HR0293 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0293 LRB099 11483 MST 32547 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Gordon "Gordie" Gillespie, who passed away on February 28, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie was born in Chicago on April 14, 1926 to Earl and Belle (nee Ross) Gillespie; he attended Kelvyn Park High School and graduated from DePaul University; he served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie began his coaching career in 1950 at what is now Lewis University, when he took over the men's basketball program; he remained there until 1965; he also coached the Flyers baseball team from 1953 to 1976 and was athletic director from 1956 to 1976; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie made 8 trips to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics World Series during his tenure with Lewis University and won 3 consecutive national titles from 1974 to 1976; in 1975 and 1976, he also coached Joliet Catholic High School to 2 of the 5 State championships that he won during a 27-year stint that began in 1959; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Gordie Gillespie moved from Lewis University to St. Francis University; he was the school's athletic director from 1976 to 1986; he coached the Saints' first women's basketball team in the 1976-77 season and was baseball coach from 1976 to 1995; he got back into football in 1986, when he launched the St. Francis program; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie never truly retired; he moved to Ripon, Wisconsin in 1996, where he assumed the role of head baseball coach, assisted his son in basketball, and took the Ripon High School football team to its first ever state championship; and

WHEREAS, After 1O seasons at Ripon High School, Gordie Gillespie came back to St. Francis University for his second stint as the school's baseball coach; he coached 6 more seasons with the Saints, retiring in 2011 with 1,893 victories - the most by a college baseball coach at any level at the time; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie he was inducted into Joliet Catholic's Hall of Champions in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie collected 2,402 coaching wins in 3 different sports over 61 years; he led teams to 4 national titles in college baseball and 5 State titles in high school football; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emily; his brother, Earl Gillespie; his aunt and uncle, Howard and Helen Ammeson; his cousin, Donald Ross; his 2 step-sons; and his step-grandson; and

WHEREAS, Gordie Gillespie is survived by his wife, Joan Hollister Gillespie; his sons, Bob (Penny), Mike (Connie), Gordie, Jr. (Patty), and Greg (Denise); his 3 daughters, Billie K. (Ron) Shimanski-Lipke, Margaret Mary (John) Gillespie-Koenig, and Jacqueline (Steve) Turk Gillespie-Horvat; his cousin, Doris Pretz; his step-children, Reverend Bruce (Susan) Hollister, Linda (Reverend David) Brown, Betsy (Don) Dvorak, and Brian (Priscilla) Hollister; his 40 grandchildren; his 42 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Gordon "Gordie" Gillespie, 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 Gordie Gillespie as an expression of our deepest sympathy.