HR0978 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0978 LRB102 29377 MST 41367 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Morgan Park Head Football Coach Lexie Spurlock, who passed away on October 28, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock was born in Chicago on November 20, 1945; he attended the historical Tuskegee Institute High School in Alabama, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field, receiving letters in all three sports; he earned a football scholarship as a running back to Tuskegee University, where his Golden Tigers took the Southern Inter-Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969; he received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Tuskegee University in 1970; he earned a Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1976, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock played semi-professional football as a free safety; his football career spanned from 1972 to 1979 with such teams as the Rockford Rams, the Lake County Rifles, the Chicago Fire, the Chicago Broncos, and the Niles Saints; in 1974, in an undefeated season with the Chicago Bulls, he led the Chicagoland Football League in interceptions; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock started as a physical education teacher and football and track and field coach with Chicago Public Schools in 1970; he had an impact on students and athletics at Le Moyne, John Hope, and Parker Elementary Schools and CVS, Carver, Simeon, Paul Robeson, Whitney Young, Du Sable, and Morgan Park High Schools; he served as head varsity football and track and field coach at Du Sable and Morgan Park High Schools; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock was one of the most successful and respected football coaches in Chicago Public League (CPL) history; his career record was 147 wins and 59 losses, and he ranked in the nation's top 9% in Division I Scholarships; his accomplishments include 2010 CPL City Champions Runner-Up-Conference Champions, 2009 Conference Champions, 2008 Conference Champions, 2007 State Quarter Finals-Prep Bowl Runner-Up-CPL City Champions-Conference Champions, 2006 CPL City Champions Runner-Up, 2005 Prep Bowl Champions-CPL City Champions-Conference Champions, 2004 State Semi-finals-Conference Champions, 2003 State Quarter Finals-Conference Champions, 2002 CPL City Champions Runner-Up, 2001 State Quarter Finals-Prep Bowl Runner-Up-CPL City Champions-Conference Champions, 2000 Co-Conference Champions, and 1998 Conference Champions; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock promoted good character, stressed integrity, and loved winning, winning, and winning; his innovative, explosive, and inspirational coaching style focused on faith, family, and football, which led the Morgan Park Mustangs to become an elite football program in the Chicago Public League; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions, including the 2007 Blum-Kovler Foundation Educational Award, the 2007 Chicago Defender Prep Coach of the Week, the 2005 Prep Bowl Coach, the 2005 Ark-Chi UNCF Man of the Year, the 2004 Coaches Club Award, the 2003 CPL Hidden Hero Award, the 2003 Chicago Bears' Coach of the Week, the 2003 MPHS Football Parents' Club Coach of the Year, the 2002 Prep-Magazine Insight Man of the Year, and the 1990 Chicago Public League Football Coaches Association Award; and

WHEREAS, Coach Spurlock was rewarded by the love, respect, and success of his students and athletes and always believed that education was the key; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Morgan Park Head Football Coach Lexie Spurlock 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 Coach Spurlock as an expression of our deepest sympathy.