Coaches

Charles “Chick” Summers

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations:

Wood River High School

Biography:  Charles “Chick” Summers rates with the coaching greats from southwestern Illinois.  He ranks with Hall of Famers Vergil Fletcher, Pic Dehner, Bryan Bozarth, and Joe Lucco.  Charles worked at Wood River High School from 1934-61.  Great man-to-man defense was the trademark of a Summers-coached team.  

Charles coached great players such as Sherril Hanks, Earl Dodd, Dick Erzen and Bob Caffrey.  His teams won 5 Southwest Conference Championships. 

Three times Wood River made it to the finals at Huff Gymnasium on the campus of The University of Illinois-Champaign–1939, 1942 and 1943.   In 1939 Wood River beat Centralis HS 34-28 to earn 3rd place.  In 1942 the Orphans returned the favor by beating Wood River in the quarterfinals 31-29.  In 1943, Wood River beat Pekin HS in the Sweet 16 game before losing to Elgin HS 44-40 in the IHSA Quarterfinal game.