HR0811 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0811 LRB093 21807 HSS 49681 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives offer our sincere congratulations to Coach Joe Newton on his 75th birthday and on his many years of success; and

WHEREAS, Joe Newton is one of the most talented and successful cross country and track coaches in history; and

WHEREAS, Coach Newton's love for the sport began as a student at Parker High School on Chicago's South Side, where he was named a High School All-American and won 12 major letters; and

WHEREAS, His running career continued as a sprinter at Northwestern University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951 and his Master of Arts degree in 1952; and

WHEREAS, He answered the call to serve his country as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Prior to beginning his high school coaching career, Coach Newton was the Head Track Coach at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he coached three Olympic runners; and

WHEREAS, His coaching career as member of the York Community High School family began in 1956; and

WHEREAS, Coach Newton has lead the York Community High School Dukes to an unprecedented 24 State Championship Titles and 19 National Cross Country Championships; and

WHEREAS, The Northern Illinois Track Coaches Association has named Coach Newton the High School Cross Country Coach of the Year 16 times in addition to being named the Illinois High School Coaches Association's Coach of the Year 15 times; and

WHEREAS, The success and leadership of Coach Newton was recognized when he became the first high school coach to be selected to represent our country as an Olympic Coach for the United States Track and Field Team in 1988 at Seoul, Korea; and

WHEREAS, The National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the United States Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Northwestern University Hall of Fame, the United States Track and Field Federation Hall of Fame, the Northern Illinois Track and Cross Country Association Hall of Fame, and the Gatorade Coaches Hall of Fame have all bestowed upon Coach Newton the honor of being an inductee; and

WHEREAS, Coach Newton touches the lives of runners and coaches across the nation as a gifted author and motivational speaker; and

WHEREAS, Coach Newton's dynamic, energetic, and zealous devotion to his students has taught us the true definition of a champion; and

WHEREAS, He has touched the lives of countless young athletes and taught them to achieve greatness both on and off the field; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we do hereby offer our congratulations to Coach Joe Newton on the occasion of his 75th birthday and on his many years of success; and be it further

RESOLVED,That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Joe Newton and his family.