SR0981 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0981 LRB099 14244 MST 38320 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of George Winfield Latham of Waukegan, who passed away on August 19, 2015; and

WHEREAS, George Latham was born in Galatia on August 24, 1913 to Finis M. and Maud B. (nee Bennett) Latham; at the age of 4, his family moved to Montana, where he rode a horse to school and developed a love of animals and the outdoors; he became a multi-sport athlete at high school in Livingston, Montana; he graduated from Illinois State University, where he played varsity football and junior varsity basketball; he received his Masters in Education from the University of Illinois and completed post-graduate work in administration from Northern Illinois University; he married Josephine "Jo" Pruett in Staunton on June 7, 1940; and

WHEREAS, As a basketball coach, George Latham compiled a 383-180 record during his 20-year career at 4 Illinois high schools, including a 250-80 record while coaching Quincy High School from 1945 to 1956; he was the winningest coach in school history when he left Quincy High School in 1956; he took 8 Quincy High School teams to the State finals (1946, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956) and his Blue Devils placed 3rd in State in 1951 and 2nd in 1952, losing in overtime to Hebron; he moved to Waukegan in 1956, where he served as a division chairman, principal of Waukegan East High School, assistant superintendent, and interim superintendent of Waukegan Public School District 60 until he retired in 1980; and

WHEREAS, George Latham served as President of the Illinois High School Coaches Association; he was awarded the Illinois State University Alumni Award in 1952; he was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1957, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1973, and the Quincy High School Hall of Fame in 1985; he served as a member of the Chicago Daily News All State Basketball Board from 1945 to 1956; he was an active member of the Suburban League Principals' Association and was involved with the National Association of Secondary School Principals; he also served as President of the Lake County Retired Teachers Association; and

WHEREAS, George Latham was preceded in death by his wife, Jo; his parents; his 2 brothers, Walter Latham and Otis Latham; and his sister, Helen Jones; and

WHEREAS, George Latham is survived by his 2 children, George "Tony" (Lennis Mary) Latham and Susan Filippo; his 6 grandchildren; his 3 great-grandchildren; his nephew; and his 4 nieces; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of George Winfield Latham, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of George Latham as an expression of our deepest sympathy.