[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15739]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


   IN RECOGNITION OF JOE PLASKAS ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE NORTHERN 
                    ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 2005

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Joe Plaskas on 
his upcoming induction into the Northern Illinois University Hall of 
Fame on October 14, 2005.
  A native of Oswego, Illinois, Joe started his athletic career at 
Oswego High School as a 3-year letter winner in both football and 
baseball. Joe's love for sports continued after his playing years as a 
long-time football and baseball coach at Barrington High School in 
Barrington, Illinois. Through coaching, Joe was able to instill the 
same values of hard work, dedication and discipline he displayed to the 
many students he guided as a teacher and coach.
  During his college career at Northern Illinois University (NIU), Joe 
earned eight letters as an outstanding two sport athlete in football 
and baseball, earning First-Team All-Interstate Intercollegiate 
Athletic Conference (IIAC) honors in both sports.
  As a fullback at NIU, Joe powered his way through defenses, leading 
the Huskies in rushing in the 1958 and 1959 campaigns. In his final 
season, Joe helped lead the Huskies to a 7-2 record and second place 
finish in the IIAC, earning National Association of Intercollegiate 
Athletics All-America Honorable Mention and First-Team All-IIAC honors. 
He also earned a place on the Fourth-Team Peoria Journal Star All-State 
team in 1959.
  Currently ranked No. 22 on the all-time NIU rushing list with 1,315 
career yards, Joe not only rewrote school records set by Hall of Famers 
before him, but held that standard for five more seasons until 1964.
  On the diamond, Joe performed with equal passion and excellence. At 
the plate, Joe led the league in batting with a .455 average as a 
sophomore and won First-Team All-IIAC honors as a pitcher.
  Once again, congratulations Joe on your many successes on and off the 
field.

                          ____________________