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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives have learned with profound sadness of the 
4passing of Daniel "Coach Cal" Callahan; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Coach Cal's death at the age of 52 came  much too 
6soon after a battle with cancer  described by those who watched 
7as "courageous" and "inspirational"; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Coach Cal carved a career of excellence that 
9stretched from the youth   and high school baseball diamonds of 
10Springfield to the coach boxes of Lanphier and Springfield High 
11Schools  to  the campuses of Eastern Illinois University and 
12Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Coach Cal 
14grew to be a person who mentored thousands, steered more than 
1520 players into the Major League Baseball draft, and became  the 
16second most victorious skipper  at SIU-C; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, While Coach Cal's on-field accomplishments are 
18notable, it is his contributions to the student athletes who 
19remember his efforts as that of "a second dad" or 
20"life-changing" or "something to be never forgotten" that will 
21be most cherished; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Coach Cal's final years, which could have seen him 
2shielding himself from the public eye while battling the 
3ravages of his disease, were spent rejecting "excuses" and 
4placing his family, players, and community first; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The  members of the Illinois House of 
6Representatives join Coach Cal's family, friends, and  fans to 
7mourn his passing and recall that Coach Cal will be forever 
8remembered as a leader, standing at the edge of the dugout at 
9Abe Martin Field  encouraging extra effort and comforting the 
10near misses; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
13mourn the passing of Daniel "Coach Cal" Callahan and  remember 
14him fondly for his contributions to the State of Illinois in 
15making it a better place to live; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies  of this resolution be 
17presented to Coach Cal's wife, Stacy; his daughters, Alexa and 
18Carly; and his parents, Ann and Gene.