Ken Deck

Ken Deck graduated from Taylorville High School in 1966 after completing a stellar athletic career in three sports, football, basketball, and track.    A three year starter on the varsity football team, Deck was known for his hard hitting defensive play, leading the Tornadoes in tackles all three years and winning the "Knocker o'f the Year" award both his junior and senior years. But he set the stage for an impressive offensive senior year, as he took the opening kick off in the opening game against Auburn and returned it 88 yards for the first many touchdowns scored that year. He helped lead the Tornadoes offense by carrying for 851 yards on 168 carries, for an impressive 6.1 yard per carry average. He returned a second kick off for a touch down again opening the game, this time against Hillsboro. His all-purpose yardage easily exceeded the 1000 yard mark.    Deck, who had been selected by his teammates as co-captain along with Lonnie Gilpin, received many honors following the season. He was selected to the all- Mid State Conference Team, was awarded the team's Back of the Year and was the only Mid-State Conference Player to be selected to the Champaign - Urbana News Gazette All-State Team, receiving special mention, as one of the top 100 players in Illinois.

During the winter, Deck became one of the top rated point guards in the area. During his junior year he stepped into a starting role and dished out 150 assists while scoring 323 points, pulling down 116 rebounds. That's averaging 12 points 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game in guiding the Tornadoes to their first regional championship since 1959. As his senior season began, the team had great expectation, and they got every one's attention by opening the season with a win over the Dave Robish led Springfield Senators. Deck's, selected as team co-captain, continued passing the ball around, setting the school record in assists with 205, while scoring 362 points and helping guide the Tornadoes to a 22-6 record and their second regional championship.

A typical quote taken from the Breeze-Courier regarding Desk's play against Villa Grove said "Deck's defensive play was outstanding as he was continuously stealing the ball and forcing the Blue Devil guards into making bad passes".In the spring, Ken Deck carried his leadership on to the track and was again selected as co-captain of one of the strongest track teams in the conference. He set the school record in the pole vault at 12' 6" and then capped his senior year by winning the pole vault at the sectional track meet and advancing to compete in the state finals.