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.