Hall of Fame Inductee - Kyle Cartmill

1995 QHS graduate, Boys Basketball

If ever someone was destined to be a Blue Devil, it was Kyle Cartmill. He dressed up as a Blue Devil for Halloween as a kid, and in his biography for the media guide while playing at Illinois State University, Cartmill finished the phrase, “As a kid, when I grew up, I wanted to be ...” with “The Blue Devil.” Well, he never stood at center court holding the pitchfork. He simply took center stage. In a fouryear career spanning 1991-95, Cartmill scored 1,572 points, which ranks fifth in QHS history, and set a school record with 127 3-pointers made. He led the 1994-95 Quincy team to a xx-xx record and super-sectional appearance. Cartmill earned first-team all-state honors from the Champaign News-Gazette as a senior when he averaged 21.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. It drew recruiting interest from schools nationwide, but he ended up signing with Illinois State. A four-year letterwinner at ISU, Cartmill played on two teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament. In 1998, the Redbirds upset Tennessee xx-xx in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament with Cartmill delivering the game-winning assist. He was named to the 1998 Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team and co-captain of the 1998-99 ISU team. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice and currently works for the State Farm Insurance auto underwriting team in Dallas, Texas. He and his wife, Joi, have one daughter, Mayson.

Acceptance Speech

"First, giving honor to God for granting me the ability and the opportunity to play the game of basketball at the level I have played and in the city that I played in. It is with great honor that I accept this nomination for induction into the Quincy Blue Devil Hall of Fame. Growing up playing basketball in the city of Quincy is one of the most memorable moments of my life. After my days at QHS were over, I truly began to realize how special the Blue Devil basketball program is. There are very few high schools in the nation that can make the transition to a Division I basketball program feel like a step down. Quincy Blue Devil basketball is a first-class program. Being a Blue Devil was a dream of mine from the age of 3, and I worked each day dreaming that one day I would get to high-five the Blue Devil at center court. I would like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee for this honor. I would like to thank several people. My parents, Cheri Cartmill and Albert Cartmill Jr., for being loving and supportive, helping mold me into the person I am today and for making the many basketball courts out of whatever was around to allow me to turn our home into a gym. My sister, Shalyn, for being my greatest competition, my best friend and being there to share in the good times and the time that were not as good. My grandparents, Lillian “Granny” Alyston, for always being there for me, even when times were rough, and Albert Cartmill Sr. for being the greatest “Gramps” a young man could ever have. Grandma Dottie Cartmill for all her support. Stacey and Dwayne Wells and family, you’re like a second immediate family. Gay and Richard Allen and family, Gary and Janet Cartmill and family, Marilyn and Lonnie Wilkerson, Greg and Tamara Cartmill and family, Alfred and Rose Cartmill and Jennifer Johnson, you all traveled many miles to support me and the Blue Devils even though most of you do not live in Quincy. I am also thankful to my late grandmothers, Lucille Aytson and Betty Cartmill. I love and miss them both for they were two pillars of my family that set strong foundations. An extra special thanks to the Daniels: Joe, Ruth, Bill, Dave and Jane, I could not begin to thank you enough! The friends of QHS basketball, I love you all dearly. I’d like to thank the city of Quincy for supporting the Blue Devil program and making Blue Devil Gym the most amazing gym in the country to play in. Last, but certainly not least, Coach Loren and Barb Wallace along with Coach Jeff Wallace and family. You guys hold a very special place in my heart. You pushed me to be the best, helped me to see things in myself that I did not know was there and made sure that I received every opportunity to maximize my potential as an athlete and a person. I would like to share this honor with all my family, friends, teammates and coaches throughout the years. You all have been very special to me. I thank you all. On behalf of myself, my loving wife, Joi, and my beautiful daughter, Mayson, I would once again like to say thank you for this tremendous honor."