HR0903 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0903 LRB101 22156 MST 73183 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lou Henson had a distinguished coaching career, especially at the University of Illinois, one of the premier universities in the world; and

WHEREAS, Beloved couple Lou Henson and his wife Mary were deeply involved in the Champaign-Urbana community and throughout the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson contributed a large amount of his time and resources to charities and organizations in the State; and

WHEREAS, As a result of nearly 800 wins as a college coach, of achieving Big 10 and Big West Championships, and of playing in two NCAA Final Four Championships with Illinois and New Mexico State, Lou Henson has been inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson is one the top 20 winningest college basketball coaches of all time; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson had basketball courts at both Illinois and New Mexico State named in his honor; he is one of two coaches ever to achieve that kind of recognition; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson coached one of the most exciting teams in the history of college basketball, the 1989 Flying Illini, which was comprised entirely of Illinois-born players who had graduated from high schools in Illinois, which included Chicago, Jacksonville, Aurora, Alton, and Matteson, among others; and

WHEREAS, In 1962, Lou Henson refused to accept the head coaching position at Hardin-Simmons University until the trustees agreed to desegregate the school, the basketball team, and the coaching staff, demonstrating leadership when it was not fashionable; and

WHEREAS, Upon Lou Henson's death, tributes from around the country from players, coaches, fans, and neighbors described him as a man of great faith, a man defined by patience, a man always willing to talk to a stranger, a man never given to swearing or demeaning his players, and a man who showed respect to everyone; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the life of Coach Lou Henson and recognize the contributions he made to the State of Illinois, and we support his nomination for inclusion in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Selection Committee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.