Pictured (left to right) is G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton, Dale Martin, Bill Maskill Jr., and Frank Cox at the Maskill Spring Bash May 3 held at the Augusta V.F.W.
Pictured at the Maskill Spring Bash May 3 is (left to right) Bill Maskill Jr., son of coach Bill Maskill, Billy Maskill’s wife Mary Helen Maskill, Jayne Maskill, daughter of the late G-A Coach Maskill, holding a bust of Coach Maskill, and Coach Maskill’s grandson Tim Fabry.
By Bruce Rolfe
Although Galesburg-Augusta High School hall of fame coach Bill Maskill passed away October 19, 2019, a tradition that started approximately 25 years ago continued May 3 at the annual Maskill Spring Bash at the Augusta V.F.W. Post 7956.
Former G-A longtime coach Ken Buelow started the tradition with a birthday party to celebrate Maskill’s birthday.
The birthday party snowballed into an event that was held every first Saturday in May, when hundreds of G-A graduates, current and former Ram coaches, family, friends, community members, and even some former opposing coaches would show up to Maskill’s home to share stories and reconnect.
The event was later called the Spring Bash.
There was a unique bond that existed between a beloved head coach and his former players, G-A graduates, community members, coaches, and friends.
The spring bash in 2020 was cancelled because of COVID.
Although Galesburg-Augusta High School hall of fame coach Bill Maskill passed away October 19, 2019, a tradition that started approximately 25 years ago continued May 3 at the annual Maskill Spring Bash at the Augusta V.F.W. Post 7956.
Former G-A longtime coach Ken Buelow started the tradition with a birthday party to celebrate Maskill’s birthday.
The birthday party snowballed into an event that was held every first Saturday in May, when hundreds of G-A graduates, current and former Ram coaches, family, friends, community members, and even some former opposing coaches would show up to Maskill’s home to share stories and reconnect.
The event was later called the Spring Bash.
There was a unique bond that existed between a beloved head coach and his former players, G-A graduates, community members, coaches, and friends.
The spring bash in 2020 was cancelled because of COVID.
Bill Maskill (middle) is pictured with his son Bill Maskill Jr. (left) and grandson Hunter Maskill at the last Spring Bash in 2019 the hall of fame coach hosted before he died.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
The family held a public memorial for Coach Maskill at an outdoor memorial in April, 2021 at the old Maskill Field after COVID prevented the family from having a memorial.
The family and friends felt it was important to continue the Spring Bash tradition to remember the popular G-A coach, as well as bring G-A graduates, coaches, family and friends back together again and the Spring Bash tradition continued the first Saturday of May, 2022.
The event has been held every first Saturday of May since.
At the May 3 Spring Bash a large number of family, friends, community members and G-A graduates gathered once again to remember the legendary G-A Hall of Fame coach and reconnect.
It was announced at the May 3 Spring Bash the Coach Maskill statue unveiling will be held before G-A’s varsity football game September 5 at the new Maskill Field. A tailgate party will be held before the unveiling. Details will be available later.
Custom bricks that surround the statue can still be purchased at polarengraving.com.
Kalamazoo sculpture artist Joshua Diedrich, who made the sculpture of Maskill, gave a brief explanation about the statue making process at the May 3 Spring Bash.
The family and friends felt it was important to continue the Spring Bash tradition to remember the popular G-A coach, as well as bring G-A graduates, coaches, family and friends back together again and the Spring Bash tradition continued the first Saturday of May, 2022.
The event has been held every first Saturday of May since.
At the May 3 Spring Bash a large number of family, friends, community members and G-A graduates gathered once again to remember the legendary G-A Hall of Fame coach and reconnect.
It was announced at the May 3 Spring Bash the Coach Maskill statue unveiling will be held before G-A’s varsity football game September 5 at the new Maskill Field. A tailgate party will be held before the unveiling. Details will be available later.
Custom bricks that surround the statue can still be purchased at polarengraving.com.
Kalamazoo sculpture artist Joshua Diedrich, who made the sculpture of Maskill, gave a brief explanation about the statue making process at the May 3 Spring Bash.
(Photo courtesy of Josh Diedrich)
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