-Conference. The Blue
Devils were Central Illinois Conference
Champions, Missouri-Illinois Champions, and
runner-up in the NJCAA Region II Tourney
where Wimpy received First Team All-Tourney
honors.
From CJC Wimpy received a basketball
scholarship to East Texas Baptist College
(now ETB University). As floor general Wimpy
led the 1953-1954 Tigers in assists, steals
and was the second leading scorer. They were
Conference Champs with a record of 17-10.
His final season, as captain and MVP, he led
the team in all three categories, as they
finished a school record tying 19-7 and were
Conference runner-up.
“The best way to describe Wimpy’s
defense is constant aggravation” is what
one Texas sports writer had to say about the
way Wimpy played the game.
Wimpy was named First Team All-Big State
Conference each season and received
Honorable Mention NAIA All-American
recognition his Senior season. He was also
an honor student and Vice-President of the
student body.
His ETBU coach made the comment, “Wimpy is
too small, too slow and can’t jump. All he
can do is beat you.”
In 2000, Wimpy was inducted into the ETBU
Hall of Fame.
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