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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Mark Johnson on the 
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occasion of his retirement as wrestling coach at the University 
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of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mark Johnson is an alumnus of Alleman High School, 
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where he grappled to a high school national championship during 
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his senior year; he went on to the University of Michigan, 
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where he became a two-time All-American and two-time NCAA 
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runner-up at 177 pounds; as captain of the Wolverines, he 
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finished his college career with a 103-18-3 record; he earned 
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his bachelor's degree in education in 1977 and was a dean's 
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list student; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mark Johnson competed on the 1980 Olympic team and 
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on 15 U.S.A. Wrestling teams that competed throughout the 
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world, winning two U.S.A. Wrestling national championships; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mark Johnson began his coaching career at the 
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University of Iowa, where he worked as a graduate assistant 
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coach from 1978 to 1980; he then worked as a physical fitness 
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director and wrestling coach at the Boys Club in Sarasota, 
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Florida for two years; he then served as an assistant coach at 
 


 






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the University of Iowa under Dan Gable for eight years; while 
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at Iowa, he helped groom four NCAA championship teams, 17 
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national champions, 55 All-Americans, and eight Big Ten 
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championship squads; in 1986, he garnered NWCA Assistant Coach 
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of the Year accolades; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Following his stint at the University of Iowa, 
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Mark Johnson headed to Oregon State University, where he served 
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as the head coach from 1990 to 1992; as head coach, he led the 
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Beavers to the Pac-10 Championship in 1992, earning conference 
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Coach of the Year honors; in 1992, he headed to the University 
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of Illinois, where he remained until his retirement; and

 
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    WHEREAS, During Mark Johnson's tenure at the University of 
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Illinois, the UI wrestling team has had 17 straight winning 
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seasons and an overall record of 203-44-3; he has coached 45 
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All-Americans and seven individual national champions; in 
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2005, the team won the Big Ten championship for the first time 
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since 1952; in addition, Johnson was named the National 
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Wrestling Coaches Association's "Coach of the Year" in 1995 and 
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was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mark Johnson served as assistant coach for the 
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1988 Olympic freestyle team and head coach at the 1986 and 1991 
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Olympic Sports Festivals; he also is a USA Wrestling National 
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Coaching Staff member and a member of the Illinois Wrestling 
 


 






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Hall of Fame; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mark Johnson and his wife, Linda, have two 
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daughters, Tricia and Mackey; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Mark Johnson will serve 
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as chief executive officer of the Champaign County YMCA, where 
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his extraordinary talents will undoubtedly be utilized to their 
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fullest potential; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Mark Johnson on the occasion of his retirement and 
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wish him continued success and happiness in his future career; 
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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 Mark Johnson as a symbol of our esteem and 
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respect.