The North Egypt Conference’s Most Valuable Player in 1985, running back/linebacker David Meador helped lead the Salem Wildcats football team to its first unbeaten, untied regular season, its most wins in a season in school history, and its first ever playoff victory.

Meador, a 1986 graduate of Salem Community High School, ran for a school record 1,681 yards in that 1985 season and set a school record for most career rushing yards with 3,278. Meador set two other school marks that year, which included most points scored in a season with 180 and most yards rushing in one game with 265 against Fairfield. Those 180 points ranked second in the state that season, while his rushing total was fifth best. He also ranked eighth in the state in tackles. He was also an NEC First Team pick on both sides of the ball.

As a junior and senior, Meador was a two-time Evansville Courier All-Area Team selection, a Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South Team and a Decatur Herald All-Area Team choice. He was selected to play in the Shriners East-West All-Star game as a senior.

Meador, who also participated one season in basketball and track at SCHS, was an NEC First Team pick on offense and defense as a junior and senior. He also received Salem’s Team MVP Award in 1984 and 1985.

He continued his football career at Western Illinois University where he played the 1986-87 season. Meador was selected to the SCHS 75th anniversary team on both offense and defense in 1999.

At the time of his induction, David Meador still resides in Salem where he has coached youth baseball and football