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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to Congratulate Lou Henson on his
4induction into the 2017 Illinois Department on Aging Senior
5Illinoisans Hall of Fame; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Lou Henson spent over 41 years motivating young
7adults in academics and competitive excellence; he took over
8the basketball program at the University of Illinois in 1975;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Lou Henson led the Fighting Illini to 12 NCAA
11tournament appearances, including the 1989 Final Four; his
12overall career record stands at 779-442, which ranks him at 11
13on the all-time winning coaches list; he has coached 12 players
14who have gone on to NBA careers; he retired from the University
15of Illinois in 1996; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Among his many accomplishments at the University
17of Illinois, Lou Henson was known for founding the
18nationally-known Orange Krush student organization, which he
19began in his living room in an effort to increase student
20involvement with the basketball program; the Orange Krush has
21transformed into a major supporter of community charitable
22donations; he also started the Rebounders Club as a booster

 

 

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1club for Fighting Illini men's basketball, and it provides
2annually to charitable causes and the University of Illinois
3basketball team; the Lou Henson National Player of the Year
4Award was also created in his honor and is presented annually
5to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Lou Henson has been involved with many charitable
8organizations; while in New Mexico, he and his wife started the
9Lou and Mary Henson Annual Community Breakfast and Reception,
10an annual fundraising event that benefits the Las Cruces Boys
11and Girls Club; a sport celebrity is brought in each year as a
12guest motivational speaker; when he moved to Champaign-Urbana,
13he became involved with the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club; in
142002, the Henson family helped establish the Lou and Mary
15Henson Endowment Scholarship Fund in memory of their late son;
16the fund is designed to support deserving athletes for their
17academic and athletic achievements; he has also donated dozens
18of his trademark orange blazers to different charities, which
19resulted in thousands of dollars being raised for different
20causes; he has been an active participant, contributor, and
21supporter of the American Cancer Society's "Coaches vs. Cancer"
22campaign since its inception in 1993; nationwide, Coaches vs.
23Cancer has raised over $100 million for cancer research; yet
24the greatest of his accomplishments is the influence he has had
25in guiding young men through adversity and giving them coping

 

 

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1skills to learn and grow and face the challenges of life; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Lou Henson has made a significant impact with his
3efforts to improve the lives of so many; his contributions
4reflect the principles of respecting yesterday, supporting
5today, and hoping for tomorrow; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8congratulate Lou Henson on his induction into the 2017 Senior
9Illinoisans Hall of Fame, and we commend him for the meaningful
10contributions he has made to higher education; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to Lou Henson as an expression of our esteem and
14respect.