This blog is for posting all news of Rossville residents and Rossville High alumni. Bookmark this page and send any appropriate news (births, deaths, engagements, marriages, anniversaries, job changes, honors, etc.) items to: Frank.Ruff@juno.com .
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Maple Hill—Melba Jo Raine, 81, passed away Friday, December 11, 2020, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.
She was born July 11, 1939, in Maple Hill, the daughter of T. Vernon and Ruby E. Maes Adams. Melba Jo grew up in Maple Hill and graduated from Maple Hill High School.
Worth noting Led Rossville to fourth state championship and 13-0 record. ... Ran for 1,629 yards and 30 touchdowns this season and also threw for 1,447 yards and 25 touchdowns, directing offense that averaged 401.7 yards and 52.2 points per game. ... Accounted for all four touchdowns in 27-20 win over Hoisington in 2A title game, rushing for 169 yards and three TDs and throwing for 95 yards and TD. ... Also had key forced fumble and recovery in title game and finished season with 22 tackles. ... Had season-high 218 yards passing in semifinal win over Nemaha Central and season-best rushing effort was 182 vs. Mission Valley. ... Ran for 1,214 yards and 16 TDs and threw for 1,007 yards and 17 TDs as sophomore. ... Three-year starter on defense and has 100 career tackles. ... Younger brother of two-time All-Stater Tucker Horak.
Coach’s comment
“He’s so at ease with who he is that the comparison (to Tucker) isn’t even a concern,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “He has a confidence in his own ability and he does what he does for us very well. One of the traits I’ve talked about with him since his freshman year is he is mature beyond his years. He has great poise and is a smart, smart football player, and this year he understood he had a lot of complementary parts around him and he got them all involved. (In the title game) he was the best player on the field and he showed it on both sides of the ball.”
St. Marys--Jodeane (Irwin) Reese, 92, formally of St. Marys, passed away December 11, 2020, at Kelly House in Meriden. She was born April 27, 1928, in Clay Center, Kansas, the only child of Lester and Ruth (Ingalsbe) Irwin. She and her husband operated Reese's Market in St. Marys.
Offensive Player of the Year—Torrey Horak, jr., Rossville. Defensive Player of the Year—Darby Roper, sr., Haven. Coach of the Year—Drew Thalmann and Thomas Cooprider, Haven.
The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association has released their 321A rankings after the first week of competition. Rossville High senior Layne Hurla is ranked number one in the 138 lb. class. Sam Twombly is ranked number five in the 152 lb class
Maurice Hixon went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, at his home in Sikeston.
He was born in Willard, Kansas on Jan. 23, 1923. He later lived in Iola and Mo. No mention of where he went to school, but probably Iola. His obituary can be read at: