New sign marks spot of historic Red Willow school

Densel O'Dea of McCook, left, smooths the concrete base of the new historical marker he designed and placed at the site of the former Red Willow school Friday morning. Assisting were his son, Jim, and Josh O'Neil of Swanson Signs.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

RED WILLOW, Neb. — Red Willow native Densel O'Dea, now of McCook, has coordinated the design, purchase and erection of a sign that marks the location of the former Red Willow community school and its sports history during the 1950's.

O'Dea grew up on farm two miles north of the townsite of Red Willow, which was located about half-way between McCook and Indianola. In July 2018, he placed a marker on the site of the community, on the Republican River bottom south of the school house that was located on Highway 6&34.

Last week, O'Dea erected a sign at the school location, highlighting the 1958-1959 school year when the school's football, basketball and track teams won Class D state championships — the first time that a Nebraska school had achieved such a record. Leading up to this year, the teams were formidable, all coached by Don McKillip since 1953.

O'Dea said it was important to him to highlight those teams. "For a three-year period, every Class D school in the state of Nebraska knew where Red Willow was. Those on opposing teams also knew the team members from Red Willow were gentlemen, a reflection of their upbringing (parents) and training (teachers). Where was Red Willow? At the top of the heap," he said.

O'Dea added that throughout each school year, the teams were also a source of entertainment for the entire community.

The teams were named "Golden Anniversary Teams" and inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in Lincoln in 2008.

Red Willow Zephyr team members were:

Basketball: Marvin Teel, Don Reiners, Dick Reiners, Bill Lashley, Vernon Esch, Mike Milbauer, Raymond Fisher, David Lindsey, Ron Hanthorn, Virgil Couse and student manager Terry Korb. Head coach Don McKillip and assistant coach Dale Carter.

Football: Dick Reiners, Don Beebe, Marvin Teel, Virgil Couse, Bill Lashley, Don Reiners, Mike Milbauer, Russel Hockman, Wesley Spickelmier, Sheldon Spickelmier, David Lindsey, Allan Campbell, Gayle Ruggles, Ronald Guthrie, Ronald Hanthorn, Bob Kelly, Bob Broomfield, Raymond Fisher and Lonnie Weskamp. Head coach Don McKillip and assistant coach Dale Carter.

Track: Mike Milbauer, Don Reiners, Ron Hanthorn, Vernon Esch, Virgil Couse and Marvin Teel. Coach Don McKillip.

Supporters of Densel's project were:

Platinum: D.W. O'Dea and Hauxwell Pump, Red Willow.

Golden: Janssen Motors, Griff Malleck, Pinnacle Bank, Greg Wolfe, Norm Timmerman, Lee's Body Shop, Budke Ent., Les Schmidt, Tri-State Livestock, Ag Valley Coop, McConville Insurance, Mark Uerling, Walmart, Randy Lashley, ODISS, Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel, Carpenter-Breland Funeral Home, Edward Jones.

Silver: Malleck Oil, Merrit Nelms, Cliff Randel, Mead Lumber, Steve Quigley, Stan Quigley, Don Reiners, Mark Carman, B Street Car Wash, Cappel Motors, Schmick's Grocery, First Central Bank, Farrell's Pharmacy, Larry Lashley, Volz Plumbing and Ace Hardware.

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The Red Willow and Indianola school districts combined as one school district on June 26, 1969, at the first school board meeting for the newly formed Republican Valley School District.

The Republican Valley and the Twin Valley (Bartley, Beaver Valley and Marion) school districts merged on Aug. 1, 2003, as the new Southwest Public Schools.

See other stories on Red Willow in the Gazette, on July 23, 2018; and on Sept. 19, 2008; and in a Walt Sehnert column on Aug. 4, 2008, at http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1450082.html