HR0714

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of one of 
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the State's most distinguished, respected, and legendary high 
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school coaches, Mervin "Coach" Baker, of Charleston, who passed 
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away on October 17, 2009; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS,  Mervin Chester Baker was born in Landes on 
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September 25, 1917, a son of the late Martin and Estella (Shaw) 
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Baker; he married Rebecca Woolford on August 17, 1947 in 
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Arcola; he received his high school diploma from Buzzard Lab 
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School and earned his Bachelors, Masters, and Specialist 
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Degrees from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, He taught and coached in the Illinois communities 
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of Findlay, Bradley, and Dupo before returning to Charleston 
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where he taught and coached from 1953 until 1970; he continued 
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to teach in the school district until 1985 and in 1986 became 
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the Athletics Director, a position he held until 1995; and
 
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    WHEREAS, His memberships included the Charleston Athletic 
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Association, Illinois Athletic Directors Association, National 
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Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association, Illinois 
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Coaches Association, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, 
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and Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association, serving as 
 


 






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its President in 1956; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He was also one of the founders of organized youth 
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baseball in Charleston, assisting in the building and 
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maintaining of five baseball fields, organizing and directing 
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the Tiny Tots, Tee-Ball, and Minor League baseball programs for 
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twenty-five years, serving sixteen years on the City of 
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Charleston Recreational Board with ten years as its Chairman, 
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organizing and managing a sixteen team High School Basketball 
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Holiday Tournament at Eastern Illinois University for more than 
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thirteen years, and coordinating and directing two indoor track 
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meets at Eastern Illinois University every spring drawing 
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anywhere from 120 to 135 schools; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, His awards included the Illinois High School 
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Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Illinois Basketball 
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Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Eastern Illinois University 
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Hall of Fame, American Softball Association Hall of Fame, Class 
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"AA" Outstanding Athletic Director from the Illinois High 
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School Athletic Directors Association, the 1997 Citizen of the 
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Year presented by the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, and 
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the area's Sports Person of the Century; he was also the 
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recipient of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's 
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prestigious Buzzy O'Connor Award, and in addition, the 
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Charleston High School Gym and baseball field are named in his 
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honor; and
  
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; 
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his brother, Leo Baker; and his two sisters, Pauline Askins and 
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Marjorie Schnorf; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, He is survived by his children, Libby Murray and 
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husband Mike, Jan Baker, and Ken Baker and wife Sandy; his four 
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grandchildren, Matthew Schubert, Jonathan Schubert, Andrew 
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Schubert, and Jenny Baker-Sipes and husband John; his two 
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great-grandchildren, Anna Joy Sipes and Joshua John Baker 
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Sipes; his sister, Alberta Allen; and his nephews, Steve, Dave, 
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Marty, and Jim Schnorf and their families; 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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mourn, along with his family, friends, and many players over 
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the years, the passing of Coach Mervin Baker; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Coach Mervin Baker as a symbol of 
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our sincere sympathy.