093_SR0069

 
                                     LRB093 11134 HSS 11942 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Ernie "Coach"
 4    Kivisto on Wednesday, February 5, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS, Coach Kivisto was a member of the elite group of
 6    basketball coaches in America to win 1,000 high school games;
 7    he  coached at East Aurora High School for 15 years; in those
 8    15 years, he had a record of 309 wins and 94  losses  with  a
 9    fourth  place  (1969)  and a third place (1972) finish in the
10    State tournament; he was awarded National Coach of  the  Year
11    in  1979  by  the  IBCA  and  was  a  member  of the Illinois
12    Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame; and

13        WHEREAS,  He  will  be  remembered  for   revolutionizing
14    basketball  in  the  Fox  Valley with his end-to-end pressure
15    defense and nearly a shot-a-second  offense;  he  coined  the
16    12-7-4  basketball  theory,  meaning  12 months a year, seven
17    days a week, and four hours a day; and

18        WHEREAS, In addition to  his  regular  basketball  camps,
19    Coach   Kivisto  held  basketball  camps  for  children  with
20    disabilities; he worked with  children  with  Down  Syndrome,
21    mental disabilities, and physical disabilities; and

22        WHEREAS,  The  passing  of  Ernie Kivisto has been deeply
23    felt by many, especially his wife, Jane Ann Maccani  Kivisto;
24    his  sons,  Ernie Jr., Bob, and Tom; and his daughter, Kathy;
25    therefore, be it

26        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
27    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATE  OF ILLINOIS, that together with his
28    friends, family, and former students, we mourn the passing of
29    Ernie "Coach" Kivisto, a man who will be remembered  for  his
30    enthusiasm,  a  special  gift  he  shared with all; and be it
31    further
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11134 HSS 11942 r
 1        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 2    presented  to  the  family  of  Ernie  Kivisto  as a token of
 3    sincerest condolences.