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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING LEGENDARY ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH GENE PINGATORE ON HIS 1,000 CAREER WINS IN ILLINOIS HISTORY
WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore has admirably served since 1960 as an educator, mentor, and head basketball coach of St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was born in Cicero, Illinois, currently the 16th District of Cook County, and attended St. Mel’s High School where he played on the 1954 City Championship team; and
WHEREAS, upon graduation from high school, Gene Pingatore received an athletic scholarship and played basketball for Loyola University of Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore returned to Chicago in 1960 and served nine years as an assistant under Pat Callahan, prior to taking over as head coach for the St. Joseph Chargers during the 1969-70 basketball season; and
WHEREAS, throughout his 48-year career at St. Joseph High School, Gene Pingatore has led the Chargers to 27 East Suburban Catholic Conference Championships, two Catholic League North titles, 32 regional titles, 13 sectional titles, six top-four finishes, and two state championships-in 1999 (Class AA) and 2015 (Class 3A); and
WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore has coached numerous NCAA and professional basketball players, including three notable McDonald’s All-Americans: Deryl Cunningham ‘89, Daryl Thomas ’83, and NBA great Isiah Thomas ’79; and
WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore added another milestone to his legendary career on February 11, 2017, when he won his 1000th career IHSA game with a 81-71 victory over St. Rita in the first round of the Chicago Catholic League Tournament; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Federation of State High School, Gene Pingatore became only the 15th boys’ basketball coach in the United States to achieve 1,000 victories; and
WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore is the winningest coach in Illinois high school basketball history and first to reach 1000 wins; and continues to inspire so many young men to excel in athletics, academics, and as leaders in their communities;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board does hereby offer its congratulations to St. Joseph High School Head Basketball Coach Gene Pingatore on the occasion of becoming the first boys basketball coach in Illinois history to reach 1,000 wins; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of same be tendered by the Commissioners of Cook County to Gene Pingatore to recognize his remarkable achievements and dedication to St. Joseph High School.
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