LHS Class of 1930 alumnus remembered for accomplishments

• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.

In June 2008, Kathy Wilkinson was in the process of organizing a 95th birthday party for her dad. She knew that he had attended Libertyville High School, and had brought him back to his alma mater a few years before for a football game.

She told me that her father's eyes had just lit up at that game, and she remembered how happy he had been when they had visited. She was searching for a high school picture to use in decorating for the event and asked if I wouldn't mind looking for a 1930 yearbook and copying his senior picture for her.

What I found during that search reiterated in such an astounding way what I already knew about how special Libertyville High School is and how long lasting the memories made here can be.

In 1930 Libertyville Township High School had an enrollment of 340 students, and the Brainerd Building had just added, according to one of the yearbook contributors, "one of the finest gymnasiums in the state." The teaching staff was comprised of 18 men and women, all of whom had prior teaching experience.

The yearbook even mentions that when teachers move on, "an earnest effort is made to secure teachers with better training and more experience so that the general efficiency of the school may steadily improve." The senior class consisted of 57 students, one of whom was Mr. Alvin Sage.

When I found the page that held the senior picture of Alvin Sage, or "Sagey" as he was referred to in the 1930 yearbook, I found a young man whose short description was "Grit wins."

Alvin Sage had been involved in his high school experience. He had been a member of the football team, basketball team and track team for all four years. He had been a varsity member of those teams for three of those years. He had been the vice president of his junior class, a member of the Phy-Chem-Sci Club and a saxophone player in the band. Sagey, like so many of his classmates in 1930, had immersed himself in the high school experience and 78 years later his memories still brought a smile to his face.

In all, Alvin Sage's name or picture graced 17 pages of a 120-page book. I learned that he was voted Best Looking and Most Athletic, but was also referred to as "Bashful Sage." He was All-Conference and captain of his football team. On another page it was noted that his pole vault accomplishments had helped the school's team to walk "away with most of the credits" during track season. Finally, on Page 100, he was pictured in the band, his beloved saxophone in his hand, which, I might add, I found out from his daughter he played well into his golden years.

A life well-lived, a past well recounted and at the age of 95, those four years at Libertyville Township High School still meant something.

In this our centennial year at Libertyville High School, it is fun to look back at the things that have changed over the years, but more interesting to see those things that have stood the test of time. Today, our students are still very involved, our teachers are still extremely experienced and our esteemed high school is still creating boundless memories for all who walk these hallowed halls.