The abrupt resignation of Central High School’s basketball coach, Glen Bretz, ignited a student walkout on April 5, 1947, that gained national attention. Although Coach Bretz had recently led his team to a 25-2 season, he stepped down from his position after a dispute with Evansville’s school board. After hearing the news, hordes of students marched to Main Street, where they are pictured here in the 200 block. Some of them headed to City Hall to demand the resignation of school board members, while others walked to the coach’s house in a show of support. On the next day, students from Bosse, Reitz, and Mechanical Arts schools joined the demonstration. Within a week, Bretz returned to Central, where he coached for another year.Â
