Today (Nov. 16) in 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state in America.

Marshall County once was home to as many 46 school districts and has only two in 2024. It is the only county in the state with only two schools districts. The rest of the counties contain more.

Madill has been a vital part of that history. It serves as the county seat in the smallest county of the 77.

Madill High School was established in 1909 and graduated the first class in 1911. 

Raymond Gary from Madill became governor of Oklahoma and served from 1955-59 in that capacity. The land on which the Baptist Home for Girls is situated was his land that he donated to them.

Madill High School sports has earned 16 team state titles through the decades of competition.

Madill’s girls cross country team can boast of the most. They won in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

The boys cross country team took three straight titles from from 2006-2008. The girls track club has taken gold in 1983, 1986 and 1988.

The wrestling squad was a back-to-back champ in 1992 and 1993 Click Here for article from The Oklahoman about wrestling titles The boys track team won state in 1964 and boys basketball won the crown in 1960.

Several athletes have achieved great success along the way. Howard Marsh of the 1916 football squad went on to play football at the University of Oklahoma, became team captain and was the only all-conference performer for the Sooners in 1922.

Bill Ayres was an all-state football player in 1945. He chose to play at Abiline Christian and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. 

Bob Muncrief was born in Madill and later won a World Series ring with Cleveland in 1948. Muncrief also pitched for the New York Yankees. 

George Stokes was an all-stater in football and basketball while helping the ‘Cats to the hoops crown in 1960. He picked to play football at OU under Bud Wilkinson. The Tulsa World named him the best athlete out of Madill in a 2003 article.

Cline Johnson went on from Madill track to become an All-American runner for OU.

Kristi Walkup set the then state mark in the girls 800-meter event at the state meet in 1988. She went on to run for Baylor.

Mike Matlack was a member of the most recent Madill baseball team to qualify for the state tournament in 1991. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Steve Elkins was part of that wrestling team that won consecutive crowns. He became only the eighth Oklahoma high school wrestler at the time to become a four-time state champ in 1995 while posting a 131-13 overall record. He wrestled at OU. 

Derek Hamilton was a member of the Southeastern Oklahoma State  baseball team that won the national championship in 2000.

Yesenia Avila was part of the national champion relay team for Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee in 2009.

Darryl Fields was an all-state football player in 2009 that signed with Southern Methodist and was named to the freshman All-American team. Darryl Fields eventually helped in the reboot of Oklahoma Baptist University that won its’ first game October 12, 2013 after not playing football since 1940. Darryl Fields had also won the Class 3A state title in the  200-meter and 400-meter run. 

Madill resident, attorney and philanthropist Dan Little established the world record as the oldest man to complete seven  marathons on seven continents in seven days.

*Click on names of  in this article for additional information specific to them

Photos

Top: Believed to be Madill Schools student body in 1914