Cathedral campus at Eighth Street and Eastman Avenue until 1959 (Illinois Glory Days)
Quick facts about Cathedral (later Griffin) High School (the link connects to much more school information on Illinois Glory Days, a website that chronicles more than 1,100 closed high schools throughout Illinois).
School opened as Cathedral: 1930
School name changed to Griffin: 1959
School closed: 1988
Now part of: Sacred Heart-Griffin High School
Team colors: Purple & Gold
School nickname: Cyclones
School song: “Make Griffin High Proud of You”
MAKE GRIFFIN HIGH PROUD OF YOU
IN EVERYTHING YOU SAY AND DO
MAKE GRIFFIN HIGH PROUD TO SAY
THAT YOU’RE A MAN A LEADER IN THE U.S.A.
AT GRIFFIN HIGH YOU ARE TAUGHT
TO WRITE YOUR NAME IN HISTORY
SO NOW ITS UP TO YOU
AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
TO MAKE GRIFFIN HIGH PROUD OF YOU
PURPLE AND GOLD YOU GIVE US STRENGTH!
RAH! RAH! RAH!
PURPLE AND GOLD YOU GIVE US HOPE!
RAH! RAH! RAH!
PURPLE AND GOLD YOU GIVE US FAITH!
GO! FIGHT! WIN!
GRIFFIN HIGH, GRIFFIN HIGH WILL ALWAYS WIN!
Note: SGHS Class of 1965 graduate Chuck Clark had this information to share about the Griffin HS fight song: “It was adapted from a 1950s’ song called Make America Proud of You by Jack Fulton. The original song is still in use by the Boy Scouts for ceremonial purposes.”
Thanks to Phil Shadid for directing us to Illinois Glory Days.
Original content copyright Sangamon County Historical Society. You are free to republish this content as long as credit is given to the Society.
My uncles were Griffin High classes of 1968 & 1970. My aunt and mom were Sacred Heart classes of 1964 & 1966. All four went to Cathedral, then the respective high schools. My grandmother was a graduate of Sacred Heart, class of 1939.
What was the name of the Catholic order of priests that were teachers
In 1960’s at Griffin High School? Thank you.
Mr. Haislar: They were the Clerics of St. Viator (“Viatorians,” for short).
This was the Cathedral song as published in their 1946 yearbook “The Cathedralogue”
…”Brave com-rades true, loyal defend-ers, hail to you! Go march-ing boldly on to vic-to-ry with our ban-ners float-ing free. Its gold and pur-ple hues will lead you, and spur you on to vic-t’ries new. Let’s give a cheer (rah team rah-rah) come muster your men and march on to vic-to-ry!”