3 minute read
Howard Fellows, La Salle-Peru, Legacy Award
Howard Fellows
LA SALLE-PERU, LEGACY AWARD
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Accomplishments
● Legendary coach and athletic director for 46 years, starting in 1913 ● Coached football, basketball and track and field, also served as the AD of both the
HS & junior college ● Played a role in starting sports at what is now IVCC ● L-P football stadium opened in 1937 and was later named in his honor
By Brandon LaChance
The address of 4 Center Place, Peru, IL, 61354 may not ring a bell.
However, the name encompassing the entry way, the concrete walkway, the lower and upper bleacher bowls, the press box, the team locker rooms, the field goal posts and the football field is historically known throughout Illinois as Howard Fellows Stadium.
The field has been used for some version of football for approximately 80 years. In 1958, the La Salle-Peru Township High School stadium, with a college feel, was given the name Howard Fellows Stadium in honor of the coach, teacher and athletic director who went by “Foxy.”
WHERE are they NOW
See Fellows Page 12
After Fellows graduated from Ohio State University, he was looking for a school to start his teaching career and harness his love of sports.
La Salle-Peru was the spot he chose – for 46 years.
In 1913, Fellows was hired as a mathematics teacher and, before his retirement in 1959, he coached football, basketball, track and field, swimming and tennis.
He coached the basketball team from 1914-29 and won four district titles.
In 1929, Fellows coached L-P teams that joined the Big Seven Conference (with Freeport, Rockford, Joliet, Elgin, DeKalb, Aurora East and Aurora West) and officially adopted the name now synonymous with the red and green uniforms, the “Cavaliers.”
The Cavs stayed put even when the conference became the Big 8 for the 1940-41 season after Rockford split into two schools, Rockford East and Rockford West. L-P remained in the Big 8 until 1963 (four years after Fellows’ retirement in 1959) when the Cavaliers moved to the North Central Illinois Conference.
While teaching and coaching, Fellows was also the La Salle-Peru athletic director from 1929-59 and was instrumental to the initiation of the La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College (later Illinois Valley Community College) intercollegiate athletic program, which started in 1928.
La Salle-Peru meant the world to Fellows and the school shows respect and tribute to Fellows every day, especially when someone steps foot into Howard Fellows Stadium.
According to the La Salle-Peru Township High School Foundation for Educational Enrichment website, when Fellows retired in 1959 after 46 years of service, he summed up his appreciation for his career in a few words, “It has been worthwhile. God has been good to me.”
KETTMANHEATING & PLUMBING, INC. Look for the man in the Orange & White Van!Orange & White Van!
Call Us for All Your Heating, Call Us for All Your Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Generator Needs!
Call for Pricing!
107 East Harrison St. • Granville, IL www.kettmanheating.com • 815-339-6124
Climbingthestepsof successisn’talwayseasy. We salutethe inducteeswhoreached thetopinexcellence! Start Unknown.
Finish Unforgettable.
Congratulations to the Cavalier members and all inductees to this year's Hall of Fame!
