Indianola in Red Willow County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Historic Red Willow School

Nebraska High School Hall of Fame Sports

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2021

1. Historic Red Willow School Marker

Inscription. Presented to McCook Red Willow High School
In Honor and Recognition of your
1958-1959 Football Team
being selected to this unique and honored group as the
Golden Anniversary Team
Dick Reiners, Don Deebe, Marvin Teel, Virgil Couse, Bill Lashley, Don Reiners, Mike Milbauer, Russel Hockman, Wesley Spickelmier, Sheldon Spickelmier, David Lindsey, Allan Campbell, Gayle Ruggles, Ronald Gutherie, Ronald Hanthorn, Bob Kelly, Bob Broomfield, Raymond Fisher, Lonnie Weskamp
Head Coach: Don McKillip
Ass't. Coach: Dale Carter
Presented 2008
• • •
Nebraska State Mythical 8 Man Football Champions
Big Brothers Bowl
Hastings Nebr.
Nov. 15, 1957

Presented to McCook Red Willow High School
In Honor and Recognition of your
1958-1959 Boys Basketball Team
being selected to this unique and honored group as the
Golden Anniversary Team
Mike Milbauer, Raymond Fisher, David Lindsey, Ron Hanthorn, Marvin Teel, Don Reiners, Dick Reiners, Bill Lashley, Vernon Esch, Virgil Couse
Head Coach: Don McKillip
Ass't. Coach: Dale Carter
Mgr.: Terry Korb
Presented 2008
• • •
State Champions, Class D, 1958

Presented to McCook Red Willow High School
In Honor and Recognition of your
1958-1959 Track Team
being

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selected to this unique and honored group as the
Golden Anniversary Team
Mike Milbauer, Don Reiners, Ron Hanthorn, Vernon Esch, Virgil Couse, Marvin Teel
Head Coach: Don McKillip
Presented 2008
• • •
State Champions, Class D, 1958

Erected 2019.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.

Location. 40° 14.108′ N, 100° 30.412′ W. Marker is in Indianola, Nebraska, in Red Willow County. It is on Drive 391 just north of U.S. 6/34, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 39145 County Road 718, Indianola NE 69304, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska and in the Republican River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

Marker detail: Lettermen’s Club 1958-1959 image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Lettermen’s Club 1958-1959

flies: First Homestead in Red Willow Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); Pawnee Woman’s Grave (approx. 4½ miles away); Indianola POW Camp (approx. 4.8 miles away); Frank Morrison Home (approx. 6.6 miles away); Erected in Memory of Bert Lafferty (approx. 6.6 miles away); Harry D. Strunk (approx. 6.6 miles away); George William Norris (approx. 6.6 miles away); George W. Norris Home (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Indianola.

Also see . . .
1. New sign marks spot of historic Red Willow school (McCook Gazette).

(by Connie Jo Discoe, 7/2/2019) Excerpt: 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 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

3. Marker detail: 1958-1959 Football Team Recognition
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.

(Submitted on June 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Nebraska 8 Man Football History.

Excerpt: Explore the ENTIRE HISTORY of Nebraska 8-Man Football from the 1950’s to the present. This historical archive allows fans to relive the moments that shaped our game and is the definitive resource for the triumphs, legends, and enduring legacy of Nebraska 8-Man Football.

(Submitted on June 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: 1958-1959 Boys Basketball Team Recognition image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: 1958-1959 Boys Basketball Team Recognition

Marker detail: 1958-1959 Track Team Recognition image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: 1958-1959 Track Team Recognition

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2021

6. Historic Red Willow School Marker

The marker is at the location of the former Red Willow community school.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.