Former Goreville Blackcat Basketball player and Goreville High School graduate Chad Meyers died in a mining accident where he worked last Saturday, November 17.  He is the son of long-time former Goreville Schools staff member Kenny Meyers and Lisa Copeland.  To view his obituary, click here.   

2008 GRADUATE JESSICA PATTERSON DIES IN CAR WRECK

Goreville High School and the entire Goreville community are mourning the loss of 2008 Graduate Jessica Patterson after an automobile accident claimed her life on November 8, 2010 as she was travelling to class at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  Jessica was Class President all four years of high school.  She graduated Goreville with High Honors and Shawnee Community College with High Honors.  Jessica is the daughter of Mark (Goreville Teacher) and Kelly (Marion Teacher) Patterson.  Her uncle Scott Patterson is a Goreville Board Member and her aunt Tammy Patterson is a teacher at Goreville as well.  To view her obituary, click here.

The Patterson family wishes to express their appreciation to all of the teachers, students, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and the countless friends and family who have helped them and their family in some form or fashion through this tragedy.      

Former Goreville High School Teacher and Basketball Coach Joe Whitehead passed away at age 87 on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the Fair Oaks Nursing Home in Greenville, IL where he has lived since his stroke in 2008.  Mr. Whitehead taught social studies at Goreville High School for 33 years before retiring in 1986.

To see Mr. Whitehead's Obituary, just click his picture above.  

One of the most highly regarded coaches in Goreville history was lost in 2006.  Bob Webb, of rural Goreville, coached several sports in his 33 year teaching career.  He began as a boys basketball and baseball coach then started the first girls basketball program at Goreville in 1974.  In just 4 years, he led Goreville to its first ever high school Regional Tournament Championship in any sport when he won the Girls Basketball Regional Tournament in 1978.  He also won Goreville’s first ever South Egyptian Conference Tournament title and regular season championship.  He went on to win the SEC Tournament and regular season championships three consecutive years.  Webb also became Goreville’s first Athletic Director from 1980-1985.  While Athletic Director, he was instrumental in creating the winning tradition that Goreville Schools enjoy today.  Webb then became Principal where he successfully led the schools that he loved so dearly.  “Bob Webb was more than just a coach,” noted former Lady Blackcat All-Star Toni (Durham) Merchant, “he was a friend to everybody.” You may view the full obituary at bluefuneralhome.com by clicking Mr. Webb's picture .