HR0443LRB098 12379 GRL 46718 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Craig Watson on his 
4esteemed career as an educator and on the occasion of his 
5retirement; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, After graduating from college in 1976, Craig 
7Watson was hired as an 8th-grade language arts teacher in 
8District 308's Oswego Junior High School and as an assistant 
9basketball coach at Oswego High School; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Craig Watson met his wife on his first day of 
11teaching; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Craig Watson taught for several years at Traughber 
13Junior High School as a 6th-grade self-contained classroom 
14teacher; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, While at Traughber, Craig Watson also spent time 
16coaching 7th-grade basketball, track, and intramurals and 
17freshman-level basketball at the high school; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Craig Watson spent 7 years in the private sector 
19while remaining involved in coaching basketball at Princeton 
20and Buda Western High Schools and track at Princeton High 
 
 
HR0443- 2 -LRB098 12379 GRL 46718 r

1School; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, After his time in the private sector, Craig Watson 
3returned to Traughber and Oswego High School for one year as a 
4teacher and coach before heading to Minooka High School to 
5teach English and coach basketball, track, and cross country; 
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, In 1992, Craig Watson returned to Oswego High 
8School, where he remained until his retirement; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, While at Oswego High School, Craig Watson taught 
10English while serving as the assistant varsity boys basketball 
11coach, athletic director, and varsity boys basketball coach; 
12and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Craig Watson retired as Oswego High School's 
14assistant principal for operations; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Craig Watson has earned several distinguished 
16accolades, including OHS Male Teacher of the Year, Village of 
17Oswego Outstanding Educator, Those Who Excel Award of Merit 
18from the Illinois State Board of Education, OHS Athletic Hall 
19of Fame inductee, and Illinois Athletic Directors Hall of Fame 
20inductee; and
  
 
 
 
HR0443- 3 -LRB098 12379 GRL 46718 r

1    WHEREAS, Craig Watson took pride in the fact that, while 
2serving as Athletic Director, 90% of OHS varsity sports teams 
3earned the IHSA's All-Academic Achievement Award and OHS 
4student-athletes earned 5 State trophies, including 2 State 
5championships; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Craig Watson has spent a total of 30 years in 
7education, 25 of them being in District 308; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Craig Watson is recognized by his colleagues for 
9his caring and compassionate style and is a highly respected 
10leader and mentor to both students and staff; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we congratulate Craig Watson on his 30 years as an educator and 
14athletic coach and for his retirement; and be it further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to Craig Watson as a symbol of our respect and 
17esteem.