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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of George Winfield Latham of Waukegan, who
4passed away on August 19, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, George Latham was born in Galatia on August 24,
61913 to Finis M. and Maud B. (nee Bennett) Latham; at the age
7of 4, his family moved to Montana, where he rode a horse to
8school and developed a love of animals and the outdoors; he
9became a multi-sport athlete at high school in Livingston,
10Montana; he graduated from Illinois State University, where he
11played varsity football and junior varsity basketball; he
12received his Masters in Education from the University of
13Illinois and completed post-graduate work in administration
14from Northern Illinois University; he married Josephine "Jo"
15Pruett in Staunton on June 7, 1940; and
 
16    WHEREAS, As a basketball coach, George Latham compiled a
17383-180 record during his 20-year career at 4 Illinois high
18schools, including a 250-80 record while coaching Quincy High
19School from 1945 to 1956; he was the winningest coach in school
20history when he left Quincy High School in 1956; he took 8
21Quincy High School teams to the State finals (1946, 1948, 1950,
221951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956) and his Blue Devils placed 3rd in
23State in 1951 and 2nd in 1952, losing in overtime to Hebron; he

 

 

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1moved to Waukegan in 1956, where he served as a division
2chairman, principal of Waukegan East High School, assistant
3superintendent, and interim superintendent of Waukegan Public
4School District 60 until he retired in 1980; and
 
5    WHEREAS, George Latham served as President of the Illinois
6High School Coaches Association; he was awarded the Illinois
7State University Alumni Award in 1952; he was inducted into the
8Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1957, the Illinois
9Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1973, and the
10Quincy High School Hall of Fame in 1985; he served as a member
11of the Chicago Daily News All State Basketball Board from 1945
12to 1956; he was an active member of the Suburban League
13Principals' Association and was involved with the National
14Association of Secondary School Principals; he also served as
15President of the Lake County Retired Teachers Association; and
 
16    WHEREAS, George Latham was preceded in death by his wife,
17Jo; his parents; his 2 brothers, Walter Latham and Otis Latham;
18and his sister, Helen Jones; and
 
19    WHEREAS, George Latham is survived by his 2 children,
20George "Tony" (Lennis Mary) Latham and Susan Filippo; his 6
21grandchildren; his 3 great-grandchildren; his nephew; and his 4
22nieces; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3George Winfield Latham, and extend our sincere condolences to
4his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of George Latham as an expression of
8our deepest sympathy.