HR0736 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Illinois is pleased to congratulate Joe Plaskas on the occasion of his induction into Northern Illinois University's Athletics Hall of Fame; Plaskas was one of four individuals so honored this year as part of the NIU Huskies' gala 99th Homecoming observance; and

WHEREAS, Joe Plaskas earned eight NIU letters in two sports - football (1956-59) and baseball (1957 and 1959-61); he also earned First-Team All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in both sports; and

WHEREAS, On the gridiron for Hall-of-Fame coach Howard Fletcher, Joe Plaskas led the Huskies in rushing twice (511 yards in 1958 and 698 yards in 1959), scoring (36 points in 1958), and passing (154 yards in 1956); in his final football campaign when the Huskies went 7-2 and finished second in the IIAC, as a fullback, he was one of three players who earned National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-America honors; Joe also made First-Team All-IIAC, and he was named to the Fourth-Team Peoria Journal Star All-State team in 1959; and

WHEREAS, Currently ranked No. 22 on the all-time NIU rushing list with 1,315 career yards, 6-foot, 195-pound Joe Plaskas not only rewrote the same school record set by Hall-of-Famer Bob Brigham (1,221 yards in 1947-49) but held that standard for five more seasons; according to 1959 team quarterback and co-captain Lew Flinn, "the guy who made things go was Joe with his great blocking"; and

WHEREAS, On the baseball diamond in 1959, Joe Plaskas led the league in batting with a .455 average (20-of-44) as a sophomore and actually won First-Team All-IIAC as a pitcher; and

WHEREAS, As a prep, Joe Plaskas lettered in football (3) and baseball (3) at Oswego High School; a long-time football and baseball coach at Barrington High School, he was inducted into the Barrington and Oswego halls of fame; as a three-time Hall-of-Famer, Joe serves as a tremendous role model for current student-athletes at NIU, Barrington, and Oswego; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Joe Plaskas on his induction into Northern Illinois University's Athletics Hall of Fame; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to him as an expression of our respect and esteem.