HR0024 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0024 LRB097 06384 KXB 46466 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize the 100th anniversary of the McLean County Boys High School Basketball Tournament; and

WHEREAS, The McLean County Boys High School Basketball Tournament is the oldest running basketball tournament in the State of Illinois; it has been an annual highlight over the years, with the exception of 1933; and

WHEREAS, The first tournament was held at the Bloomington YMCA and culminated in a Lexington High School victory over LeRoy; the tournament was originated by the McLean County Principals Association and was managed by Lloyd Eyer of the YMCA; and

WHEREAS, The tournament features all 13 schools in the Heart of Illinois Conference, including Blue Ridge, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Tri-Valley, Fieldcrest, El Paso-Gridley, Fisher, Flanagan, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Heyworth, LeRoy, Lexington, Ridgeview, and Tremont; and

WHEREAS, The McLean County Traveling Trophy is an important part of the tournament, created by former Pantagraph sportswriter Charlie Driver in the 1930s; the trophy symbolizes the passion of the game, the emotion of the sport, and the grand history of the Tournament; and

WHEREAS, The 2011 Tournament is the twelfth to be held at Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center after 23 years at the Fred Young Fieldhouse; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the many participants that will be on hand for the McLean County Boys High School Basketball Tournament on January 22, 2011 and hope the Tournament continues to entertain for years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the organizers of the McLean County Boys High School Basketball Tournament as a symbol of our respect and esteem.