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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives offer our sincere congratulations to Coach Joe 
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Newton on his 75th birthday and on his many years of success; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, Joe Newton is one of the most talented and 
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successful cross country and track coaches in history; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Coach Newton's love for the sport began as a 
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student at Parker High School on Chicago's South Side, where he 
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was named a High School All-American and won 12 major letters; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, His running career continued as a sprinter at 
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Northwestern University where he received his Bachelor of 
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Science degree in 1951 and his Master of Arts degree in 1952; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, He answered the call to serve his country as a 
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member of the United States Army; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Prior to beginning his high school coaching 
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career, Coach Newton was the Head Track Coach at Ft. Leonard 
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Wood, Missouri, where he coached three Olympic runners; and
 

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    WHEREAS, His coaching career as member of the York 
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Community High School family began in 1956; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Coach Newton has lead the York Community High 
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School Dukes to an unprecedented 24 State Championship Titles 
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and 19 National Cross Country Championships; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Northern Illinois Track Coaches Association 
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has named Coach Newton the High School Cross Country Coach of 
 


 






HR0811
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the Year 16 times in addition to being named the Illinois High 
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School Coaches Association's Coach of the Year 15 times; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The success and leadership of Coach Newton was 
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recognized when he became the first high school coach to be 
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selected to represent our country as an Olympic Coach for the 
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United States Track and Field Team in 1988 at Seoul, Korea; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The National High School Athletic Coaches 
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Association Hall of Fame, the United States Track Coaches 
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Association Hall of Fame, the Northwestern University Hall of 
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Fame, the United States Track and Field Federation Hall of 
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Fame, the Northern Illinois Track and Cross Country Association 
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Hall of Fame, and the Gatorade Coaches Hall of Fame have all 
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bestowed upon Coach Newton the honor of being an inductee; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Coach Newton touches the lives of runners and 
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coaches across the nation as a gifted author and motivational 
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speaker; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Coach Newton's dynamic, energetic, and zealous 
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devotion to his students has taught us the true definition of a 
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champion; and
 

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    WHEREAS, He has touched the lives of countless young 
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athletes and taught them to achieve greatness both on and off 
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the field; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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do hereby offer our congratulations to Coach Joe Newton on the 
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occasion of his 75th birthday and on his many years of success; 
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and be it further
 

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    RESOLVED,That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Coach Joe Newton and his family.