SR1487 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1487 LRB098 22818 GRL 61767 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Chuck Rolinski of Toluca, who passed away on September 23, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Rolinski was born on August 30, 1932 in Streator; his parents were Anthony J., Sr. and Angelina Aimone Rolinski; he married Anita Ann Vignali on July 2, 1960 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Toluca; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Toluca High School in 1950, Chuck Rolinski served his country as a member of the United States Army as an infantryman during the Korean War; in 1952, he was one of 4 platoon sergeants in charge of 200 young men at Camp Roberts, California; he was later deployed to Korea, where he played on the regiment's basketball team; he was subsequently promoted to the rank of sergeant first class and was assigned to the Turkish Brigade; after the war, he returned to Camp Carson in Colorado Springs, where he served as a drill instructor; and

WHEREAS, After his discharge from the Army in September of 1954, Chuck Rolinski attended Illinois State University, where he lived in a veterans' barracks and earned his bachelor's degree in 2 years and earned his master's degree the following year; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Rolinski served as coach for the grade school basketball teams at Toluca Grade School and St. Ann's Grade School; he founded the Toluca Little League in 1955 and ran the league for 30 years; from 1956 to 1990, he served as Toluca High School's head basketball coach, where he tallied a 649-252 record and won 14 regional championships and 3 sectionals; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Rolinski was the co-founder of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association in 1971; he was considered the "father" of two-class Illinois high school basketball in 1972, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1973, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All Star Games in 1975; he was a 1986 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee; in 2007, he was named one of the 100 legends of the Illinois High School Association Boys Basketball Tournament; he also ran and attended 3 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association coaching clinics every fall and coordinated the yearly Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Boys and Girls Basketball All Star games, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Buzzy O'Connor Award; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Rolinski was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Toluca, an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Ann's Council 4007, and a member of the John Rolinski American Legion Post #440; he also served as superintendent of the Toluca Bocce Ball Tournament for 51 years, starting in 1963, and was employed as the treasurer of the City of Toluca; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Rolinski is survived by his wife; 4 children, Toni Marie (Daniel) Wudtke, Lori Ann Rolinski, Michael Charles (Brenda) Rolinski, and Gina (Matt) Rolinski-Pomatto; 10 grandchildren, Adam (Haley) Capponi, Dylan and Mason Wudtke, Chelsa Rolinski, Grant Pomatto, Matt Mecoli, Nick Woodburn, and Cody, Britton, and Courtney Rolinski; 2 great-grandchildren, Bella Capponi and Jordan Woodburn; a brother, Gerald (Raylene) Rolinski; 2 sisters, Catherine (Bob) Keiler and Geraldine (Tom) Cleary; and a sister-in-law, Phyllis Rolinski; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Chuck Rolinski; and be it further

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