HR0495 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0495 LRB101 13795 MST 62652 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Tim Kratochvil on being elected to the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Athletic Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Tim Kratochvil, a Mt. Olive native, was all-conference in football, basketball, and baseball while in high school; he was named all-state in baseball twice and all-conference four times; he was selected to the Mazuno All American Team in 1992 and was named by USA Today as one of the top 22 catchers in high school baseball at the time; and

WHEREAS, While finishing up his high school baseball career, Tim Kratochvil was highly recruited and signed with Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1992; and

WHEREAS, As a promising college freshmen, Tim Kratochvil was able to win the starting catcher's job and opened the season with a home run in his first game against nationally-ranked Oklahoma State University; and

WHEREAS, Tim Kratochvil was named one of the best catchers in SIUC history after being named First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 1994 and 1995; he finished fourth in career home runs with 24 and second in RBI with 163 and set a school record with 51 career doubles; and

WHEREAS, During his time at SIUC, Tim Kratochvil was named MVP twice, was a two-time NCAA All-Region Team member, and won the 1996 Abe Martin Award, which is awarded to a Salukis baseball player that exemplifies honesty, leadership, excellence, dedication, and loyalty; and

WHEREAS, After college, Tim Kratochvil played two seasons in the Boston Red Sox minor league system, where he hit over .300 with the Lowell, Massachusetts Class A team prior to retiring and returning home to Illinois to begin a career in education; and

WHEREAS, Upon retirement from the game he loves, Tim Kratochvil began working as a teacher and a coach and is now the principal of Pawnee Junior and Senior High School; and

WHEREAS, Tim Kratochvil enjoys woodworking, watching sports, and spending time with his family, especially his children, Jack, Luke, and Olivia; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Tim Kratochvil on being elected to the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Athletic Hall of Fame; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Tim Kratochvil as an expression of our esteem and respect.