I had lunch with a colonel — not my PHC colonel buddy — an Air Force colonel. He asked where I was from. When I told him I grew up in Centralia, he asked me, “Are you an orphan?” It suprised me. Not too many people know the Centralia High School mascot is the Orphan. For the record the girls team is the Orphan Annies. I kid you not.

Other Illinois towns have odd mascots for their teams. Here is a collection of my favorites: the Cobden Apple Knockers, the Freeport Pretzels and the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes.