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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate and celebrate Coach Dan
4Rourke on the occasion of his retirement as head football coach
5at Glenwood High School in Chatham; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In 1993, Dan Rourke was in the midst of his 12th
7year teaching and coaching football in Plano, Texas; he earned
8his master's degree in 1992 from Texas A&M - Commerce and was
9seeking a head coaching and administrative job in Texas; things
10quickly changed when his uncle, John Rourke of Chatham, was
11diagnosed with cancer; Dan made the decision, after consulting
12with his wife Julie, to move back to Chatham and spend time
13with his uncle; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Principal Mike Collins, assistant principal Chuck
15Hoots, and Superintendent Don Kauerauf among others were
16instrumental in Dan Rourke's hiring at Glenwood High School; he
17promised to bring a competitive team to Glenwood within 5
18years; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In 1993, Dan Rourke arrived in the inaugural
20season of the Central State Eight Conference; he retained
21assistant coach Steve Cox and started building a staff whose
22core would stay mostly intact during his tenure; he got word

 

 

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1that Len Onken was interested in getting back into coaching
2and, after a phone call was made, Onken was immediately
3installed as a defensive coordinator; he also sought commitment
4of the administration, and Superintendent Kauerauf and
5Principal Collins were instrumental in getting additional
6coaches added to the staff; and
 
7    WHEREAS, During Dan Rourke's second season, he brought in
8Mike Janke and David Hay; during his third year, he brought in
9Vondel Edgar; all 3 remain on the coaching staff at Glenwood
10today; and
 
11    WHEREAS, There have been numerous assistant coaches over
12the years at Glenwood during the Dan Rourke era, including Mike
13McGiles, Dan Sheedy, John Hyde, Josh Crossland, Jared Bruner,
14Keith Moomey, Trevor Lehnen, and Caleb Cox, to name a few; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dan Rourke kept his promise to bring a competitive
16team to Glenwood High School; in just 5 years, Glenwood won the
17Class 4A State title with a perfect 14-0 record; his teams went
18on to make 18 playoff appearances in 23 years; Glenwood High
19School was also the runner-up in Class 5A in 2010 and the
20program qualified for the State quarterfinals in 1997, 2003,
212004, 2011, and 2012; and
 
22    WHEREAS, After 35 years coaching football, with the last 23

 

 

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1as a head coach in the same place, Dan Rourke believes it is
2time to give someone new a shot to get some new blood in there,
3shake things up, light it up, and do things a bit different
4that he may not have thought of; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dan Rourke serves as an example of hard work,
6passion, and dedication; his work throughout his career has
7benefited the entire Chatham-Glenwood community; therefore, be
8it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11thank and congratulate Dan Rourke for his many years of service
12and wish him all the best in his future endeavors; and be it
13further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to Dan Rourke as an expression of our congratulations
16and appreciation for a job well done.