We remember you: Longtime DTHS drama instructor, Magnavox & yearbook sponsor Joe Thornton, 90, dies
Stacks of freshly peeled Magnavox Polaroids, commas hand-sown onto the pages of "The Student Voice" and reviews of DTHS stage performances in the 1950s and 1960s ghosted under the name of old-time theater critic G.J. Nathan are the watermarks of two of Du Quoin's greatest educators--Joe and Betty Thornton.
Word has reached this community that Joe Thornton passed away Dec. 30 at his home in Lynchburg, Va. His wife, Betty, preceded him in death two years earlier.
Joe was a Du Quoin native and graduate of the University of Illinois. Betty Mc Connell was a Benton native and graduate of Southern Illinois University, with a background in speech and business. Both were as prolific on stage during summer theater as they were in front of it during the high school's productions.
They were the original high school sweethearts. Their marriage in Franklin County in late 1952 shortly after signing on as DTHS faculty members was perfect chemistry. Joe's teaching career was briefly interrupted by military service, but that service was a source of pride. He would go on to earn his Master's Degree from SIU.
Joe taught world history, Spanish and English. Betty taught speech, business and typing. The Thorntons were at the center of everything at the Du Quoin Township High School. Betty and Katherine Forester co-sponsored the Speech Club and the National Forensic League. Betty produced the fall and spring plays.
The ability to remember lines always helped get your foot in the door at what is now R.P. Hibbs Auditorium.
Betty had coached individual state speech champions before, preparatory to Du Quoin sharing the 1964 IHSA Illinois Speech sweepstakes title with Peoria Woodruff. Betty's direction of the one-act play "Mrs. Mc Thing" went a long way toward Du Quoin winning its first state sweepstakes title in the post-Hibbs era.
Joe sponsored both The Magnavox and The Flashlight.
Then, like now, they were award-winning projects. Staff members spent countless hours learning how to write and edit stories after school with stacks of hand-written first drafts nearby.
An old Polaroid was used to take photos of student life. As sponsor of the Spanish Club there were great parties with El Gordo and piñata-busting.
The Thorntons also staffed the ticket window of the Speech Club-sponsored concession stand during sporting events. Joe helped Betty with the logistics of her drama productions.
They were true partners. Most readers of the Magnavox never picked up on Joe's ghost-written reviews of his wife's plays.
The Thorntons were terrific teachers and dedicated sponsors.
Little-by-little the students who rode with the Thorntons to speech meets or put the Magnavox to bed Saturday mornings at the Call office picked up on what it took to succeed.
Principal R.P. Hibbs' and the Thorntons left DTHS in May 1966 as did Katherine Forester. Betty retired from Thornridge High School in May 1984 and Joe from Thornton Community College in May 1985. They returned to Du Quoin briefly, then fully retired to St. Simon's Island, Ga. and more recently Lynchburg, Va.