Coach Kathy Finney’s squad compiled a sparkling 25-4 record and its .862 winning percentage ranked second in school history at the time of its induction behind only the 1998 team’s 32-3 record and .914 winning percentage.

The Lady Wildcats compiled a 22-3 regular season record that included second place finishes at the Salem Invitational and Flora Invitational. There was no North Egypt Conference season in place at that time.

Salem captured the district championship on its home floor with a 20-1, 20-5 victory over Effingham in the opening round and a 20-18, 20-6 triumph over Mt. Carmel for the championship.

The Lady Wildcats picked up the program’s first ever win in a sectional tournament when they knocked off Carbondale in three sets 20-15, 11-20, 20-18. Salem’s postseason run ended in the sectional championship game to Mascoutah 20-8, 20-12. At the time of its induction, only the 1997 squad that advanced to the Class A super-sectional Sweet 16 round had advanced deeper in the postseason than the 1977 Lady Wildcats.

Coach Finney’s rotation that season usualy included Kathy Smith, Laura Raver, Carol Beasley, Carla Doss, Marla Sapp, Robin Owen, Diane Beasley and Peggy Wilson.

A 1988 SCHS graduate, Purcell cracked the varsity lineup in 1985 and helped lead the Wildcats to an undefeated North Egypt Conference championship, the first unbeaten and untied regular season in school history, a school record ten wins in a season and the program’s first ever playoff win against Troy Triad.

Purcell was also a key cog up front for the 1986 Wildcats squad that earned a three-way share of the NEC championship with Mt. and Olney. Salem went 7-3 on the season and earned another berth in the state playoffs.

The Wildcats matched their deepest advancement in the postseason in Purcell’s senior season of 1987, as Salem’s 8-3 record included a first-round playoff win over Olney.

Purcell, who earned All-NEC honors in high school, continued his playing career for the next four seasons at Eastern Illinois University.

Purcell not only made the traveling squad for EIU as a freshman, but worked his way into the starting lineup at left offensive tackle for the season opener. Purcell hung on to that starting spot for every game for the rest of that season and the next three seasons. His 1989 Panthers squad advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I AA playoffs.

Purcell was looked at by several NFL scouts and had tryout opportunities after college, but was unable to land a contract.

At the time of his induction, Hargis has served 46 consecutive seasons as part of the chain gang at Salem Wildcat football games. During the early years of his endurance streak, which began in 1962, Hargis also worked several out-of-town games when the visiting school was required to supply worker assistance. Hargis estimates the number or games he has missed during his tenure can be counted on one hand despite bouts with open heart surgery, prostate cancer, and removal of a kidney due to cancer.

Hargis has also catered several SCHS Hall of Fame and sport award banquets while serving as a partner at a local restaurant.

A 1953 graduate of SCHS, Hargis has been a regular attendee at Salem boys’ and girls’ basketball games since the early 1970’s with a special interest in his children and grandchildren who have played as Wildcats and Lady Wildcats.

As a high school athlete, Hargis played four years of football and three years of basketball. He spent a fourth year in the basketball program as a statistician.

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

Young did more than just participate. She also excelled. Young was an All-South selection and state meet participant in cross country, earned All-North Egypt Conference honors in volleyball and won her team’s Rebound and Defense Awards in basketball.

Young probably enjoyed her biggest success in track as a senior where she set a North Egypt Conference and school record in the 800 meter with a time of2:25. Young later lowered that school record to 2:23 when she took first place at the sectional meet.

Young was also part of two other school records. She, along with Carrie Bierman, Jennifer Bethard, and Jennifer Morton teamed up in the 1600 meter relay with a time of 4:14.2 in 1989. In 1990, she teamed up with Amy Iman, Erin Jones, and Monika Schuette for a school record in the 800 meter medley relay with a time of 1:54.7.

While it was not officially recognized as a school record, Young posted the best time at that point in history by a Salem girl in cross country in 1989 when she ran the two-mile course at the sectional meet in 12:29.

Young continued her athletic career in track and cross country at the United States Air Force Academy. Young broke the school freshmen record in the 800 meter and ranks in the school’s top ten all-time in that event. She was named the Air Force Academy Top Track Competitor for the 1992 season. Young also served as team captain.

Young, who has also attended Wichita State University, was a member of the Air Force Academy cross country team that finished second in the NCAA Division II Meet in 1990 and the 1991 team that was 15th. In addition to her athletic participation at the Air Force Academy, Young served on the school’s student government as athletic officer. She also initiated and organized the Air Force Running Club at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

Since graduation from college, Young has taught and coached at Amistad Christian Academy in Del Rio, Texas and Calvary Christian School in Wichita, Kansas where she organized and directed the One-Mile Fun Run Fundraiser. At the time of her induction, Young was coaching youth athletics in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Their 10-1 record is still the most wins in a season in school history as are their 417 points scored, their 3,514 yards rushing and 3,886 yards of total offense. They, along with the 1943 team, are the only Salem football teams to go through the regular season unbeaten, but the 1985 team is the only one to go unbeaten and untied. Coach Chuck Budde’s team achieved another school first with the program’s first playoff victory. Salem rode a potent one-two punch in its backfield to much of its success, as that squad is the only one in school history that featured two 1,000-yard rushers. Running back David Meador led that ground attack with 1,681 yards and 30 touchdowns on his way to being named the North Egypt Conference’s Most Valuable Player. Meador was joined in the backfield by Mark Byars, who rushed for 1,173 yards. Seven times Meador and Byars rushed for 100 or more years in the same game.

Salem’s season began with a 39-6 thumping of Centralia in the annual Shriners Game and its North Egypt Conference season began the following week with a 55-0 romp over Red Hill. The Wildcats followed those wins with league victories over Flora 35-0 and Fairfield 55-6 to set up a pivotal week five contest against Mt. Carmel. Mt. Carmel entered the game with an 11game winning streak over the Wildcats and had won 17 straight NEC games overall, but the Wildcats ended both of those streaks when they trumped the Golden Aces.

There was no letdown the following week, as Budde picked up his 100th career victory when Salem demolished Lawrenceville 55-0 and set up a week seven battle of unbeatens with the Olney Tigers and the NEC championship at stake. The big battle did not live up to its billing, as the Wildcats used 414 yards rushing to steamroll their way to a 35-6 victory giving Salem its first league championship since 1965.

The Wildcats survived their closest call of the regular season and completed their first unbeaten, untied regular season when it downed Benton 35-21.

Salem, which made the postseason field for just the third time in school history, picked up its first playoff victory when it demolished St. Jacob Triad 49-7.

The Wildcats ran into a buzz saw at Roxana in the second round of the playoffs. Salem was unable to contain the Shells’ five-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds left that gave the Shells a 28-24 victory.

Meador was an NEC First Team pick on both offense and defense at linebacker on his way to league MVP honors. Mike Berger was also an NEC First Team pick on both sides of the ball on the offensive and defensive line. Other NEC First Team picks included center Andy Garden, defensive lineman Chuck Bower, defensive back Tom Frazee, Byars at punter and kicker Tim Green.

In football, Greg was a three year letterman and starter on the offensive line. He was elected a captain in his senior year and also played defense. Greg received many post-season honors including 1st team North Egypt Conference in 1970 and 1971. Other awards included 1st team Evansville Courier, 1st team All-South, and the Decatur Herald 1st team. Described as “the best athlete in the league who was very quick and difficult to block, even though most teams tried to avoid him,” Malan went on to Eastern Illinois University on scholarship to play football. He started as a freshman, earned a varsity letter, and was named “Freshman of the Year”; however, a back injury forced him to leave football for track and field.

As a standout basketball player at SCHS, Malan led the 1971-72 Wildcats in scoring, field goal percentage and free throws made. He was named 1st team in the Salem Invitational Tournament, which the Wildcats won. He was 2nd team in the Centralia tournament and 2nd on the N.E.C. All-Conference team. He was known as “a tough competitor and a good rebounder who played around the basket with much taller players.”

In track, Greg lettered all four years as a thrower in the discus and shot put. He set a meet record in the 1972 Salem Invitational track meet, finished 2nd in the 1972 sectional, and 15th in the state meet. He held both the shot and discus records at SCHS until they were broken by Mike Minton. At EIU he threw the shot, discus and hammer. He was a member of the 1976 team that won the NCAA lAA track meet. He finished his career as a 3 year letterman and 7th all time in the shot.

A successful local businessman, Greg has been joined by his daughter, Kristi and son Doug, at the Malan Financial Group. Their company has been recognized as being in the top half of one percent in growth with AIG, the largest financial group in the U.S. As an athlete, he has continued to compete in track and field even today. In the 2006 senior track and field games, Greg won the State competition, throwing the discus and shot put and set a new state record. He has qualified to compete in the National Senior track and field games.

He continues to coach track at Selmaville grade school and has helped the Lady Rockets win two state titles in Class S. Greg has coached basketball at Selmaville and coached football in the Little Cats football program.

In addition to the conference title, the Lady Wildcats had huge wins in their season by winning the Kaskaskia tournament and the consolation bracket in the highly competitive Carbondale Invitational tournament. Probably the biggest accomplishment of the 1981 season was winning the District Championship. Salem had to defeat Centralia in the first round of the tournament and then defeated Mt. Vernon in the Championship game. Mt. Vernon was highly favored in the Championship, especially since they had defeated the Lady Wildcats earlier in the season 2-0.

The volleyball team finished the season with an overall record of 24-7 and will go down as one of the best volleyball teams in SCHS history.

The 1994 Lady Wildcats golf team would prove to be one of the most dominant teams in SCHS history. The team’s record was an impressive 58-15. They won the Olney and Benton Invitational tournaments, finished second at the Edwardsville Invitational, and fourth at the Blazier Classic.

In post season, the girls won the AA Regional and Sectional and qualified for the State Tournament where they finished eleventh. This team was out played only by Mary’s 1995 team that was 77-8 (a school record). This was Coach Riley’s most accomplished team. They finished as the N.E.C. Champions, won the Olney, Benton, and Edwardsville Invitationals. They won the Class AA Regional and finished second in the Sectional. They qualified for the State tournament and finished in seventh place. The girls’ golf teams continued their winning ways in 1996 finishing 54-19, 1997 - 46-20, 1998 - 47-23, and 1999 - 50-18. Mary’s overall record was 332-103. Following Mary’s retirement from coaching, she continued to be a wonderful Math teacher until December of 2003.

Mary passed away on February 28, 2004 after a long battle with cancer. She will always be remembered as a great coach, math teacher, and friend to all of the students and faculty at Salem Community High School.

In 1941, Henry enrolled in school at Southern Illinois National University (SIND) which is now known as SIU. He was an honor student, a sophomore repre5entative to the student council and a three sport letterman in football, basketball, and track.

Henry stayed in school until March of 1943 when he was drafted into the army to fight in World War II. Following his basic training in the U.S., he was sent to Australia and later assigned to fight in the battle of Biak with the U.S. Anny, 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41 II Division. Biak is an island, near New Guinea, that was sought after for its strategic location for the airbase which could refuel aircraft used in various missions. Henry was killed by machine gunfire, along with 435 other American soldiers, on June 7, 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was laid to rest at the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.

In 1946 members of the NU Epsilon Alpha fraternity at Southern Illinois University decided to honor and perpetuate Henry’s memory by recognizing “The Most Outstanding Student Athlete of the Year” by presenting him with the Henry Hinkley Award. This award started in 1946 and continued until the early 1980’s