[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 193 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7351-S7352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING JACK MACKENZIE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on November 28, Quincy, IL, lost a legend 
in Coach John ``Jack'' Butler Mackenzie at the age of 77. Jack was the 
architect of an amazing soccer program at Quincy University. He led the 
Franciscan school's soccer program to nine National Association of 
Intercollegiate Athletics, NAIA, National Championships and 516 
victories, making him the tenth all-time in NCAA history for wins, 
regardless of division. He did all of this while setting examples as a 
coach, a father, grandfather, and leader.
  Jack was born on February 26, 1941, to John ``Scottie'' and Mary Jane 
Mackenzie. He attended McBride High School in 1959 and earned a 
scholarship to play football at the University of Missouri. After a 
year, Jack left to attend Washington University in St. Louis, earning 
both a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's in 
education.
  Jack married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Bechtold, in June of 
1962. He enjoyed telling people that he fell in love with her in sixth 
grade. Jack worked at Augustinian Academy in St. Louis and was on the 
cusp of making a big decision.
  In 1969, at the urging of his best friend, Frank Longo, who 
introduced soccer to Quincy, Jack moved from St. Louis to run the 
Quincy University soccer program. QU had already won

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two NAIA national championships in the program's first 5 years of 
existence when Jack arrived, but the QU Hawks reached new levels of 
success under Jack.
  Jack's Hawks finished in the top three in the national tournament 12 
times, including nine championships. They won five consecutive titles 
from 1977 to 1981. During his four-decade career, Jack won the NAIA 
National Coach of the Year four times. Thirty one All-American athletes 
came out of his program.
  Jack loved the game of soccer, and soccer's popularity in Quincy 
exploded. The Quinsippi Soccer League formed in the late 1960s, helping 
young kids learn about soccer in elementary school. Jack helped teach 
adults who volunteered to coach the league, offered practice drills and 
strategies for helping boys and girls learn the game.
  With QU's success, the school moved to NCAA Division I in 1984 and 
then to Division II in 1995, joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference. 
Quincy University didn't dominate as they did in the early days of 
Jack's tenure, but they regularly made the playoffs and had winning 
records.
  In 2011, Jack's Hawks won the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 
first time since joining the conference. It was Jack's last season 
coaching the team full time. It wasn't the biggest victory he had ever 
had, but it was one he loved like the others.
  In retirement, Jack remained active in the community. He helped out 
with Special Olympics teams. He rarely missed a home game of QU's 
soccer team. Jack was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, NCAA Hall of 
Fame, United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame, St. Louis Players, and QU 
Hall of Fame. Legends Stadium, where QU plays soccer, has its playing 
surface named after Jack.
  Jack Mackenzie had a gift for storytelling and the ability to make 
someone's day more enjoyable. He loved his ``beautiful game,'' the kids 
who learned from him, and his family. His best story was really his 
own. When kids play on Jack Mackenzie field, it will be remembered as a 
game based on love.
  Jack is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sharon, and six children--
Scott; Christopher, wife Leigh, and their children, Julian and 
Isabella; Kevin, wife Susan, and their sons, Andrew, Tyler, and Luke; 
Brian, wife Bonnie, and their children, Kate and Jack; Beth Hilbing, 
husband Chad, and their children Jake, Grace, and Sam; and Megan Henke, 
husband Adam, and their daughter, Genevieve.

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