Edward was a charter member of the Theta Upsilon Omega fraternity, Zeta Beta chapter in 1930.
He was given the MC Distinguished Almnus Award Recipient in 1957 and was an Inductee, MC Hall of Fame in 1988
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Legendary coach and teacher Edward L. "Doc" Bencini died Wednesday, May 27, 1981, in St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro at the age of 73.
A native of Murphysboro, Mr. Bencini returned to Murphysboro Township High School as a coach and teacher in 1938 and built one of the state's biggest football powerhouses in history.
Mr. Bencini was inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1977. Murphysboro High School named its football field for Mr. Bencini in 1980.
From 1938-1957, Mr. Bencini's Red Devils posted an 82-12-8 record, finished unbeaten three times and dominated the Southwest Egyptian Conference by winning eight championships. His 1947 team finished unbeaten, untied — and unscored upon. It is believed to be the only Illinois high school football team ever to accomplish that feat.
Mr. Bencini also coached basketball at Murphysboro, and, even though it was not the sport in which he achieved his reputation, he still ranks as the winningest basketball coach in Red Devil history with 177 wins. His 1947 team advanced to the "Sweet 16" in Champaign.
Mr. Bencini spent one year at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale as an assistant football and basketball coach, and then finished his coaching career at University High School in Carbondale.
University High, never known as a strong athletic school, won the Black Diamond Conference football championship in 1965, capping Mr. Bencini’s 35-year coaching career. He finished with a 139-57-16 career record in football, having coached eight years at Biggsville before returning to Murphysboro.
Mr. Bencini, who lived at 1904 Herbert St. in Murphysboro, was born Aug. 28, 1907, to Edward L. and Marie Stewart Bencini. He married Bernice Downie Nov. 28, 1934, in Biggsville. She preceded him in death Nov. 29, 1976.
A brother, Stewart, and a sister, Esther, also preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Edward Larry Bencini of Roswell, N.M., and Stewart Bencini of Murphysboro, and two brothers, William K. Bencini of Murphysboro, and Rupert L. Bencini of Amarillo, Texas. His stepmother, Pauline Bencini of Murphysboro, also survives.
A graduate of Murphysboro Township High School in 1926, Mr. Bencini earned his B.A. degree in chemistry from Monmouth College in 1930. He later earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri, and did post-graduate work at SIU-C.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Murphysboro, was an Army veteran of World War II, a member of the Paul Stout Post 127 American Legion of Murphysboro, a member of the Elks Lodge 572 of Murphysboro, and a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Lutheran Church of Murphysboro. Burial will be in Tower Grove Cemetery in Murphysboro. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Saturday at Crawshaw Mortuary in Murphysboro, and after 1 p.m. Sunday until the hour of services at the First Lutheran Church.
Source: Southern Illinoisan, Thurs., May 28, 1981
-Obit provided by C. Ann Carruthers.
He was given the MC Distinguished Almnus Award Recipient in 1957 and was an Inductee, MC Hall of Fame in 1988
------------------------------------------------------
Legendary coach and teacher Edward L. "Doc" Bencini died Wednesday, May 27, 1981, in St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro at the age of 73.
A native of Murphysboro, Mr. Bencini returned to Murphysboro Township High School as a coach and teacher in 1938 and built one of the state's biggest football powerhouses in history.
Mr. Bencini was inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1977. Murphysboro High School named its football field for Mr. Bencini in 1980.
From 1938-1957, Mr. Bencini's Red Devils posted an 82-12-8 record, finished unbeaten three times and dominated the Southwest Egyptian Conference by winning eight championships. His 1947 team finished unbeaten, untied — and unscored upon. It is believed to be the only Illinois high school football team ever to accomplish that feat.
Mr. Bencini also coached basketball at Murphysboro, and, even though it was not the sport in which he achieved his reputation, he still ranks as the winningest basketball coach in Red Devil history with 177 wins. His 1947 team advanced to the "Sweet 16" in Champaign.
Mr. Bencini spent one year at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale as an assistant football and basketball coach, and then finished his coaching career at University High School in Carbondale.
University High, never known as a strong athletic school, won the Black Diamond Conference football championship in 1965, capping Mr. Bencini’s 35-year coaching career. He finished with a 139-57-16 career record in football, having coached eight years at Biggsville before returning to Murphysboro.
Mr. Bencini, who lived at 1904 Herbert St. in Murphysboro, was born Aug. 28, 1907, to Edward L. and Marie Stewart Bencini. He married Bernice Downie Nov. 28, 1934, in Biggsville. She preceded him in death Nov. 29, 1976.
A brother, Stewart, and a sister, Esther, also preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Edward Larry Bencini of Roswell, N.M., and Stewart Bencini of Murphysboro, and two brothers, William K. Bencini of Murphysboro, and Rupert L. Bencini of Amarillo, Texas. His stepmother, Pauline Bencini of Murphysboro, also survives.
A graduate of Murphysboro Township High School in 1926, Mr. Bencini earned his B.A. degree in chemistry from Monmouth College in 1930. He later earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri, and did post-graduate work at SIU-C.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Murphysboro, was an Army veteran of World War II, a member of the Paul Stout Post 127 American Legion of Murphysboro, a member of the Elks Lodge 572 of Murphysboro, and a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Lutheran Church of Murphysboro. Burial will be in Tower Grove Cemetery in Murphysboro. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Saturday at Crawshaw Mortuary in Murphysboro, and after 1 p.m. Sunday until the hour of services at the First Lutheran Church.
Source: Southern Illinoisan, Thurs., May 28, 1981
-Obit provided by C. Ann Carruthers.
Edward was a charter member of the Theta Upsilon Omega fraternity, Zeta Beta chapter in 1930.
He was given the MC Distinguished Almnus Award Recipient in 1957 and was an Inductee, MC Hall of Fame in 1988
------------------------------------------------------
Legendary coach and teacher Edward L. "Doc" Bencini died Wednesday, May 27, 1981, in St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro at the age of 73.
A native of Murphysboro, Mr. Bencini returned to Murphysboro Township High School as a coach and teacher in 1938 and built one of the state's biggest football powerhouses in history.
Mr. Bencini was inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1977. Murphysboro High School named its football field for Mr. Bencini in 1980.
From 1938-1957, Mr. Bencini's Red Devils posted an 82-12-8 record, finished unbeaten three times and dominated the Southwest Egyptian Conference by winning eight championships. His 1947 team finished unbeaten, untied — and unscored upon. It is believed to be the only Illinois high school football team ever to accomplish that feat.
Mr. Bencini also coached basketball at Murphysboro, and, even though it was not the sport in which he achieved his reputation, he still ranks as the winningest basketball coach in Red Devil history with 177 wins. His 1947 team advanced to the "Sweet 16" in Champaign.
Mr. Bencini spent one year at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale as an assistant football and basketball coach, and then finished his coaching career at University High School in Carbondale.
University High, never known as a strong athletic school, won the Black Diamond Conference football championship in 1965, capping Mr. Bencini’s 35-year coaching career. He finished with a 139-57-16 career record in football, having coached eight years at Biggsville before returning to Murphysboro.
Mr. Bencini, who lived at 1904 Herbert St. in Murphysboro, was born Aug. 28, 1907, to Edward L. and Marie Stewart Bencini. He married Bernice Downie Nov. 28, 1934, in Biggsville. She preceded him in death Nov. 29, 1976.
A brother, Stewart, and a sister, Esther, also preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Edward Larry Bencini of Roswell, N.M., and Stewart Bencini of Murphysboro, and two brothers, William K. Bencini of Murphysboro, and Rupert L. Bencini of Amarillo, Texas. His stepmother, Pauline Bencini of Murphysboro, also survives.
A graduate of Murphysboro Township High School in 1926, Mr. Bencini earned his B.A. degree in chemistry from Monmouth College in 1930. He later earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri, and did post-graduate work at SIU-C.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Murphysboro, was an Army veteran of World War II, a member of the Paul Stout Post 127 American Legion of Murphysboro, a member of the Elks Lodge 572 of Murphysboro, and a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Lutheran Church of Murphysboro. Burial will be in Tower Grove Cemetery in Murphysboro. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Saturday at Crawshaw Mortuary in Murphysboro, and after 1 p.m. Sunday until the hour of services at the First Lutheran Church.
Source: Southern Illinoisan, Thurs., May 28, 1981
-Obit provided by C. Ann Carruthers.
He was given the MC Distinguished Almnus Award Recipient in 1957 and was an Inductee, MC Hall of Fame in 1988
------------------------------------------------------
Legendary coach and teacher Edward L. "Doc" Bencini died Wednesday, May 27, 1981, in St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro at the age of 73.
A native of Murphysboro, Mr. Bencini returned to Murphysboro Township High School as a coach and teacher in 1938 and built one of the state's biggest football powerhouses in history.
Mr. Bencini was inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1977. Murphysboro High School named its football field for Mr. Bencini in 1980.
From 1938-1957, Mr. Bencini's Red Devils posted an 82-12-8 record, finished unbeaten three times and dominated the Southwest Egyptian Conference by winning eight championships. His 1947 team finished unbeaten, untied — and unscored upon. It is believed to be the only Illinois high school football team ever to accomplish that feat.
Mr. Bencini also coached basketball at Murphysboro, and, even though it was not the sport in which he achieved his reputation, he still ranks as the winningest basketball coach in Red Devil history with 177 wins. His 1947 team advanced to the "Sweet 16" in Champaign.
Mr. Bencini spent one year at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale as an assistant football and basketball coach, and then finished his coaching career at University High School in Carbondale.
University High, never known as a strong athletic school, won the Black Diamond Conference football championship in 1965, capping Mr. Bencini’s 35-year coaching career. He finished with a 139-57-16 career record in football, having coached eight years at Biggsville before returning to Murphysboro.
Mr. Bencini, who lived at 1904 Herbert St. in Murphysboro, was born Aug. 28, 1907, to Edward L. and Marie Stewart Bencini. He married Bernice Downie Nov. 28, 1934, in Biggsville. She preceded him in death Nov. 29, 1976.
A brother, Stewart, and a sister, Esther, also preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Edward Larry Bencini of Roswell, N.M., and Stewart Bencini of Murphysboro, and two brothers, William K. Bencini of Murphysboro, and Rupert L. Bencini of Amarillo, Texas. His stepmother, Pauline Bencini of Murphysboro, also survives.
A graduate of Murphysboro Township High School in 1926, Mr. Bencini earned his B.A. degree in chemistry from Monmouth College in 1930. He later earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri, and did post-graduate work at SIU-C.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Murphysboro, was an Army veteran of World War II, a member of the Paul Stout Post 127 American Legion of Murphysboro, a member of the Elks Lodge 572 of Murphysboro, and a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Lutheran Church of Murphysboro. Burial will be in Tower Grove Cemetery in Murphysboro. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Saturday at Crawshaw Mortuary in Murphysboro, and after 1 p.m. Sunday until the hour of services at the First Lutheran Church.
Source: Southern Illinoisan, Thurs., May 28, 1981
-Obit provided by C. Ann Carruthers.
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