Frank Dexter always will be one of Galesburg's guys

Tracking History

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Three former Silver Streaks have returned to coach the GHS basketball program. Mike Owens, who starred for Galesburg High School in 1955 and 1956, returned in 1973 to coach his alma mater for four seasons. Owens replaced his former Streaks coach John Thiel and guided the 1976 team to the Elite 8. Barry Swanson, who starred for the Streaks in 1966 when they finished second in the state, returned to coach GHS for 12 seasons. Dave Peck, who played for coach Thiel, coached the Streaks for three seasons beginning in 1986.

Several former Silver Streaks have enjoyed successful basketball coaching careers away from home, including Frank Dexter, who played for John Thiel from 1962 through 1964. The 1964 graduate of Galesburg High coached basketball at Rockridge, Davenport Assumption, Macomb and for the past 12 seasons at GHS rival Moline. Dexter announced last week that he was retiring from teaching and coaching at Moline at the end of this school year.

Frank Dexter was elevated to the Silver Streaks' varsity during tournament time by coach Thiel in 1962. In his first varsity appearance, Dexter scored 3 points and grabbed 5 rebounds against Union High School. The 1962 Streaks lost the sectional championship to Quincy, however, the best was to come for Dexter and GHS.

Dexter broke into the Galesburg starting line-up during the 1962-63 season and helped to lead the Streaks to a Sweet 16 appearance. In fact, Dexter and the Streaks stunned favored Quincy 61-58 to win the sectional championship. Dexter played a major role in the upset with some spectacular shooting. The 6-1 Streaks guard exploded with 22 points on 11 for 17 shooting from long distance. He also led the Streaks in rebounding with 11 and assists with 4.

During his junior and senior seasons, Dexter and his teammates and Streaks fans were treated to an unusual mode of travel to the post Champaign tournaments in Quincy. About 1,000 students, adult fans and players boarded a CB and Q train for the round trip to the Gem City. When arriving in Quincy the entourage was bused from the depot to the game site.

During Dexter's senior season at GHS, the Streaks reached the Sweet 16 by defeating Quincy in its gym. Probably one of the low points in Frank Dexter's Galesburg High School career was a stunning loss to Cobden at Champaign.

In Dexter's last Streaks season, he scored 271 points, making 44 percent of his shots. He also made 57 free throws for a total of 271 points. It should be noted that Dexter missed more than six weeks of the season with a broken hand.

Following graduation from Washburn College in Kansas, where he earned All-American honors, Dexter embarked on a coaching career that would eventually lead to Moline High School. In 25 years of coaching varsity basketball he won 459 games, 244 of which were recorded in 12 years at Moline. During his Maroon tenure Moline made three Elite 8 appearances and enjoyed seven 20-win seasons. Moline won eight regional titles in Dexter's 12 years and won five Western Big 6 titles in the past six seasons.

Frank Dexter was one of the best as a Silver Streaks player and one of the best as a high school coach. It is often said that you can't return home in athletics, however, Frank Dexter will always be welcome in Galesburg.

 

Tom Wilson is a local historian. Write to him at wilsont29@comcast.net or at The Register-Mail, 140 S. Prairie St., Galesburg, IL 61401.