Morgan County Profiles

Glenn M. Curtis

     When Martinsville had its golden era of high school basketball, a county native Glenn M. Curtis was at the helm. The lifetime coaching won-lost record of Curtis perhaps signals his success: 663 wins and 187 loses, or a percentage of 77.8. Receiving his education at Eminence High School, Curtis became first a coach at Lebanon from 1916-1918, winning his first State Championship in that final year. He then, for only a of half a school term coached at Mooresville for 9 or 10 games before landing in the Artesian City. That development made a generation of fans happy.
     At Martinsville he became, with his teams, nearly legendary. The Artesians, under his tutelage, won 396 games and lost 139. They won, in the period 1919-1938, 16 sectionals and 14 regionals. In a period that included the stardom days of Johnny Wooden, the Artesians won State titles in 1924, 1927, and 1933, with Wooden the headliner in 1927. In four out of five years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928, they were in the state championship game.
     Glenn also coached at Indiana State in the college ranks, and as a pro, with the Indianapolis Kautsky Team. Returning to the scenes of glory at Martinsville, he became Superintendent of Schools from 1948-55, and passed away in 1958.

By Ken Griffin

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