Eldon L. 'Spike' Hillstrom Class of 1953
Spike went to Harding Grade School , Marshfield Junior High, and Marshfield High School .
He played football for Pete Susick.
Spike Played basketball at Marshfield Jr. High School under Bruce Hoffine.
Spike accepted a football scholarship to University of Oregon and played guard and linebacker. Was named All Northern Division Junior and Senior Years. Graduated 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education.
Career & Family
1957 – 1958 Grants Pass Freshman Football (Mel Ingram Varsity Coach): taught Geography.
1958 – 1959 North Salem High School Offensive Line coach: Assist. basketball coach: taught US History and Government.
1959 – 1960 Appointed Head Football coach after 3rd game due to illness of Head Coach Mel Fox Played for State Championship; lost to David Douglas
1960-1961 Record of 7-2 Lost coin-flip for play-offs (only year to miss)
1961 - 1962 Won District, lost to Beaverton in the quarterfinals
1962 – 1963 Won District, lost to Medford in the quarterfinals
1963 – 1964 Won District, tied Grant in the State Championship 7-7. Assistant coach Shrine Game 1963, Head coach Shrine Game 1964 (first coach to have been a previous player in the Shrine Game).
1965 - 1976 Accepted position as offensive line coach United State Air Force Academy (Ben Martin Head Coach), Sugar Bowl 1971, Recruited for AFA in Oregon , Northern, CA., Washington and Idaho . Set up numerous football clinics in these areas.
In 1976 Spike started a new career in the restaurant business. After 25 years, he sold the business to his son. Spike’s wife is Sherry (Thaxton, MHS 1953), is a professional artist and they have been married 49 years. Together they raised Kellie, a buyer for boutique, Michael, a teacher and football coach at Air Academy HS and Jeffrey, owner of The Mission Inn Restaurant. Spike is retired and lives in Colorado Springs , CO .
He played football for Pete Susick.
- Sophomore year :played in State Championship game against Grant HS and was named 3rd team All State .
- Junior Year: played fullback and linebacker, Pirates won district and lost to Grants Pass in quarterfinals. Grants Pass won that year.
- Senior year was All-District, All-State and All American: Wigwam Wise Men of America. Selected to play in Shrine Game.
Spike Played basketball at Marshfield Jr. High School under Bruce Hoffine.
- Played basketball under Bill Borcher 1950-51 and Hoffine 1952-53.
- Played in the state tournament all 4 years.
- The team won state championship in 1953 (senior year). Lost only three games in four years in the state tournament.
- Lettered all four years and was All District junior and senior years. Listed on Bill Borcher’s “Top 10 Players of MHS”.
Spike accepted a football scholarship to University of Oregon and played guard and linebacker. Was named All Northern Division Junior and Senior Years. Graduated 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education.
Career & Family
1957 – 1958 Grants Pass Freshman Football (Mel Ingram Varsity Coach): taught Geography.
1958 – 1959 North Salem High School Offensive Line coach: Assist. basketball coach: taught US History and Government.
1959 – 1960 Appointed Head Football coach after 3rd game due to illness of Head Coach Mel Fox Played for State Championship; lost to David Douglas
1960-1961 Record of 7-2 Lost coin-flip for play-offs (only year to miss)
1961 - 1962 Won District, lost to Beaverton in the quarterfinals
1962 – 1963 Won District, lost to Medford in the quarterfinals
1963 – 1964 Won District, tied Grant in the State Championship 7-7. Assistant coach Shrine Game 1963, Head coach Shrine Game 1964 (first coach to have been a previous player in the Shrine Game).
1965 - 1976 Accepted position as offensive line coach United State Air Force Academy (Ben Martin Head Coach), Sugar Bowl 1971, Recruited for AFA in Oregon , Northern, CA., Washington and Idaho . Set up numerous football clinics in these areas.
In 1976 Spike started a new career in the restaurant business. After 25 years, he sold the business to his son. Spike’s wife is Sherry (Thaxton, MHS 1953), is a professional artist and they have been married 49 years. Together they raised Kellie, a buyer for boutique, Michael, a teacher and football coach at Air Academy HS and Jeffrey, owner of The Mission Inn Restaurant. Spike is retired and lives in Colorado Springs , CO .
