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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to acknowledge the 100th
4 anniversary of Centralia High School boys basketball program;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, In 1906 the first basketball game was played in
7 the basement of "B" Building, which had a 12 foot high ceiling
8 and support posts on the court; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Play was moved in 1922 to a new gymnasium, which
10 only provided seating on the west side of the gym; 1936 saw the
11 move to the A.L. Trout Gymnasium, named after Centralia's
12 legendary coach; and
 
13     WHEREAS, A.L. Trout served as coach from 1914 until 1950;
14 "Coach" holds the Illinois High School Boys Basketball record
15 for wins at one school with 809 wins; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Centralia High School is listed 9th among all-time
17 winning boys basketball teams and the winningest high school
18 basketball team of the 20th century; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Centralia earned the nickname "Orphans" after a
20 Chicago sports writer referred to the team as orphans after

 

 

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1 seeing their bedraggled suits and button-less warm up jackets;
2 Coach Trout liked the name and it stuck; they are the only
3 sports team with the nickname; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The Centralia High School basketball Orphans,
5 winners of State tournaments in 1918, 1922, and 1942, have been
6 a source of immense pride to the citizens of Centralia;
7 therefore, be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 congratulate the many fine athletes who have been a part of the
11 colorful history of Centralia Orphans basketball; we also thank
12 the coaches, managers, athletic directors, boosters, fans, and
13 everyone involved in the basketball program, for making it such
14 a vital part of the Centralia community; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 presented to a representative of the Centralia High School
17 basketball program as a symbol of our esteem.