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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Louis Ray "Lou" Henson, who passed away
4on July 25, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lou Henson was born to Joe Henson and Lora Faye
6Falconer Henson on January 10, 1932; he grew up on a small farm
7near Okay, Oklahoma; he played basketball at Okay High School,
8Connors State College, and New Mexico A&M; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Lou Henson pursued a coaching career after
10college; he served as a graduate assistant to his mentor
11Presley Askew; he later earned his master's degree and was
12offered a coaching job and a mathematics teaching position at
13Las Cruces High School (LCHS) in Las Cruces, New Mexico; after
14two years, he became the head coach while still teaching
15multiple math classes; his LCHS teams won three consecutive New
16Mexico State High School Championships; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Lou Henson was offered the head coach position at
18Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas; before accepting,
19he met with the Board of Trustees and noted that he would not
20accept the job until the school was integrated as there were no
21African Americans on campus either as student-athletes or
22faculty members at that time; after the board met overnight and

 

 

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1agreed to integrate, he launched his college coaching career at
2the age of 30; and
 
3    WHEREAS, After coaching and serving as the athletic
4director three of the four years, Lou Henson was offered the
5head coaching position at his alma mater, New Mexico State
6University; within two years, he assumed the role of athletic
7director in addition to the head basketball coach position; he
8managed both jobs while playing a key role in the construction
9of the Pan American Center, a 13,000-seat multipurpose arena;
10he led the New Mexico State University Aggies to the Final Four
11in 1970, where they finished third; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lou Henson began coaching at the University of
13Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1975; alongside his assistants
14Tony Yates and Les Wothke, he made it a priority to visit every
15high school in the State in order to foster positive
16relationships with Illinois high school basketball coaches;
17during that first year, he and his staff visited more than 400
18high schools; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Lou Henson's efforts returned the University of
20Illinois basketball program to prominence, which culminated
21with the 1989 Final Four Flyin' Illini; his team was seldom
22outhustled or outworked; his Flyin' Illini were considered one
23of the most entertaining teams in collegiate basketball

 

 

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1history, capturing the hearts of Illini Nation and basketball
2fans everywhere; he retired from the University of Illinois in
31996 as the school's all-time winningest coach with 423
4victories in 21 seasons; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lou Henson returned to the New Mexico State
6University basketball program in the fall of 1997; after
7discussing the matter with his wife Mary, he consented to only
8coach for six months and stipulated that he receive no salary;
9at his request, New Mexico State University paid him one dollar
10per month to coach the Aggies for the first year, with his net
11pay being the grand sum of 75 cents; he was persuaded to
12continue coaching at New Mexico State University for the next
13six years; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Lou Henson has the distinction of being the coach
15with the most wins at both New Mexico State University and the
16University of Illinois; he was entered into the sports halls of
17fame at both universities, and their floors were named after
18him; he is also one of a handful of coaches that have guided
19two different teams to the Final Four; he was selected as a
20member of the NCAA Basketball Hall of Fame on February 17,
212015; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Lou Henson was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in
232003; he started aggressive treatment at Carle Cancer Center

 

 

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1and MD Anderson Cancer Center; although his cancer was in
2remission, he contracted viral encephalitis one year later; he
3was treated at the MountainView Regional Medical Center and
4later at the Texas Rehabilitation Center; he returned home in a
5wheelchair due to paralysis and other trauma; although he
6worked tirelessly to walk again, the encephalitis impacted his
7balance; by last count, he had fallen over 150 times with only
8one serious injury; he never complained about any of his health
9issues; he was thankful to have survived the cancer and
10encephalitis and incredibly grateful for his health care
11providers; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lou Henson is synonymous with University of
13Illinois basketball as it is impossible to discuss the
14university's basketball program without mentioning him; he was
15a coach who based his programs on strict discipline, which many
16of his former players credit for the success they achieved
17after their playing days; his humble demeanor, kindness, and
18tremendous character will never be forgotten; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Lou Henson was preceded in death by his son, Louis
20Ray Henson Jr.; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Lou Henson is survived by his wife of 65 years,
22Mary Catherine Brantner Henson; his three daughters, Lori Jo
23Henson, Lisa Rose (John) Rutter, and Leigh Anne (Coit) Edison;

 

 

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1his 12 grandchildren; his seven great-grandchildren; and his
2numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Louis Ray "Lou" Henson and extend our sincere condolences to
6his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Lou Henson as an expression of our
10deepest sympathy.