093_HR0260

 
                                     LRB093 11625 HSS 15053 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Education is one of the most  noble  pursuits  a
 3    person  can  undertake  and  those that do deserve our utmost
 4    respect and admiration; and

 5        WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that in July  2003,
 6    Eugene P. Jontry will complete 45 years in education; and

 7        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Jontry  began his career in Chenoa in 1959
 8    where he was head coach for football, basketball, and  track,
 9    as  well  as athletic director; his teams won four conference
10    championships; he taught driver  education,  social  studies,
11    and physical education; and

12        WHEREAS,  He  became  high  school principal at Chenoa in
13    1962; he then served as a  school  superintendent  from  1967
14    until 1992; he then spent two years as tech prep coordinator;
15    in  1994  and  1995,  he  was  the Regional Superintendent of
16    Livingston County; in 1995,  Livingston  County  merged  with
17    DeWitt and McLean Counties and Mr. Jontry became the Regional
18    Superintendent  of  Schools  for the tri-county area; he will
19    leave that position in July of 2003; and

20        WHEREAS, During his tenure  as  regional  superintendent,
21    Mr.  Jontry  accomplished many things; he is especially proud
22    that the Alternative/SAVE school, an option for completion of
23    education when traditional methods are  not  successful,  has
24    grown  to  include four sites serving more than 300 students;
25    he has cultivated a "user-friendly"  service  environment  in
26    the region, providing easier access to the Regional Office of
27    Education  for  students,  teachers, administrators, parents,
28    citizens, and taxpayers; and

29        WHEREAS, Mr. Jontry attended ISU and was a starting guard
30    on the basketball team from 1956 until 1958; he was known  as
31    "Gunner"  because  he  regularly  hit  clutch  shots  and was
 
                             -2-     LRB093 11625 HSS 15053 r
 1    willing to attempt almost any  basket;  he  still  holds  the
 2    season  free  throw  record at ISU which stands at a 94% rate
 3    overall and a record 35 free throws in a row; he was inducted
 4    into the Redbird Hall of Fame in 1991  and  continues  to  be
 5    very   active  in  alumni  and  Varsity  I  Club  activities;
 6    therefore, be it

 7        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
 8    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
 9    we congratulate Eugene P.  Jontry  on  the  occasion  of  his
10    retirement   as   Regional   Superintendent  of  Schools  for
11    Livingston, DeWitt, and McLean Counties, and we thank him for
12    his dedication to the education of students in the tri-county
13    area; and be it further

14        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
15    presented  to  Eugene P. Jontry as a token of our respect and
16    esteem and with our best wishes for a relaxing retirement.