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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of cross country coach Joe Newton, who
4passed away on December 9, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Newton was born in Chicago to Joseph Robinson
6Newton Jr. and Blanche Hazzard on April 13, 1929; he graduated
7from Parker High School on Chicago's South Side in 1947; he
8attended Northwestern University on a track scholarship and
9earned his bachelor's degree; he stayed at Northwestern for a
10fifth year to complete his master's degree; he was drafted into
11the United States Army in 1952 and served until 1954; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Joe Newton began his career as a physical
13education teacher at York High School in 1956; he assisted with
14the track team before being named head cross country and track
15coach in 1960; he won his first state cross country title in
161962; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Joe Newton created a running culture at York and
18in the Elmhurst community; this culture was known as "The Long
19Green Line," which was also the title of a 2008 documentary
20film based on the team; he was the first high school coach to
21be named to an Olympic coaching staff, and he was in charge of
22the marathon runners at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Joe Newton moved to Arizona with his wife, Joan,
2in the summer of 2000; he continued to return to Illinois each
3August to begin a new cross-country season; he wrote four books
4on running and was named Coach of the Year 20 times by the
5Illinois Coaches Association; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joe Newton retired in 2016 after leading York to
728 state cross-country titles, 12 runner-up trophies, and four
8awards for third place; he earned 44 podium finishes in 57
9seasons, along with the state title for track in 2000; he
10attributed his success to a strong and caring coach-athlete
11relationship; he created enduring and endearing nicknames for
12each of his students and athletes; he rejoiced in the successes
13of his runners and shook each team member's hand after every
14practice; he believed the most important aspect of coaching was
15his relationship with his athletes; and
 
16    WHEREAS, At the time of his death, Joe Newton was survived
17by his wife, Joan Christine Newton, who has since passed away;
18his daughter, Cindy L. Carbaugh (Richard); his sons, Thomas J.
19Newton and John M. Newton; and his grandchildren, Caitlin L.
20Pfaff, Kyle D. Pfaff (Allison), Julia R. Newton, and Lauren
21Newton; therefore, be it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Joe Newton and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
3friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Joe Newton as an expression of our
6deepest sympathy.