Friends of Basketball

Charles Hoenes

Year Inducted: 1989

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Ottawa High School

Biography:  Charles Hoenes saw his first basketball game in 1919 and followed the Ottawa Pirates. Hoenes had season tickets in Ottawa’s Kingman Gym since the “Basketball Palace” was built in 1932. Charles Hoenes was on hand for Ottawa’s first sectional championship in 1949 over Henry. One of Hoenes’ favorite Pirate games was in 1957 – Ottawa vs. Pekin in the Super-Sectional. Jerry Varlands’ two free throws in sudden-death overtime sent Ottawa to Champaign and the third place trophy.  Charles Hoenes died on March 31, 2018 at the age of 84.