HR0643 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0643 LRB099 13158 MST 37048 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Bill Rucks, former head coach of the Mount Pulaski High School basketball team; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks taught grade school in Mount Pulaski for more than 30 years and was involved with the Hilltoppers basketball program for many years more as an assistant coach to hall of fame head coach Ed Butkovich for 26 years, as head coach from 1996 to 2002, and again as assistant coach under coach Ryan Deibert; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks graduated from Waukegan High School in 1972 and played basketball at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 1973 to 1976, where he was the school's first 7-foot player; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks went 83 and 77 in the 6 seasons he served as head coach for the Hilltoppers and is remembered by those he worked with for having a unique sense of humor that was able to teach his students what they needed to learn; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks spent the last years of his life in a motorized wheelchair, yet he did not allow that to prevent him from being as active as possible in the Mount Pulaski community; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks was known as a fiercely loyal Illini fan and even more loyal and devoted to his family; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks was seen by many as a role model, teacher, coach, and friend whose impact on the Mount Pulaski community will live on for years to come; and

WHEREAS, Coach Rucks is survived by his wife, Janet Rucks; his daughter, Kristin Rucks-Smith, Athletic Director at Mount Pulaski Elementary School; and his siblings, Jim Rucks, Tom Rucks, Renee Sams, Richard Rucks, Pete Rucks, Mary Gray, and Becky Belmont; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Coach Bill Rucks of Mount Pulaski and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all those in the Mount Pulaski community whose lives were impacted by him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bill Rucks as an expression of our deepest sympathy.