HR0285 LRB094 11866 CSA 44261 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to recognize the achievements of retiring
4 Rantoul Township High School (RTHS) Superintendent Jerry
5 Zachary; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Superintendent Zachary has worked in education
7 for 43 years and has lead the school district since 1994; when
8 he retires on June 30, 2005, he will end a long association
9 with Rantoul school districts, beginning with his attendance at
10 Myna Thompson Elementary School and extending to his graduation
11 from RTHS in 1956; and
 
12     WHEREAS, He was born in Missouri where his father farmed as
13 a sharecropper; his parents brought the family, two sons and a
14 daughter, to Rantoul on December 7, 1941, and opened a grocery
15 store called Zachary and Sons' Royal Blue; during high school,
16 he was All State in both basketball and football and was
17 captain of a basketball team that qualified in the IHSA Elite 8
18 in 1956; he also ran the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash, ran
19 in a relay team, and threw shot put; in one high school meet,
20 he scored more points than the entire opposing team; in 1987,
21 he was inducted into RTHS's Hall of Fame; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Inspired by his coaches, he pursued a degree in
23 physical education from Colorado College; he later transferred
24 to Eastern Illinois University (EIU) where he participated on
25 the track team and graduated with a bachelor's degree in
26 physical education; at EIU, he worked as an assistant
27 professor, assistant dean of student activities, and as
28 assistant dean of men; at Indiana University, he served as
29 coordinator of the Willkie Residence Life Center; and at the
30 Illinois State Board of Education, he was director of the
31 Career Guidance Center; after deciding to work as an
32 administrator, he took a position as principal of Newman High

 

 

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1 School and then as principal of Argenta-Oreana High School;
2 upon finishing his superintendency education, he served
3 superintendentships at Sheldon and Palestine school districts;
4 and
 
5     WHEREAS, Superintendent Zachary's challenges during his
6 11-year tenure were reducing staff while providing a
7 comprehensive curriculum, replacing 84 percent of the faculty
8 after the retirements of 26 long-time teachers, and passing a
9 referendum approving a tax increase to strengthen the
10 district's finances; his accomplishments include implementing
11 advanced placement courses and expanding the curriculum and
12 facilitating the construction of a sorely needed all-weather
13 track; he was also a major force behind the funding and the
14 building of RTHS's new west wing; and
 
15     WHEREAS, He has been very involved within the school,
16 attending almost every event; he has supported Rantoul and RTHS
17 with a hometown style; his reward has been found in doing
18 something he loved, in a town he loved; he feels the district's
19 future sits on solid ground, that it counts among its strengths
20 its rich ethnic and racial diversity, a supportive board of
21 education, and an excellent staff; and
 
22     WHEREAS, In 1978, he and his wife, Monica, were married and
23 they had two children, son Blake and daughter Alainna; they
24 plan to move to Champaign and he is exploring working as an
25 interim administrator as well as increasing his involvement as
26 a volunteer for the Salvation Army, where he serves as a board
27 member, and other community organizations; and
 
28     WHEREAS, He will be remembered not only for his impact on
29 the district's facilities and academics, but also for his big
30 heart, enthusiasm, and sense of humor; therefore, be it
 
31     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

 

 

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1 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
2 we congratulate and thank Jerry Zachary for his tenure as
3 Superintendent of Rantoul Township High School; and be it
4 further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to Superintendent Zachary as an expression of our
7 respect and esteem and with our best wishes for his retirement.