SR1364 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1364 LRB101 21998 ECR 73013 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Louis "Lou" Ray Henson, who passed away on July 25, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson was born to Joe Henson and Lora Faye Falconer Henson near Okay, Oklahoma on January 10, 1932; he played basketball at Okay High School, Connors State College, and New Mexico A&M; and

WHEREAS, Inspired by his coaches, Lou Henson pursued a career in coaching; after college, he served as graduate assistant to his mentor, Connors State College Basketball Coach Presley Askew, and was offered the "B" team coaching job and a mathematics teaching position at Las Cruces High after earning his master's degree; after two years, he became the head coach while still teaching multiple math classes; his LCHS teams won three consecutive New Mexico State High School Championships and a fourth year saw them in the quarterfinals; and

WHEREAS, In 1962, Hardin Simmons University (Division I at that time) in Abilene, Texas offered Lou Henson the head coach position; before accepting, he met with the school's board and explained that he would not accept the job until the school was integrated; the board met overnight and agreed to integrate, launching his college coaching career at age 30; achieving integration at Hardin Simons University was one of the proudest moments of his career; and

WHEREAS, After coaching and serving as athletic director at Hardin Simmons University for a few years, Lou Henson was offered the head coaching position at his alma mater, New Mexico State University; in their very first season, the Aggies drew national attention by twice defeating the defending NCAA champions, Texas Western (UTEP), as well as the third-ranked New Mexico Lobos; within two years, he assumed the role of athletic director in addition to the head basketball job; he managed both jobs while playing a key role in the construction of the Pan American Center, a 13,000-seat multipurpose arena; in 1970, he led the Aggies to the Final Four, finishing third after being defeated by defending champions UCLA; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson began coaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1975; he retired from the University of Illinois in 1996 as the school's most successful coach with 423 victories in 21 seasons; his vision to rebuild the Illinois program was made possible through the hard work and dedication of his assistant coaches, Dick Nagy, Jimmy Collins, and Mark Coomes; returning the Illinois basketball program to prominence culminated with the 1989 Final Four Flyin' Illini; many believe that this team would have won the national title had it not been for player injuries during the tournament; the Flyin' Illini were considered one of the most entertaining teams in collegiate basketball history and captured the hearts of Illini Nation and basketball fans everywhere; and

WHEREAS, In the fall of 1997, Lou Henson once again assumed leadership of the New Mexico State University basketball program; at his request, New Mexico State paid him only one dollar per month to coach the Aggies; he coached at NMSU for the next six years, after initially securing his wife Mary's approval to coach for "only six months"; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, Lou Henson was diagnosed with stage four cancer; aggressive treatment was started, and although his cancer was in remission, one year later he contracted viral encephalitis; he was determined to return to the court, even if he had to coach from his wheelchair; the day before he was scheduled to take the court again, he was hospitalized with pneumonia, which ultimately ended his coaching career; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson kept physically active by swimming, lifting weights, and walking; he enjoyed playing bridge, both at home and at the local bridge center, gin, and checkers; as his health declined, he remained a fierce competitor; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Louis Ray Henson Jr.; and his siblings, Alma, Bill, Jimmy Joe, J.D., and Donald; and

WHEREAS, Lou Henson is survived by his wife, Mary Catherine Brantner Henson; his three daughters, Lori Jo Henson, Lisa Rose (John) Rutter, and Leigh Anne (Coit) Edison; his siblings, Rose and Kenneth; his 12 grandchildren; his seven great-grandchildren; and his numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Louis "Lou" Ray Henson and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lou Henson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.