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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Frank Roman Pitol of Collinsville, who
4 passed away on August 22, 2009; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Frank Roman Pitol was born on November 10, 1929,
6 in Collinsville; his teaching and coaching career began in 1954
7 in Mascoutah, at the junior high and elementary schools; he
8 retired from the Collinsville Unit 10 School District in 1992;
9 and
 
10     WHEREAS, From 1943-1947 he attended Collinsville Township
11 High School (now Collinsville High School), where he lettered
12 in football, baseball, and basketball; after graduation he
13 attended Eastern Illinois University from 1947-1951, where he
14 received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education
15 and a Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education and excelled
16 in athletics as a member of the football, basketball, and track
17 teams; he was selected to try out for the Los Angeles Rams pro
18 football team but was simultaneously drafted into the army
19 during the Korean Conflict; and
 
20     WHEREAS, He later returned to school and earned a second
21 Master of Arts degree in Secondary School Administration from
22 Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville; and married his

 

 

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1 college sweetheart, Patricia Jane Stanley, on June 12, 1954 in
2 Grayville; and
 
3     WHEREAS, He was baptized in the United Church of Christ in
4 Mascoutah on December 25, 1954; he was a member of the
5 Collinsville History Museum Board, and he was instrumental in
6 the creation of the new museum building; he was a member of the
7 American Legion Post 365 and of the Illinois Retired Teachers
8 Association; while in Mascoutah he was a member of the Lions
9 Club and served as their president for one year; and
 
10     WHEREAS, He was a founder and organizer of the Holiday
11 Basketball Tournament in Collinsville, which began in 1984; he
12 authored The Wonderful World of Collinsville Basketball, a
13 complete history of Collinsville High School basketball from
14 1907 to 1976; he and his son, Scott, created and maintained the
15 complementary website www.ballpress.com, which provides
16 history and current information about Kahok basketball; and
 
17     WHEREAS, In addition, he received numerous awards and
18 recognition for his dedication to high school athletics; he was
19 named Illinois Athletic Director of the Year in 1987 and 1990;
20 he was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Director's
21 Association Hall of Fame in 1993; he was also inducted as a
22 Friend into the Illinois Basketball Coaches' Hall of Fame; he
23 was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Eastern Illinois

 

 

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1 University; and
 
2     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father and mother,
3 Roman and Anna Pitol, nee Bursich; his wife of 52 years,
4 Patricia (nee Stanley); his infant sister, Albina Pitol; his
5 brother-in-law, Clarence Obernuefemann; and his sister-in-law,
6 Edna Stanley; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Frank Roman Pitol is survived by his sons, Stanley
8 Pitol and Scott Pitol (wife Christy); his daughter, Susan Pitol
9 Stucco (husband Guido); his grandson, Aurelio Stucco; his three
10 step-grandchildren, Giuliana Stucco, Michela Stucco, and
11 Vittorio Stucco; his sister, Elsie Obernuefemann; his
12 brother-in-law, Palmer Stanley; his numerous cousins, nieces,
13 nephews, and the many friends, coaches, and students who were
14 touched by his life and who loved and appreciated him;
15 therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
17 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
18 his family and friends, the passing of Frank Pitol; and be it
19 further
 
20     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 presented to the family of Frank Pitol as a symbol of our
22 sincere sympathy.