If anyone has a recording or is willing to make a recording or midi version of the School Song, please contact me. Kevin
Toulon High School Song |
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Toulon High School had three different official school songs. First was "The Scarlet and The Black," which was replaced by a second unknown title. The third song, "Trojan March" was originally longer than the version later sung. From the Stark County News, Wed., April 24, 1940
: Certificate of copyright registered from the Library of Congress for the "Trojan March," official song of Toulon Township High School, was received
this morning according to Superintendent A.R. Wetzel. Words and music
written by Robert A. Leigh in 1937 and the song was first sung at
commencement that year, with arrangements being worked out for all band
instruments later for its adoption as the official school song.
Copyright is in the name of Robert A. Leigh and Toulon Township High
School.
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The reason a fight song was written is
because the original five teams of the Blackhawk Conference which was formed in 1933 were known as Toulon, Wyoming, Galva,
Bradford, Wethersfield without any team names. In 1937, the five members decided each
team needed a name (ie., Toulon Trojans, Bradford Panthers, etc). The student body
in 1937 voted and we became the Trojans. Hence, Robert Leigh wrote the song for the new
name. He is a graduate of TTHS Class of 1937.
I asked my 92-year-old mother about him and she said that the Leighs lived in West Jersey township south of her home (Carters) and 3/4 of a mile west. Robert was the youngest of five children with sisters Ruth, Lena, Ethel, Evelyn, and brother Milan. His parents were Bert and Edith Brian Leigh (pronounced Lee). Milan was killed at age 14 years in a horse and rack accident. Robert, my Mom remembers, had red hair. She said that one day when Robert was in his early twenties his family found him walking up the road. They asked him where he going and he replied "Going to New York." His family realized he had a mental disorder (he was never criminally insane as one forum entry said) and sought out a place (unknown) for him to stay. Evelyn, his sister, was the only one of his family that was good to him. She sent money for him to buy extras. He was ignored by the rest of the family due to stigmatization. My mom worked at the Galesburg Research Hospital from 1967-79 and saw him a few times. At one juncture, the staff thought he was being beaten up by other residents because he had numerous bruises and cuts and scrapes. Eventually they found out he was having seizures and was falling down which attributed to his physical damage. Mom also remembers him as being extremely intelligent. Sometime later there were modifications done to the words, because I learned the "revised" version. For one, the entire 1st verse was dropped and I suppose that was because it applied to football only. Two, 3rd verse 4th word was changed from "today"' to I believe "tonight," because the football games were daytime events until they got lights at all the school's football fields. Classes were dismissed around 1:30 or 2:00 to compensate for the daytime games and especially in October when there was less daylight. Also basketball games were at night by then. Just my theory for the changes. So, now you know. John A. Ballentine T.T.H.S. Class of 1970 |