HR0725

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, In the fall of 1957, a group of young men stepped 
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onto the fields at Eisenhower and MacArthur High Schools, for 
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the very first football practice under the direction of 
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legendary coaches John Alexander and Bob Matheson; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Despite several injuries on the first Eisenhower 
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Panthers football team, the team was able to finish with a 
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record 2 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie in their first season under 
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Coach Alexander, who would  go on to win another 103 games in 
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his 25-year career at Eisenhower High School; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The first MacArthur Generals football team under 
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Coach Matheson finished zero and 7 in their opening season, but 
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Coach Matheson would go on to build a winning program that 
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posted 73 victories in an illustrious 17-year career at 
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MacArthur High School; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The two schools have met on the football field 48 
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times, with the overall record of 31-17, in favor of the 
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MacArthur Generals; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Throughout the past 50 years, thousands of young 
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men have played football for MacArthur and Eisenhower and have 
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participated in a rivalry that divides the loyalties of friends 
 


 






HR0725
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and family and highlights both schools' tradition of producing 
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student athletes of the highest caliber; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Eisenhower Panthers, led by Head Coach Don 
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Flowers, and the MacArthur Generals, led by Head Coach Derek 
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Spates, will meet on September 21, 2007 on the football field 
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at Eisenhower High School to renew their storied rivalry and 
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pay tribute to the coaches and players that have come before 
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them; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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commemorate the 50th anniversary of the football feud between 
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the Eisenhower Panthers and the MacArthur Generals and wish 
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both teams the best of luck in future seasons; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to Eisenhower Panthers Head Coach Don Flowers and 
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MacArthur Generals Head Coach Derek Spates as a symbol of our 
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esteem and respect.