HR0133 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0133 LRB103 31268 MST 58364 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the life of Aaron Stephens and his contributions to youth sports; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens is a retired Chicago public school teacher and is currently the director of athletics at the Apostolic Church of God; during his 35 years as a physical education teacher, he has coached thousands of aspiring basketball, baseball, football, and track and field athletes; he began his sports career playing on the red sands of Darien, Georgia but has created a sports legacy that is nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens graduated from Knoxville College in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Education; while attending college, he excelled as an athlete and played basketball and baseball; he was drafted to play professional baseball but chose to follow his lifelong dream of being an educator, accepting his first teaching assignment in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens began his coaching career at Wentworth Elementary School, located in the heart of Englewood; he began to create sports programs that would inspire students to stay off the streets and out of gangs; he insisted that the participants excel academically and stay away from gangs, drugs, and alcohol; he enjoyed teaching, but his personal mission was to develop athletes to reach their personal best and to mentor students; he co-founded numerous sports leagues to provide an alternative to the negative street life that his students experienced on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens is also a deacon at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago; he initiated the athletic ministry at his church, which includes baseball and basketball leagues for youth and men as well as other health and fitness programs and now serves as the model for hundreds of churches in the Illinois District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens is a leader in his church and his home; he is the father of three daughters and, for over 30 years, was the husband of Verneda; he is currently married to Gwen Harris Stephens; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens was inducted into the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on May 19, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Aaron Stephens's coaching career began as a way to inspire youth, and he remains as passionate about sports and developing youth as he did in his early days; what began as a career choice for him has become a sports legacy that will continue to inspire young athletes and mentor youth; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the life of Aaron Stephens and his contributions to youth sports and wish him the best in all of his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Aaron Stephens as a symbol of our respect and esteem.