Sunday is the 96th anniversary of the birth of former University of Illinois Whiz Kids star Ken Menke. Born in East Dundee on Oct. 2, 1922, he was a multi-sport star at Dundee High School.
Illini coach Doug Mills lured him to play for the Orange and Blue, with whom the 6-foot-3 Menke teamed with Gene Vance, Art Mathisen Andy Phillip and Jack Smiley to form one of Illinois’ greatest teams.
The Whiz Kids won back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles in 1942 and ’43. As a sophomore in ’42, Menke was second to Phillip in scoring and 10th in the conference, and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.