Basketball

Who is Bill Hapac?

Bill Hapac was born January 26, 1918. He lived in 15th and Laramie, in Cicero, above his father’s tavern. He graduated from Roosevelt Grade School after skipping two grades. During his senior year, he was All-State in basketball and baseball. In basketball, he led the Suburban League in scoring with an average of 17.45 points per game. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Illinois but took a gap year before starting classes in 1937. There, he played basketball and baseball.

In 1940, he was named a Consensus All-American in Basketball and an All-American in Baseball. He was voted the 1940 University Of Illinois Athlete Of Year. Bill was also a member of the College All-Star team that defeated the Harlem Globetrotters. As Co-Captain of the 1940 Illinois Basketball team, Hapac scored 36 points in a game against the University of Minnesota.

Hapac was drafted by the Detroit Tigers, but while waiting for spring training to begin, Hapac was inducted into the US Army and served from 1941 to 1946. Hapac’s dedication to his country would earn him the rank of Captain. Following the war, Hapac coached at Morton from 1952 until his death in 1967.

Shortly after his death, the newly constructed gymnasium at Morton East was dedicated to his memory.

Who is Chet Strumillo?

Chet was raised in Grant Works, around 16th and Laramie. He was a star and Captain of the 1941 Morton Basketball State Championship during his junior year. He was voted first team all-state in 1941. Chet initially attended the U of I and captained the freshman team(freshman could not play varsity then). WWII took three years of his life and after the war, he attended Northwestern University and Captained the team his senior year.

In 1975, Chet was voted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Chet died July 27, 2010. Both his sons, Carl and Don, played at Morton.

Who is Dave Kocourek?

During his childhood, Dave Kocourek lived in a basement apartment and attended Hiawatha Elementary School. He graduated from Morton East in 1955. At Morton, Kocourek won 14 varsity letters in football, basketball and track. In 1955, Kocourek was All State in football and basketball. In basketball, he was the second leading scorer (15.7 ppg) in the Suburban League. In track, his skill earned him the nickname “can’t catch’em Kocourek”. In 1955 he was one of only 50 All American Scholars in the entire country.

In college, Kocourek played football and basketball at the University of Wisconsin.

He played professional football with the San Diego Chargers from 1960 through 1965, for the Miami Dolphins in 1966, and with the Oakland Raiders in 1967 and ‘68. During his career, Kocourek played in 4 Pro Bowls and in the 1968 Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders. Kocourek also played in seven AFL Championship Games, which is the now-defunct league’s all-time record.

He died in 2013.

Don is of Polish heritage. His mother was a Serbinski from home. Don was raised in Cicero(Hawthorne) on 32nd and 53rd Avenue. He went to Columbus School and graduated from Morton in 1954. Don’s dad died when Don was in grade school, he missed basketball his freshman year to work on his uncle’s fruit and vegetables truck. Don was an All State Basketball selection his senior year on a star studded Morton team, which included Morton Hall of Famers, Dave Kocourek and John Melwid. Morton beat the 1953 Illinois State Champs, Lyons Township, 65-64, in sectional play, Don dribbling out the last 2 minutes of the game. Don received a basketball scholarship to play at Kansas State.

Don is of Polish heritage. His mother was a Serbinski from home. Don was raised in Cicero(Hawthorne) on 32nd and 53rd Avenue. He went to Columbus School and graduated from Morton in 1954. Don’s dad died when Don was in grade school, he missed basketball his freshman year to work on his uncle’s fruit and vegetables truck. Don was an All State Basketball selection his senior year on a star studded Morton team, which included Morton Hall of Famers, Dave Kocourek and John Melwid. Morton beat the 1953 Illinois State Champs, Lyons Township, 65-64, in sectional play, Don dribbling out the last 2 minutes of the game. Don received a basketball scholarship to play at Kansas State.

College freshman were not allowed to play varsity ball in the 50’s. He did play freshman basketball and his Kansas State team beat the Kansas freshman team, that included Wilt Chamberlain. During Don’s junior year he was the starting guard on the Kansas State team that reached the Final Four. He was named the Most Inspirational Player for the tournament. His senior year he was named captain of Kansas State, he was an All American first teamer, this team which included his roommate and lifelong friend, Bob Boozer, was the number one rated team in both wired services basketball polls. Kansas State was 25-2 that year. Don was voted the Most Outstanding Athlete at Kansas State his senior year. In 1986 Don was named to the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.

Don married his college sweetheart, Mel Eaton, she was the 1959 Miss Football USA.

Don worked 25 years for IBM, then started his own consulting business and lives in the Atlanta area. Don’s brother, Eddie, also played basketball at Morton(1959) and at Kansas State. Don’s sister Marylyn(1962) married Don Cervenka(1962), he played basketball at Morton and Augustana College.

Jim was Bohemian. He was raised in Cicero around 25th and 53 Avenue. He graduated Morton in 1933. He was a star on the Morton Basketball State Championship team in 1932. Jim got a basketball scholarship and attended the University of Illinois. He was a starting forward on the 1936 Illinois team and point guard on the 1937 Illinois Big Ten Championship team. He team mates included Lou Boudreau and his roommate Harry Combs, the future U of I basketball coach. Jim also played soccer at the U of I.

As the coach of Morton High School, his teams won the Suburban League Basketball Championships 6 times. His 1950 and 1951 teams won 35 straight games and was ranked “first in the state”, losing to Hinsdale in the sectional finals. His last year coaching 1960-61 his team advanced to the “Sweet Sixteen”, losing to Thorton High School. Thorton eventually finished second to the undefeated Collinsville state champs.

He was the Morton Athletic Director from 1961 to 1970. He died November 11, 1990 at the age of 77. He was also elected into the Illinois State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Who is Larry Mack?

Larry Mack was born July 23, 1943, and his family resided in the Grant Works area of Cicero, present-day area of 50th Avenue and 16th Street. He was the fourth Mack to attend Morton High School, his father Ray, along with his two brothers were also Morton graduates.

Larry was a proud Mustang, who played on the football, basketball, and baseball team throughout his high school career. He received several recognitions during his time at Morton; All-Suburban League End for football, All Suburban League, All Chicago and All State Illinois for basketball, and helped Morton win the 1961 State Champoinshop for baseball. Larry was also featured in
an article in Sports Illustrated; "Faces in the Crowd" (June 19, 1961).

After graduating from Morton, Larry went to the U.S. Navy Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated in 1965. During his time there he was captain of his basketball team
and played on the varsity baseball team.

After two years in the U.S. Navy, Larry became a Naval Aviator in 1967 and flew a P-3 Orion Sub-Chaser for three years until his leave in 1970.