louis_tuffy_middletonOnly two Salem High School boys have ever placed in the Illinois state track meet and both occurred under the old one-class system.

The first came when Ross Smith placed second in the hammer throw in 1905.

The other was Louis Middleton, who placed in the state meet on two occasions.

Nicknamed Tuffy, the mile run was Middleton’s specialty. As a sophomore in 1925 he finished fifth overall. Two years later in 1927 Middleton was back at state again and topped his performance from two years earlier. This time Middleton came away with a fourth place finish at state.

While track was Middleton’s strongest sport at Salem, he also played football and basketball. In fact he was a member of the first football team ever at Salem.

After high school Middleton continued his athletic career at McKendree College where he ran track and also played basketball.

Although Middleton is now deceased, part of him is still in Salem Community High School athletics. His grandson John Boles is an assistant coach with both the football and boys’ basketball programs.

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