SR0104 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0104 LRB095 11662 MST 33917 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois wish to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of B. H. "Duffy" Bass of Normal who passed away on Wednesday, March 14, 2007; and

WHEREAS, He was the Illinois State University Redbirds men's baseball coach from 1963 to 1988; by his third year the Redbirds were 28 and 4 and made the first of five straight trips to the College Division (Division II) postseason; he was the winningest coach in ISU history for any sport, compiling a 713-457-18 record and took his 1969 team to the College Division national championship with a record of 33 and 5; he was named Coach of the Year in 1970; and

WHEREAS, He was a native of Toluca and played the position of catcher for ISU during the years of 1946 to 1950; he was a teacher and coach at U High before earning his masters and doctorate degrees in education from Louisiana State; and

WHEREAS, He was active in baseball after retirement; he was general manager of the Twin City Stars, a Central Illinois Collegiate League team he founded in 1982; he made youth baseball-related trips to Japan and Cuba; his impact on Twin Cities baseball is reflected each spring when ISU faces Illinois Wesleyan in the Horenberger-Bass Classic; and

WHEREAS, He was a longtime McClean County Board member beginning in July of 1979 when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term in District 5; and

WHEREAS, The passing of B. H. "Duffy" Bass has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Helen Matone Bass; his children, Linda E. Bass, James D. (Susan) Bass, and Lori J. Weidig; his three grandchildren; his brother, Russell (Nellie) Bass; and his sister, Phyllis (Jerry) Prunty; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of B. H. "Duffy" Bass, and we 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.