Dave Luechtefeld grew up on a dairy farm outside Okawville, Illinois, then used his 6 ft 7 in frame to earn a full sports scholarship to St. Louis University. He returned to Okawville to begin a very successful teaching and coaching career, especially in basketball, where his teams made multiple trips to the state finals. Dave taught for 33 years and coached the basketball team for 37 years. He also was the school's baseball coach and athletic director. He retired from teaching in 1993 while retaining his coaching job for several more years, and went on to have a successful career as an Illinois State Senator.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Turning Things Around
Abstract
Interview Session
Teaching and coaching career at Okawville High School
See Also
Senator Dave Luechtefeld's entire interview in the Illinois Statecraft-Legislators project
Photos
Caption
Coach Rich Herrin had his picture taken in the Okawville High School gym with the three Luechtefeld brothers, Dave, Stanley and Gerald, who all played on the Okawville High School’s 1958 basketball team.
Where:
Okawville, Illinois
When:
1958
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Okawville High School’s 1958 senior team, coached by Rich Herren, included Stan Luechtefeld (#24), Dave Luechtefeld (#44), Norman Vogt (#14), Herb Dingwerth (#32), Milton Froeste (#22) and Lloyd Karmeier (#42).
Where:
Okawville, Illinois
When:
1958
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
St. Louis University’s freshman basketball players in 1959 included, in front: George Latinovisch, Don Spencer and Tom Book. In back: Tom Kieffer, Dave Luechtefeld, Rich Sanders and Bart Basola.
Where:
St. Louis
When:
1959
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Gov. Richard Ogilvie with Okawville’s 1970 Team in Champaign. Gov. Richard Ogilvie with Okawville’s 1970 Team in Champaign. [L-R]: Asst. Coach Mike McClure, Cheryl McClure, Supt. Of Public Inst. Ray Page, Ogilvie, Gail Wolf, Flo Luechtefeld, Hadley Hasheider and coach Dave Luechtefeld.
Where:
Champaign, Illinois
When:
1970
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Coach Luechtefeld’s 1970 Okawville HS basketball team won their super-sectional at Carbondale, Illinois before finally losing to a much larger school. Standouts included #35 Jim Schrader, #53 Gail Wolf, #31 Bill Winkelman and #25 Hadley Hasheider.
Where:
Carbondale, Illinois
When:
1970
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Coach Luechtefeld’s 1987 basketball team celebrates after beating Pinkneyville in that year’s Sectional Tournament. They were eventually beaten in the championship game to win 2nd in the state. Dave’s son Jeff is the player leaning over.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1987
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Coach Luechtefeld’s 1987 baseball team got to play in St. Louis’s Busch Stadium, beating Breese six to two. Dave’s son Jeff is #16, and assistant coach Mike Smith is on the left. Luechtefeld knew Cardinals legends Whitey Herzog and Red Schoendienst.
Where:
St. Louis
When:
1987
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator