HR1058

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Ray 
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Meyer, Hall of Fame basketball coach at DePaul University, on 
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Friday, March 17, 2006, at the age of 92; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ray Meyer was born on December 18, 1913, in 
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Chicago, the son of a candy wholesaler and the youngest of ten 
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children; he planned to be a priest but turned to sports after 
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starring in basketball at Chicago's Quigley Prep and St. 
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Patrick's Academy, where he was part of the 1932 Catholic high 
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school national championship team; he later accepted a 
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scholarship to play at Notre Dame, where he was co-captain of 
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the basketball team during his junior and senior years, and 
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where he also began his coaching career as an assistant coach; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Over the span of a 42-year career of dedication 
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and leadership at DePaul, Coach Meyer compiled a record of 724 
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wins and 354 losses, placing him fifth in career victories 
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among college basketball coaches; his coaching accomplishments 
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further included 37 winning seasons, 20 postseason 
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appearances, a 1945 National Invitational Tournament 
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championship, 13 trips to the NCAA tournament, including Final 
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Four appearances in 1943 and 1979, and 12 seasons with 20 or 
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more victories; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The true value of Ray Meyer's coaching skills was 
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evidenced not only by his ability to have young men succeed on 
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the basketball court, but also by his determination to instill 
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in them the strong personal and family values that would allow 
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them to succeed throughout their lives; and

 
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    WHEREAS, With the discovery of George Mikan, an unknown 
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6'10" student who had never even played high school basketball, 
 


 






HR1058
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LRB094 20022 HSS 57538 r




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Ray Meyer invented the role of the proverbial "big man", 
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thereby revolutionizing the sport into what it has become 
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today; and
 
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    WHEREAS, As  the result of his remarkable achievements and 
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contributions to the game, in February of 1979, Coach Meyer 
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joined John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, and Frank McGuire as the only 
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active coaches elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS,  Those who knew Coach Meyer appreciated the fact 
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that his passion for the game was only eclipsed by his 
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boundless love for his wife, Marge, for his sons, Tommy, Joey, 
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and Bobby, each having played for him at DePaul, and for his 
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daughters, Barbara and Patricia; and
 
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    WHEREAS, DePaul students today, and for generations to 
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come, will  continue to participate and thrive in campus 
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athletics at the Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center 
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located on a stretch of Belden Avenue, since renamed Ray Meyer 
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Drive; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The willingness of Coach Meyer to freely give of 
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himself to the community made him an ambassador, not only for 
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DePaul University, but for the game of college basketball and 
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the entire City of Chicago; 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 mourn the passing of Coach Ray Meyer, and we extend our 
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deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and 
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loved him; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to his family and to DePaul University as an 
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expression of our sincerest condolences.