HR0714 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0714 LRB096 15293 KXB 30395 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of one of the State's most distinguished, respected, and legendary high school coaches, Mervin "Coach" Baker, of Charleston, who passed away on October 17, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Mervin Chester Baker was born in Landes on September 25, 1917, a son of the late Martin and Estella (Shaw) Baker; he married Rebecca Woolford on August 17, 1947 in Arcola; he received his high school diploma from Buzzard Lab School and earned his Bachelors, Masters, and Specialist Degrees from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College; and

WHEREAS, He taught and coached in the Illinois communities of Findlay, Bradley, and Dupo before returning to Charleston where he taught and coached from 1953 until 1970; he continued to teach in the school district until 1985 and in 1986 became the Athletics Director, a position he held until 1995; and

WHEREAS, His memberships included the Charleston Athletic Association, Illinois Athletic Directors Association, National Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association, Illinois Coaches Association, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, and Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association, serving as its President in 1956; and

WHEREAS, He was also one of the founders of organized youth baseball in Charleston, assisting in the building and maintaining of five baseball fields, organizing and directing the Tiny Tots, Tee-Ball, and Minor League baseball programs for twenty-five years, serving sixteen years on the City of Charleston Recreational Board with ten years as its Chairman, organizing and managing a sixteen team High School Basketball Holiday Tournament at Eastern Illinois University for more than thirteen years, and coordinating and directing two indoor track meets at Eastern Illinois University every spring drawing anywhere from 120 to 135 schools; and

WHEREAS, His awards included the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Eastern Illinois University Hall of Fame, American Softball Association Hall of Fame, Class "AA" Outstanding Athletic Director from the Illinois High School Athletic Directors Association, the 1997 Citizen of the Year presented by the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, and the area's Sports Person of the Century; he was also the recipient of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's prestigious Buzzy O'Connor Award, and in addition, the Charleston High School Gym and baseball field are named in his honor; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brother, Leo Baker; and his two sisters, Pauline Askins and Marjorie Schnorf; and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his children, Libby Murray and husband Mike, Jan Baker, and Ken Baker and wife Sandy; his four grandchildren, Matthew Schubert, Jonathan Schubert, Andrew Schubert, and Jenny Baker-Sipes and husband John; his two great-grandchildren, Anna Joy Sipes and Joshua John Baker Sipes; his sister, Alberta Allen; and his nephews, Steve, Dave, Marty, and Jim Schnorf and their families; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and many players over the years, the passing of Coach Mervin Baker; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Coach Mervin Baker as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.