Bruce Hixon’s 35 years in sports media included an 11-year stint as sports editor of the Salem Times-Commoner. Hixon began his sports tenure in 1985 at just 17 years of age as a contributing writer at the Olney Daily Mail before being promoted to sports editor in 1990. Hixon made the move to the Salem T-C in 1992 and began his coverage of Salem Wildcats athletics, a position that also included the sports scene at South Central, Patoka, Sandoval and Odin High Schools along with the junior high sports scene.

Hixon spent 13 years as the North Egypt Conference Sportswriters Association information director and statistician, a position he was appointed to while he was at Olney and maintained until the NEC’s closure at the end of the 2002-03 school year. During Hixon’s time at Salem he created the 75th season all-time team for the Salem Wildcats football program in 1999. Members of that squad were recognized prior to the team’s home contest against Mt. Carmel that year. Hixon selected and directed the Salem T-C’s annual Scholar/Athlete program. He also selected an annual Male and Female Athlete of the Year as well as all-area teams for volleyball, girls and boys basketball. Hixon had two stints that covered 21 years as a member of the Salem High School Sports Hall of Fame committee where he assisted with nominations, research, write-ups and inductee presentations.

Hixon began a four-year stint as sports editor at the Brewton Standard in Alabama in the fall of 2003 before he returned to Illinois in 2007 when he began an eight-year run as sports editor at the Carlyle Union Banner. Hixon became a freelancer in 2015 when he became a contributing writer for the Breese Journal as well as a photographer for Kaskaskia College and WJBD Radio. Hixon was forced off the sports scene in 2020 when the COVID-19 epidemic shut down area sporting events.

During his time in the newspaper business Hixon twice took first place for best sports section among bi-weekly newspapers by the Southern Illinois Press Association and received the same honor from the Alabama Press Association. Hixon also received multiple awards from the Illinois Press Association for sports section, sports column, sports story and sports photography. Hixon was selected as the Kaskaskia Division of the Illinois Principals Association Media Person of the Year in 2015.

Hixon was working at Carlyle Walmart at the time of his induction into the Salem Sports Hall of Fame. He resides in Carlyle with wife Tami and his two children, Carson and Amy Hixon.

For Salem Wildcat fans, the name Eller certainly is one of the most recognizable names in SCHS history. Bob Eller began his career at Central School. He then went to the Salem Junior High School and finished his teaching career at SCHS where he taught math and physical education. Bob coached many sports, including varsity and freshman basketball, assistant football, cross country and was the intramural sports director. In 1970, Bob started the SCHS golf program which grew into a very successful one. Bob also served as the Athletic Director from 1970-1981.

During the summer months he ran the Salem Little League baseball program, operated the city pool and taught swimming lessons. Bob was still teaching when he passed away in the spring of 1981.

Whatever job Bob was working, his wife Anna Lou was always involved. During his A.D. years, Anna Lou was his unofficial assistant in the athletics office. She helped him with clerical work and was at all the home events.

After Bob’s passing, Anna Lou started the Bob Eller Memorial Golf Tournament which led to the Bob Eller Scholarship that went to a senior boy and senior girl. Besides being a great fan of Wildcat athletics, Anna Lou served on the SCHS Board of Education, SCHS Academic Foundation, and is a member of the SCHS Hall of Fame Committee and many other organizations.

Three of the Eller children, Ken, Ron and Tim played sports at SCHS. Grandchildren Ben and Carrie were also former Wildcat athletes.

The founding father of the Salem Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, John Cavaletto spent 20 of his 38 years in education at Salem Community High School where he served as Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Principal and varsity boys’ basketball coach.

Cavaletto graduated from Sesser High School and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Cavaletto completed his education at Eastern Illinois University where he received his Administrative Endorsement.

Cavaletto began his education and coaching career at Mulberry Grove High School where he taught and coached baseball and boys’ basketball from 1966-68. Cavaletto moved to Mater Dei High School in Breese and spent nine seasons as the Knights basketball coach. During that nine-year run Cavaletto’s teams compiled a 143-106 record, which included four regional championships and a fourth place finish at the 1974 Class AA state tournament.
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J.D. Hargis’ individual selection to the Salem Community High School Sports Hall of Fame comes 12 years after he was inducted as a senior member of the 1952 football team.

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.
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For more than half a century Floyd Smith has been one of the biggest supporters of Salem Wildcats athletics.

Smith has been a boys basketball reserved seat ticket holder for 52 years. Smith has had the same seat in B.E. Gum Gym since the 1955-1956 season.

In addition to boys basketball, Smith has faithfully attended or followed all Salem Community High School sporting events.

Smith has been actively involved with the Salem Shriners for 50 years. Among his duties include raising funds for the Shriners Hospitals through the annual Salem-Centralia Shriners football game.
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The man who marked up more points in basketball and called more plays in football than anyone in the history of sports at Salem High School, was inducted into the Salem High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

The late Herbert B. Davis, for 45 years an SCHS English and journalism instructor, was inducted in the category “Friends of Sports.” Mr. Davis was the official scorer at basketball games for many of those 45 years, including regular season, regional and sectional games, and was the voice of the Wildcats on the public address system at home football games.
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