1965 was the first time in school history that a YellowJacket Football Team won a Conference Championship
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – A long overdue celebration and recognition took place during the fall of 2025 Chester High School YellowJacket Football season. During one of the CHS home football games, Chester High School recognized and honored the Class of 1965 Football Team. That 1965 team was the first team in Chester High School history to win a conference football championship!
In 1965 Chester High School was a member of the Southwest Egyptian Conference (SEC) and the 1965 team was the first team in CHS history to secure a conference title. The 2025 CHS Football season at Chester marked the 60-year anniversary for the 1965 accomplishment.
Thanks to the efforts of numerous current Chester High School administrators, staff and coaches the 2025 tribute became a possibility. Those organizers and implementers included Jeremy Blechle, Current CHS Principal, Jenny Cartwright, current CHS Athletic Director, Billy Belton, current CHS Head Football Coach, Alison Heuer, current CHS Secretary, and Dwight Lochhead, current CHS Technology Advisor.
The 1965 Football Team included Andy Schuwerk, So. QB, Mike Usher, So. QB, John Greager, Sr. QB, Don Lowry, So. HB, Nick Wolff, Sr. HB, Joel Thornton, Sr. HB, Don Schopfer, Jr. HB, Dennis Berry, Sr. G, Larry Eggemeyer, So. E, Mike Howie, Jr. FB, Larry Dauer, Sr. WB, Bob Herschbach, Sr. WR, Steve Paulus, Jr. WB, Bill Haynes, Jr. WB, Larry Bierman, Jr. FB, Russ Rader, Sr. FB, Jimmy Carter, Jr. C, Steve Springer, Jr. C, Darrel Ehlers, Sr. C, Larry Surman, Sr. G, Bill Cushman, Jr. G, Mike Korando, Sr. G, Mike Bond, Jr. G, Robert Farmer, Jr. G, Terry Gremmels, Sr. G, Rich Hartenberger, So. FB, Donnie Petrowske, So. T, David Mueller, Jr. C, Mark Colvis, Jr. T, Kenny Taggert, Jr. T, Gary Jolly, So. T, Kenny Rathert, Sr. T, Jerry Bierman, Sr. T, Ed Hornberger, So. T, mike McLean, Sr. E, Terry Bollman, Jr. E, Terry Brown, Jr. E, Berry Smith, Jr. E, Mike Frazer, Sr. E, John Gordon, So. E, Bruce Clayton, Jr. E, Mark McLean, So. E, and Brian Thies, So. E.
The 1965 CHS Football Coaches included Jerry Germain, Head Coach; Jim Stuart, Assistant Coach; and W.O. Smith, Line Coach & Freshman-Sophomore Coach. Steve Wright and Mike Herrell were the two Football Managers. Team Captains were Kike Korando, Joel Thornton, and Larry Surman.
The Chester High School Varsity Cheerleaders included Joyce Clevenger, Joselyn Hargis, Shelia Linton, Gayle Lowery, Susan Preusse, Patsy Smith, Patty Sweany, and Lynn Weber.
On the night of the tribute at the current CHS Football game, Stadium Announcer Luke Lochhead, boldly announced during the pre-game festivities, “Attention everyone! This evening we are thrilled to welcome members of the 1965 YellowJacket Football Team. During halftime, we will honor them with a brief presentation recognizing their achievements from 60 years ago”.
Immediately following the traditional arrival of the current Chester High School Football Team and their “run-out” onto W.O. Smith Field for pre-game activities, The 2025 Football YellowJackets ran over to where the 1965 Football Champions were seated in the CHS Football Grandstands and “tipped their hats” to those former players.
Stadium Announcer, Luke Lochhead then proclaimed. “On behalf of the YellowJackets Football Team and the CHS Community, we proudly honor you with a special “Tip of Our Cap” from our own Chester YellowJackets. Your legacy inspires us all!”
Immediately after the last notes were played by the Chester High School Marching YellowJackets during their halftime show, which was directed by Steve Colonel, CHS Band Director, Marching YellowJackets Stadium Announcer, Dr. Jim Beers, gave a brief summary of the 1965 SEC Championship Football Team’s accomplishments.
Beers said, “We have with us this evening, members of the 1965 YellowJacket Football Team. They are with us tonight celebrating the 60th Anniversary of winning the school’s first outright conference championship!” Beers then proceeded to give a brief list of their championship season’s accomplishments. Some of those very impressive facts included the following items.
The 1965 YellowJackets had an overall record of 8-1 and they were undefeated in the Southwest Egyptian Conference (SWE). That tough conference in 1965 included Chester, Murphysboro, DuQuoin, Nashville, Pinckneyville, Sparta, and Anna-Jonesboro. That season the Jackets also defeated Dupo and Carterville. The only team to defeat Chester was Valle of Ste. Genevieve. Ste. Gen had a 9-1 record during that 1965 season and they were the “team to beat” in the area.
The 1965 team averaged 20.8 points per game and they only allowed 6.1 points per game. In that era, there no IHSA State Football Playoffs or the YellowJackets would have undoubtedly earned as bid to the event.
The 1965 Football YellowJacket Team was the only team to ever win a conference championship until 47 years later when the 2012 Chester High School YellowJackets won the Black Diamond Conference title with their 9-0 record.
In 1994 when the Chester High School Dick Roth Hall of Fame was introduced at CHS, the 1965 Football Team was the first team to be inducted into that prestigious entity.
The 1965 Championship Team had an overall record of 8-1 and an undefeated record of 6-0 in the Southwest Egyptian Conference. The 1965 schedule and corresponding scores and records are as follows:
CHESTER SCORE OPPONENT SCORE OVERALL CONF
Chester 39 Carterville 0 (1-0) Non-Conf.
Chester 20 Anna Jonesboro 0 (2-0) (1-0)
Chester 27 Pinckneyville 9 (3-0) (2-0)
Chester 7 Valle-Ste. Gen 20 (3-1) Non-Conf.
Chester 13 Nashville 6 (4-1) (3-0)
Chester 13 DuQuoin 6 (5-1) (4-0)
Chester 7 Murphysboro 0 (6-1) (5-0)
Chester 28 Dupo 7 (7-1) Non-Conf.
Chester 33 Sparta 7 (8-1) (6-0)
Members of the 1965 Championship Team had a great time gathering both prior to the CHS Football game and after, as well as sitting together at the game and being recognized during the ceremony. The 1965 team and other groups associated with the Championship season extend wholehearted thanks to everyone at CHS who worked hard to create the anniversary celebration.
