Changnon II

by Randy Olson, areasports.net

MT. VERNON, IL On a vote of 6-0, the Mt Vernon Twp High School board has voted to carry forward the name “Changnon Gym” to the new high school gymnasium. A sizable crowd was in attendance as Marc Changnon (grandson of late coach Stanley Changnon) and myself each spoke to the board in support of the gym naming as a way to carry on the tradition and legacy of Coach Changnon, who won back-to-back state titles at Mt Vernon in 1949 & 1950, while compiling a record that saw him win 80% of his games in a nine-year stint as the Rams head coach. Changnon is in the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame for BOTH basketball and football, a very rare feat.

The first ever tipoff at the New Changnon against the Cahokia Comanches (Photo provided by Randy Olson)

He taught and coached players that have also been recognized with IBCA Hall of Fame honors including Max Hooper, Walt Moore, and Albert Avant. Board member, Norma Fairchild, abstained from the vote and was critical of naming the gym after Changnon, claiming it was a money issue. It was pointed out to her and the board that NO high school gym in southern Illinois has ever been named after someone due to the purchase or sale of naming rights. Any high school gym that has a name on it was “earned” and chosen by each community to preserve the legacy, character, tradition and positive impact that a person had on a community. In the end, all other board members agreed that Stanley Changnon exemplifies the character, positive impact and tradition worthy of the MVTHS gymnasium continuing to be named in his honor at the new school. Changnon is a legend across all of Illinois. Max Hooper also made the trip to Mt Vernon from Alabama to attend the board meeting