For most of seven decades, Russellville High School has been integrated, following the peaceful consolidation of Knob City High School into RHS in the fall of 1956. This Friday during Black History Month, the basketball teams that represented Knob City will be honored and celebrated between games of an RHS doubleheader against Todd Central in Jim Young Gymnasium.
Boys basketball was an important part of school life at Knob City, and many of the teams representing the school on Morgantown Road were very successful. Between 1937 and 1956, the Trojans qualified for the state tournament six times, including three in a row.
Two of the stars of those teams will be inducted posthumously into the Russellville Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame during the ceremony.
This is what their plaques will say:
Raymond Gaines Jr.
Knob City School Class of 1942
Mr. Gaines was a member of the Trojan basketball team from 1937-1942.He led his team to the Kentucky High School Athletic League State Tournament in 1937,40,41and 42. He scored 2006 point dduring his career. As an adult he spent many years volunteering his time coaching and mentoring the youth of our community.
Joe Louis Daniel
RHS Class of 1957
Mr. Daniel was a member of the Knob City Trojan Basketball team from 1954-1956.He led the Trojans to the Kentucky High School Athletic League State Tournament in 1956 and was named All State that season. When Knob City merged with the Russellville City Schools after the 1956- school year ,he became an important member of the Panther basketball team. He earned All District and All Region honors his senior season.
Records aren’t available for 1936-39, but they are attached from 1940 through 1957. From 1940 on, there were three men who served as head coach, and each of them went to state at least once. They were H.E. Goodloe, Al Williams and Leonard Cavil. It’s not clear who coached the 1937 team, but Goodloe was at the helm for three of the other five.
Through research, Greg Owens, who directs Hall of Fame activities at RHS as a volunteer, provides these results for state tournament appearances:
“They won games over Beaver Dam Bruce 26-18 in 1937 and Madisonville Rosenwald 32-25 in 1940. They lost to Lexington Dunbar 45-11 in 1937, They lost to Hopkinsville Attucks 25-17 in 1940. In 1941 they lost again to Dunbar 34-23 and Attucks 29-28 in the consolation game. In 1942 they lost to Ashland Booker T. Washington 23-20 and to Louisville Central 32-29 in the consolation game. In 1948 they lost to Lynch West Main 50-32 and in 1956 they lost to Lexington Dunbar 71-60.”
Not much information about regular season games is available. The local newspaper rarely covered Knob City High School during those years.
RHS alum and LCCTC teacher Paulette Benton Smith has been working with several other committee members in helping plan the event. A reception for those associated with Knob City and family and friends of the Hall of Fame inductees will be held before the ceremony in the RHS cafeteria.
Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton will be there to proclaim Feb. 9 "Knob City Day in Russellville" to make this night even more special.
A banner has been hung on the gymnasium wall honoring Knob City, and many of those attending will be wearing tee shirts will were previously sold for the occasion.
Pictures of the banner and the proclamation are attached.