Dr. Edward E. Perry, a four sports star in high school, whose basketball career started as a sixth grader with the junior varsity in junior high school and culminated as a three-time letter winner with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.

Perry, who participated in basketball, baseball, football and track in high school, set records his senior year in high school in football and basketball. While basketball and football were his strongest sports in high school, he also lettered in baseball and track and was a member of the championship 880-yard relay team both his junior and senior years.

He was selected to the All North Egypt Conference football team both his junior and senior years. And outstanding end, he established the SCHS pass reception record his senior year and was named to the All-Southern Illinois team and given Special Honorable Mention in the All-State selections. During his senior year, Perry caught 31 passes for 625 yards and eight touchdowns. He also led the team as a junior with 20 receptions.

A two-year starter in basketball, he was named all conference, All Southern Illinois and All State his senior year and set the individual game scoring record and the SCHS rebounding record, and ranked, at the time, as the number two all-time SCHS scorer with 573 points. The 1955-56 Wildcats team compiled a 23-5 record and won the North Egypt Conference championship with an 11-1 mark.

Perry lettered in baseball his junior and senior years in high school as a first baseman. The 1956 Wildcats team won the regional and reached the sectional finals before losing. The baseball team, NEC champs with a 5-0-1 record, finished 16-1-1.

At the University of Illinois, he earned three varsity letters in basketball and was a starter his junior and senior years, having the record field goal shooting percentage his senior year.

After graduating from the University of Illinois, he attended the Illinois College of Optometry and coached the basketball team for two seasons with only one loss.