HR0736

LRB094 15096 DRJ 50264 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of 
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Illinois is pleased to congratulate Joe Plaskas on the occasion 
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of his induction into Northern Illinois University's Athletics 
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Hall of Fame; Plaskas was one of four individuals so honored 
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this year as part of the NIU Huskies' gala 99th Homecoming 
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observance; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Joe Plaskas earned eight NIU letters in two sports -
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 football (1956-59) and baseball (1957 and 1959-61); he also 
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earned First-Team All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic 
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Conference honors in both sports; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On the gridiron for Hall-of-Fame coach Howard 
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Fletcher, Joe Plaskas led the Huskies in rushing twice (511 
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yards in 1958 and 698 yards in 1959), scoring (36 points in 
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1958), and passing (154 yards in 1956); in his final football 
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campaign when the Huskies went 7-2 and finished second in the 
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IIAC, as a fullback, he was one of three players who earned 
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National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-America 
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honors; Joe also made First-Team All-IIAC, and he was named to 
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the Fourth-Team Peoria Journal Star All-State team in 1959; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Currently ranked No. 22 on the all-time NIU 
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rushing list with 1,315 career yards, 6-foot, 195-pound Joe 
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Plaskas not only rewrote the same school record set by 
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Hall-of-Famer Bob Brigham (1,221 yards in 1947-49) but held 
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that standard for five more seasons; according to 1959 team 
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quarterback and co-captain Lew Flinn, "the guy who made things 
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go was Joe with his great blocking"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On the baseball diamond in 1959, Joe Plaskas led 
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the league in batting with a .455 average (20-of-44) as a 
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sophomore and actually won First-Team All-IIAC as a pitcher; 
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and

 
 


 






HR0736
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LRB094 15096 DRJ 50264 r




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    WHEREAS, As a prep, Joe Plaskas lettered in football (3) 
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and baseball (3) at Oswego High School; a long-time football 
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and baseball coach at Barrington High School, he was inducted 
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into the Barrington and Oswego halls of fame; as a three-time 
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Hall-of-Famer, Joe serves as a tremendous role model for 
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current student-athletes at NIU, Barrington, and Oswego; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate Joe Plaskas on his induction into Northern 
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Illinois University's Athletics Hall of Fame; and be it further

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