Benton High School

VARIOUS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/3/2009 at 05:50:26

BENTON HIGH SCHOOL

Benton High School was built in 1916 and torn down in 1982.

During the second decade of the 1900's, several school districts in Ringgold County considered consolidation. Although the citizens of Redding School District voted in favor of consolidation in 1913, the vote was cast out on a technicality. The following year, a new school was erected in Redding. In 1915, another election was held in Redding and the citizens again voted to consolidate. In 1917, a large addition was constructed to accomondate an increase in pupils attending the Redding School. In 1915, the residents of Delphos voted to consolidate; Maloy residents voted for consolidation in 1917; and the Beconsfield residents cast their vote for consolidation in 1920. Although the residents of Ellston voted to consolidate, it was annulled on a technicality when the bonding company realized that the election notice had been advertised solely by public notices and not published in the newspaper. A second vote was called which resulted in a vote against consolidation.

BOYS' BASKETBALL
The first Ringgold County Boys' Basketball Tournament was held February 28 - March 1st, 1919, at the Mount Ayr high school gymnasium. In 1929, Benton lost the championship to Maloy, 22-12. Benton was awarded second place with a silver basketball trophy.

Benton's CROSS was selected to the all-tournament first team during the 1939 county tournament.

Benton nearly upset the favord Maloy team during the first round of the 1940 county tournament. However, Maloy rallied and won in overtime play, 40-28. Maloy went on to claim the championship over Mount Ayr, 32-26.

During the 1950 Ringgold County Tournament, Benton's Bob SMITH scored 28 points in a second round game played against Ellston.

The Benton Bullets entered the 1952 county tournament as the favorites with a record of 16-1 under the leadership of Coach Clayton MEYER. However they lost the first round. At the sectional tournament, Benton defeated Blockton 64-34, won over Clearfield, 35-21, and won the title over Redding, 30-25. The 1952 Benton Bullets included Tom GROVES, Delbert ADAMS, Melvin CAMPBELL, Jimmie HERRINGTON, Doyle ADAMS, Robert BLUNCK, Bobbie SMITH, Ronny SMITH, Marvin CAMPBELL, and Kenneth ANDREWS.

Benton lost the 1953 county championship to Mount Ayr, 93-46. Benton's Tom GROVES was the tournament's leading scorer.

Benton was the only team that never won a county championship despite the fact that they did have great teams. Benton High School did place 2nd two times.

SOURCES:
Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, February 10, 2007

Ringgold County History Compiled and written by the Iowa Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Iowa, Sponsored by Ringgold County Superintendent of Schools, Mount Ayr, Iowa. 1942.

AVITT, Mike. Pages and Pictures from the Past. . .Ringgold County, Iowa 1855-2005 Pp. 60-. Paragon Publications, Inc. Mount Ayr. 2009.

Compilation by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009