HR0144LRB102 17522 LAW 23126 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Kenneth
4R. "Coach" Geiger of Hillside, who passed away on January 21,
52021; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger was born in Berwyn on December 30,
71931; he was a lifelong resident of Berwyn; he attended St.
8Leonard School in Berwyn; he graduated from Fenwick High
9School in Oak Park in 1949, where he played football and boxed
10for three years; he earned his Bachelor of Science from
11Monmouth College, where he was an all-conference guard and
12helped the football team to conference championships during
13his junior and senior years; he served in the 101st Airborne
14Division of the U.S. Army in Korea; he obtained his master's
15degree from the University of Illinois; he earned his
16doctorate in Education from the University of Missouri; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger coached football while earning his
18master's and doctoral degrees; he was the freshman football
19offensive line coach at the University of Illinois; he served
20as the assistant varsity line coach at the University of
21Missouri; he returned to Monmouth College as the varsity line
22coach and led the football team to an undefeated conference
23championship; and
 

 

 

HR0144- 2 -LRB102 17522 LAW 23126 r

1    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger had a 34-year career in the J.
2Sterling Morton High School District, where he served as a
3teacher, the head football coach, a wrestling coach, the
4athletic director, and a department chair; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger entered professional football in the
61980s; he served as a scout for the Chicago Bears for 11 years,
7and he was with the team when they won Super Bowl XX in 1986;
8he later worked as a scout for the Indianapolis Colts for five
9years and the New Orleans Saints for three years;
10internationally, he was a moving force in bringing American
11football to Europe, where he taught football to European
12youths and represented the NFL as a clinician; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger was named to the Monmouth College Hall
14of Fame in 1996; he was also named to the IHSA Hall of Fame; he
15was an emeritus member of the American Association of Football
16Coaches; he was a member of the Chicago Catholic League's Hall
17of Fame; his family was named the Monmouth College Family of
18the Year in 2011; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger was known for being a father figure to
20his students and one of the foremost ambassadors of Morton
21High School; he will be remembered for the impact he made on
22the lives of his students; and
 

 

 

HR0144- 3 -LRB102 17522 LAW 23126 r

1    WHEREAS, Ken Geiger was the husband of Sheryl J. (Johnson)
2for 67 years; the father of Gary (Ana Maria), Kevin (Jeane
3Gentile), Joni (James) Russo, Susan, and Eric (Amy); the son
4of the late Joseph J. and the late Ann M. (Zaher) Geiger; the
5grandfather of Joseph Bratta, Sean Geiger, and Niko Muniz; the
6great-grandfather to Mia Rose, Joseph, and Layla Bratta; the
7brother of the late Joseph (Nancy) Geiger; the brother-in-law
8of Celinda (Bob) Prater; and the uncle and great-uncle to
9many; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we mourn the passing of Kenneth R. "Coach" Geiger and extend
13our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
14knew and loved him; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of Ken Geiger as an expression of our
17deepest sympathy.